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African Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026

Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience

Kigali Convention Centre

Kigali, Rwanda

August 31 to September 4, 2026

  • 10:00 – 3:30 pm (Africa/Kigali)
  • 4:00 – 9:30 am (US/Eastern)
  • 1:30 – 7:00 pm (Asia/Kolkata)
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The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) will host its 20th Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda from 31 August to 4 September 2026, under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”

The Summit will bring together stakeholders from across the agri-food sector for a programme of plenary sessions, technical discussions, networking, and partnership engagement focused on the future of Africa’s food systems.

For more information about AFSF, please click HERE.

August 31, 2026

Pre-Event Workshop: AI for Smallholder Farmer Advisory | 09:00–17:00 (Africa/Kigali) | Organized by the Gates Foundation

Side Event: Why Water Matters for Africa’s Food Systems: Scaling Irrigation Investment | 09:00–10:00 (Africa/Kigali) | Organized by IWMI, IFPRI, AUDA-NEPAD, AGRA, World Bank, and AU-SAFGRAD

This session brings together ministers, investors, researchers and private sector leaders to build the case for scaling irrigation and water investment, covering regional programs, such as Africa RISE, as well as government, private sector and farmer insights with irrigation investment opportunities.

Pre-Event: Fertilizer Crisis: Solutions for Africa | 09:30–12:30 (Africa/Kigali) | Organized by Sustainable Farming Science Program (SFP) and the Policy Innovation Program (PIP)

Side Event: Women-Focused and Inclusive Food Systems | 12:00–13:00 (Africa/Kigali) | Hosted by AWARD, IFPRI, Mastercard Foundation, GIZ, WFP, MINAGRI, MIGEPROF, UN Women, FAO, IFAD, Pula

What do women-centered and inclusive food systems look like? This session will explore practical pathways for building food systems that pay attention to the priorities and needs of women and men in agrifood systems.

Side Event: Nourishing Food systems: Policy to Plate | 13:30–14:30 (Africa/Kigali) | Hosted by AUC; Welthungerhilfe; Nutrition Smart Communities Africa; IFPRI; APHRC; ILRI, CGIAR BDN; IRRI; WVI

This interactive side event brings together policymakers, researchers, development partners, private sector actors and community organizations to explore how food systems can better deliver healthy diets.

Side Event: Aid to Investment – Fragile Food Systems | 16:30–17:30 (Africa/Kigali) | Hosted by World Food Programme; AfDB; IFPRI; Local SMEs

This session will highlight WFP’s collaboration with the African Development Bank in Sudan and Nigeria, alongside joint research with IFPRI and AfDB, including RIAPA insights on the “pull effect” of midstream value chains.

Breakthrough Event: Pathways to Scale: Where Nutritious Climate Smart Seed Systems, Institutional Demand, and Investment Converge for Sustainability | 16:30–18:30 (Africa/Kigali) | Organized by IFPRI-HarvestPlus and HarvestPlus Solutions

  • Maggie Biruri, Head, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships, HarvestPlus

September 1, 2026

Side Event: Mobilizing Innovative Financing for Inclusive Agrifood Systems Transformation: Leveraging the Food System Financing Intelligence Platform for Smarter Investments | 8:00–08:30 (Africa/Kigali)

  • Panelist: Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG) and Director for Africa, IFPRI

Side Event: Smart Financing for Agrifood Systems | 8:00–09:30 (Africa/Kigali) | Hosted by AKADEMIYA2063; IFPRI; AUC-DARBE; AUDA-NEPAD; GIZ; CAYACC; GAFSP

This side event will convene policymakers, development partners, the private sector, and youth representatives to explore practical innovative financing for NASIP implementation and introduce the Food System Financing Intelligence Platform, an analytical tool that helps to identify financing gaps and vulnerabilities, prioritize investments, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.

September 2, 2026

Breakthrough Event | Shock to Sovereignty: African Resilience | 13:00–15:00 (Africa/Kigali) | Hosted by AfricaRice-IFPRI, IWMI, CCARDESA, and PARM

Across Africa, climate shocks, environmental risks, and global health crises and regional conflicts strain food systems and undermine agricultural resilience. Drawing on climate risk evidence continent-wide, this session explores how countries can shift from crisis response to preparedness and food sovereignty. Examples span Madagascar, where resilience depends on hazard exposure, risk perception, and institutional constraints; IFPRI’s work with governments in Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Zambia, and Senegal on anticipatory action and risk financing; and the World Bank’s Food Systems Resilience Program, showcasing climate-smart innovations like resilient crop varieties, seed systems, and farmer-led mechanization.

Shaping the CGIAR African Strategy | 15:30–17:30 (Africa/Kigali)

Organized by the CGIAR, in collaboration with IFPRI and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Strategy 2040 and Africa Strategy | 16:30–20:30 (Africa/Kigali)

  • Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG) and Director for Africa, IFPRI

Side Event | AI Agriculture Large Language Model (AgriLLM) Showcase

September 3, 2026

CSO Roundtable: Championing Grassroots Leadership to Unlock Investment | 13:30–15:30 (Africa/Kigali)

This roundtable will bring together CSO leaders, community organizations, development partners, investors, and policymakers to explore how grassroots leadership can strengthen the investment ecosystem, foster community ownership, and improve the impact of public and private capital.

  • Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG) and Director for Africa, IFPRI

September 4, 2026

Food Sovereignty in a Fractured World: Africa’s Strategic Agency in Global Food System | 08.00– 09.30 (Africa/Kigali)

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