Friday, August 8, 2025

MONEYWISE - Policy Innovations to Finance Africa's Agrifood Systems

7 August 2025. The 16th Forum launched the Panel's new report "MONEYWISE: Policy Innovations to Finance Africa's Agrifood Systems," examining successful approaches to strengthen financing for the continent's underfunded agrifood systems. 

The report builds on the 2025 Kampala Declaration's strategic shift from viewing agriculture as an isolated sector to pursuing high-performing, inclusive agrifood systems through innovative financing mechanisms. Focusing on three country case studies (Rwanda, Malawi and Morocco), the report identifies policy and institutional innovations that have successfully mobilized investments across agrifood value chains. It emphasizes the need for financial intelligence to guide government policies that de-risk agriculture and attract private capital from domestic sources including banks, capital markets and pension funds. 

The virtual event featured presentations of the report's findings, reflections on implementation challenges, and a high-level policy roundtable bringing together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives and civil society to discuss scaling these innovations across Africa. The dialogue aimed to translate the Kampala Declaration's vision into concrete actions that bridge the agrifood financing gap and accelerate food system transformation.
  • Moderator Dr. Layih Butake – Director, Communication and Outreach, AKADEMIYA2063
  • PhD. Dr. h.c Ousmane Badiane Executive Chairperson, AKADEMIYA2063, Co-Chair, Malabo Montpellier Panel
  • Joachim Von Braun Distinguished Professor, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn Co-Chair, Malabo Montpellier Panel
  • H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Honorable Emeritus Co-Chair, Malabo Montpellier Forum
Launch of the Malabo Montpellier Panel’s Report
  • Mr. Ishmael Sunga - CEO, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU); Member, Malabo Montpellier Panel
  • Aisha Musaazi S. Nakitto – Head, Policy Innovation Unit; Malabo Montpellier Panel Program Lead, AKADEMIYA2063
  • Agnes M. Kalibata – Former President, AGRA; Member, Malabo Montpellier Panel 
Reflections on the Outcomes of the Report by the Forum Co-Chair
Thematic Fireside Chats
  • Muhammadou M.O. Kah Moderator
  • Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu – Director, East and Southern Africa Division, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - Funding Institutions’ Perspectives on Agrifood Systems Finance
  • Dr. Ellias E. Ngalande – Former Governor, Reserve Bank of Malawi - Governance and Regulatory Frameworks: Challenges and Opportunities for Financial Inclusion and Access 
  • Mr. Eric Naivasha – Head of Sustainable Finance, KCB Bank Group, Kenya - De-risking Agrifood Systems Investments: Barriers and Opportunities 
  • Mr. Teddy Roux – Director at Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners, LLC (ESP), Côte d’Ivoire - Agri-SME Finance Landscape in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities 
  • Ms. Tracy Kimathi – CEO/Founder, Tree_Sea.mals, Baridi, Kenya - Women and Youth Access to Finance 
  • Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR
Moderated Roundtable with Senior Country Representatives (60 min)
  • Chair and Moderator: Muhammadou M.O. Kah 
  • Republic of Benin
  • Republic of Ghana
  • Republic of Kenya
  • Republic of Malawi
  • Kingdom of Morocco
  • Republic of Rwanda
  • Republic of Uganda
  • Republic of Zambia
  • Republic of Sierra Leone
  • Republic of Somalia
  • Republic of Ethiopia
Reactions:
  • Ms. Alice Ruhweza – President, AGRA
  • Dr. Andreas Schaumayer – Head of Division, Food and Nutrition Security, Global Food Policy, Fisheries German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Concluding Remarks
  • H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki – African Union Special Envoy for Food Systems; Former Prime Minister, Niger; Co-Chair, Malabo Montpellier Forum
  • H.E. Dr. Assia Ben Salah Alaoui – Ambassador at Large to the King of Morocco; Co-Chair, Malabo Montpellier Forum

Reports


Background

The Malabo Montpellier Forum provides a platform for high-level policy dialogue on African agriculture, nutrition and food security, guided by evidence from the Malabo Montpellier Panel of 17 leading African and international experts. 

Co-chaired by H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and H.E. Dr. Assia Bensalah Alaoui, Ambassador at Large to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Forum meets biannually to address critical challenges in Africa's food systems. 

Extracts on research

Montpellier Panel (2025) MONEYWISE: Policy Innovations to Finance Africa's Agrifood Systems 126 pp. 

The report makes some general references to the importance of linking research outcomes with private funding, particularly to enhance investment in Africa’s agrifood systems. Here are the key insights:

Linking Research Outcomes with Private Funding

1. Research and Innovation as Investment Enablers

“Research and innovation systems will need to be harnessed to deliver on productivity, resilience, and sustainability goals… especially for small-scale producers. It also plays a critical role in enabling private sector actors to invest confidently in agrifood systems.” Page: 3 

Research outcomes help de-risk investments and support evidence-based innovations, making the sector more attractive to private investors.

2. Need for Data to Guide Private Investment

“Private investment in agrifood systems is discouraged when the costs of identifying viable opportunities are high, or when the risks cannot be assessed reliably due to lack of information.” Page: 8 

This highlights how quality research and data systems are essential for building trust and transparency, which are prerequisites for private capital engagement.

3. Development of Financing Instruments Based on Evidence

“Innovative financial instruments, such as blended finance, rely on evidence generated by research and pilots to demonstrate feasibility and scalability.” Page: 15 

Research findings are critical inputs for designing and validating financial tools that combine public and private funding.

 4. Enabling Policy Through Research to Attract Private Capital

“Evidence-based policy design creates an enabling environment for private investment, as it signals consistency and long-term commitment.” Page: 10 

Research feeds into policy stability, which is often a prerequisite for private sector participation in agricultural and food system investments.


# Recommendation Description Page
1 Public Investment in Research (Kampala Declaration) Calls for increased public investment in research, infrastructure, and inclusive planning as part of financing agrifood system transformation. 2
2 Research, Innovation, and Technology (Africa Common Position) Highlights the investment needs in research, innovation, and technologies to support small-scale producers and build resilient food systems. 3
3 Support for Advanced Science & Technology Recommends investment in biotechnology, nanotechnology, ICT, and spatial technologies to drive innovation and transformation in agrifood supply chains. 4
4 Investment in Data Systems and Evidence Generation Advocates for financing data collection and analysis to support evidence-based planning, identify gaps, and track financial flows in agrifood systems. 8
5 Capacity for Policy and Regulatory Research Emphasizes the need to invest in policy research and institutional capacity for transparent, inclusive regulatory frameworks in agricultural financing. 10
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