In preparation for the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4), which will take place in Addis Ababa from 27-29 July 2025, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub – in collaboration with Regional Economic Commissions and the broader UN system – is organizing five Regional Preparatory Meetings from March to May 2025.
Building on the momentum of UNFSS+2 and the UN Secretary-General's Call to Action for accelerated food systems transformation, these regional meetings will provide a platform for National Convenors, Member States, UN agencies, civil society, private sector actors, financial institutions, academia, and other stakeholders to assess progress, strengthen accountability, and unlock investments for food systems transformation.
The meeting:
The Director of Programme Implementation and Coordination at AUDA-NEPAD Estherine Fotabong:
- Reflected on progress in food systems transformation since UNFSS 2021, identifying successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
- Strengthened accountability by evaluating the roles, commitments and contributions of both state and non-state actors.
- Unlocked investments to scale impactful solutions, leveraging new partnerships, financial tools, and innovations.
- Enhanced technical and operational capacities of stakeholders to implement transformative food systems solutions.
- Fostered peer learning and partnerships across regions to accelerate national-level action.
"The Kampala document and its accompanying Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035) mark a shift from agriculture-led growth to a comprehensive agrifood systems approach, anchored in climate resilience, nutrition security, and inclusive livelihoods. Four years after the inaugural UN Food Systems Summit, Africa has taken decisive steps including: commitment to increasing agrifood output by 45%, reducing post-harvest losses by 50%, and trippling intra-African trade by 2035, in alignment with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)."
Extract of the programme
06/05 Unlocking Investments and Increasing Financing: The Business Case to attract investments and private sector into the food systems
This session covered investment financing cases from the perspectives of development partners, governments and SMEs, highlighting practical business models for food systems transformation. The session also discussed the role of private sector and corporate accountability. It explored practical cases of viable business cases for investing in FST including investment readiness, risk management, and cost.
- Keynote Speech H.E. Ibrahim Mayaki, African Union Food Systems Envoy (online)
- Ms Agnes Kalibata, UN Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, Member of the UN Food Systems Advisory Group
- Ms Michelle Kagari, Senior Director Government Relations and Policy, One Acre Fund
- Mr Elly Elvis Choso, Business Development Advisor, SNV Netherlands Development Organization
- Zambia (confirmed)
- Cameroon (confirmed)
06/05 Unlocking Investments and Increasing Financing: Current Landscape for FST in Africa
This session explored financing and investment opportunities for food systems transformation in the Africa region, including the roles of private financial institutions, development banks, and regional funds.
- Moderator: Ms Cathy Kamau, Food Systems Specialist, AGRA
- Joint presentation Ms. Nadine Gbossa, Director of Food Systems Coordination, IFAD, and Mr Chris Brett, Lead Agribusiness Specialist, World Bank
- Ms Fiona Napier, Senior Advisor, Nature Finance, Financial Sector Deepening Africa - FSD-Africa (online)
- Mr Peter Odhengo, Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Kenya, Treasury
- Mr. Arthur Mabiso, Lead Regional Economist for West and Central Africa, IFAD (online)
- Ms Ophelie Hemonin, Policy Officer, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
- Ms Christiane Rudert, Regional Nutrition Advisor, UNICEF ESARO
07/05 Partnerships and Accountability – Local actors and stakeholders' insights & perspectives
Exploring roles, commitments, and gaps in food systems transformation through stakeholder perspectives along agrifood
value chains, aiming to identify critical
gaps and opportunities for engagement.
- Mr Ishmael Sunga, Chief Executive Officer, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) (online)
- Ms Agnes Kirabo, Uganda SUN CSA Coordinator
- Mr Andrew Adem, Food Systems Coordinator, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA)
- Mr Elujulo Opeyemi, SDG2 Global Focal Point, UN MGCY, and Executive Director, YARN
07/05 Science-PolicySociety Interface and the role of youth in driving accelerated FST in Africa: Impact cases
This session explored the role of
science and innovation in transforming
food systems and building climate
resilience in Africa, with country
experiences on science-policy interfaces
and identifying key research gaps.
- Mr Andrew Kambugu, SandeMcKinnell Executive Director at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) at Makerere University (Mak) and Member of the Hub’s SAC
- Ms Elizabeth Mwende, Youth Representative, Stakeholder Engagement and Networking Advisory Group, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
- Ms Namukolo Covic, Regional Director, East and Southern Africa (ESA), CGIAR, and ILRI Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia
No comments:
Post a Comment