Nutrition Africa Investor Forum

16-17 October 2018. Nairobi (Kenya). The Nutrition Africa Investor Forum, is a platform for bold, fresh, holistic ideas to develop the food value chain and the role that the private sector can play in enhancing nutrition in Africa.

The Forum was being hosted by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) together with Royal DSM, SUN Business Network and African Business magazine.

It brought together business leaders and key players from the agriculture, development and academic communities as well as investors. The forum allowed investors to connect with investment opportunities in high impact nutrition businesses as well as to exchange knowledge, share experiences, explore collaborations and spark new ideas.

Extracts ofthe programme

See: NAIF BROCHURE_OCT 2018

What will the African food industry look like in 2030 – will it deliver safe and nutritious foods for all? 

This session identified the main trends and vectors of change in the agri-food business of the future. From new foods to data analytics and trade liberalisation to fintech, what impact will these disruptive trends have on agri-businesses scaling up nutrition impacts in Africa? 

• Shereen Tromp, Senior Consultant Specialised in Sub-Saharan African Research, Euromonitor 
• Jennifer Baarn, Head of Partnerships, AGRA 
• Myriam Sidibe, Senior Fellow, MRCBG, Harvard University – Marketing for Public Health and Africa Social Mission Director, Unilever 
• Rachel Kabuyah, Grants and Partnership, Manager, Twiga Foods 
• Fokko Wientjes, Vice President, Nutrition in Emerging Markets, Royal DSM

How can we finance the African food industry of the future to deliver safe and nutritious foods for all? 

A cross-section of experts built the case for investment in nutrition across the agri-food business chain and identify strategies to finance the scale-up the availability of African-produced nutritious foods. The session also discussed whether the appropriate finance instruments, both from public and private sources, are available to support Africa’s missing middle SMEs across the food value chain. 

• Niraj Shah, Head of the Private Sector Window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, IFC 

Panel 1 (investors): 

• Madeleine Onclin, Head of Sector – Nutrition, European Commission 
• Jordyan Corcoran, Chief Strategy Officer, 4G Capital 
• Randiana Tantely Rakotomalala, Impact Investment Adviser, Acacia Sustainable Business Advisors 
• Tom Adlam, Director, AgDevCo Rwanda 
• Clarisse Aduma, Senior Agribusiness Development Manager, KCB 

Panel 2 (companies seeking investment): 

• Rachel Chinku, Finance Manager, Java Foods 
• Eric Muthomi, Chief Executive Officer, Stawi Foods 
• Amar Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Improved Foods

White Paper Launch – Fuelling the Business of Nutrition:What will it take to unlock the investment opportunity in nutritious food value chains? 
Beth Jenkins and Richard Gilbert
October 2018. 28 pages

To mark the launch of the White Paper, the findings of the in-depth report from Harvard Kennedy School. This framed a discussion on the report’s recommendations including how donors, development organizations and government agencies can help uncover and de-risk investments and improve investment flows from private investors. 

• Introduction: Greg S. Garrett, Director of Food Policy and Financing, GAIN 
• Jane Nelson, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University 
• Patrick Elmer, Founder, iGravity 
• Anne Njuki, Investment Manager, DOB Equity 
• Sandrine Henton, Investment Director, Educate Global Fund 
• Mathias Hague, MEL Manager, AECF

How to grow the African nutrition businesses of the future 

An interactive session where experts offer insights into the common challenges faced by agri-food entrepreneurs. The session enabled delegates to understand how enterprises improving nutrition in Africa can become investment ready. 

• Nutrition: Dominic Schofield, President, GAIN Canada and Senior Technical Advisor, GAIN 
• Business Development: Fred Ogana, Managing Partner, East Africa Market Development Associates Ltd. 
• Investments: Gonçalo Neves-Correia, CEO, ThirdWay Africa 
• Investments: Andia Chakava, Investment Director, Graça Machel Trust 
• Innovative Partnerships: Adrian Van Der Knaap, Deputy Regional Director, East Africa, World Food Programme 

GAIN is organising the first Nutrition Africa Investor Forum to encourage businesses provide more nutritious foods. #NAIF #Africa #Businesshttps://t.co/1Jgk73D2F1 pic.twitter.com/4V4gYUiew1

— GAIN (@GAINalliance) 5 octobre 2018