4th Africa Regional Food Systems Transformation Meeting

18–20 May 2026 in Accra, Ghana.

The 4th Africa Regional Food Systems Transformation Meeting brought together National Food Systems Convenors, governments, regional institutions, UN agencies, development partners, researchers, civil society, youth organizations, and the private sector. The meeting focused on accelerating implementation of national food systems transformation pathways following the adoption of the CAADP-Kampala Declaration and the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4). Participants reviewed progress made since previous regional meetings, shared lessons from implementation, and identified opportunities for stronger collaboration, investment, and accountability across Africa.

A central theme throughout the meeting was moving from planning to delivery. Discussions emphasized improving governance, financing, monitoring systems, science and innovation, private-sector engagement, and youth leadership to transform African food systems into more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable systems. The meeting also sought to align national actions with continental frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and CAADP-Kampala, while strengthening regional cooperation to address common challenges including climate change, food insecurity, economic shocks, and unemployment.

1. High-Level Roundtable 1 Opportunities for Better Synergy Between National Pathways, Global and Continental Policy Frameworks

Purpose: To explore how national food systems transformation pathways can be aligned with continental frameworks such as CAADP and Agenda 2063, while ensuring that country priorities shape regional and global agendas.

• Clement Adjorlolo (Moderator) Principal Programme Officer, Agriculture and Rural Transformation, AUDA-NEPAD
• Mokganedi Mokopasetso National Food Systems Convenor, Botswana
• Leon Baïkoua National Food Systems Convenor, Central African Republic
• Chantal Ingabire Director General for Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Rwanda
• Victor Mbumwae National Food Systems Convenor, Zambia
• Lorenz Franken Institution Building Specialist, Committee on World Food Security

2. Panel Discussion How to Unlock Financing and Investment for Food Systems Transformation?

Purpose: To identify practical financing mechanisms and investment approaches that can accelerate implementation of food systems transformation pathways.

• Max von Bonsdorff (Moderator) Chief, Global and Multilateral Engagement, International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD
• Arsene Bationo Private Sector and Grants Management & Compliance Expert, African Development Bank AFDB
• Athur (Arthur) Mabiso Lead Regional Economist, International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD
• Gabriel Ferrero Senior Strategic Advisor, Global Agriculture and Food Security Program
• Zak Bleicher Senior Advisor and Global Coordinator, Agrifood Systems Accelerator
• Tobie Ondoa Manga Inspector General of Agricultural Development, Government of Cameroon
• Mohamed Abdi Yusuf National Food Systems Convenor, Somalia
• Chantal Ingabire Director General for Planning, MINAGRI, Rwanda

3. Roundtable: How Can the Private Sector Support Food Systems Transformation?

Purpose: To discuss how businesses can help drive innovation, investment, and scaling of food systems transformation initiatives.

• Carolin Busch (Moderator) Junior Professional Officer, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
• Tolu Kweku Lacroix Executive Director, UN Global Compact Ghana
• Worlali Senyo Senior Vice President, Farmerline
• Anthony Selorm Morrison President and CEO, Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana
• Aleksa Mirkovic Project Administrator, United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO

4. Panel: Strengthening Accountability in Food Systems Transformation

Purpose: To explore monitoring, reporting, and accountability mechanisms that can improve implementation and track progress toward food systems goals.

• Medhat Elhelepi (Moderator) Regional Coordinator for Africa, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub*
• Clement Adjorlolo Principal Programme Officer, AUDA-NEPAD
• Fatmata Lucia Seiwoh National Food Systems Convenor, Sierra Leone
• Thembani Malapela Knowledge Management Officer, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
• Victor Mbumwae National Food Systems Convenor, Zambia
• Faisal Munkaila Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana

5. High-Level Roundtable 2: Leveraging Science, Innovation and Data for Evidence-Based Food Systems Transformation in Africa

Purpose: To examine how science, research, innovation, and data systems can improve decision-making and accelerate food systems transformation.

• Günter Hemrich (Moderator) Strategic Lead, Food Systems Coordination, UN Food Systems Coordination Hub
• Abdulrazak Ibrahim Director, Research and Innovation (Food Systems), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana
• Amira Abdelrahim Ali Mohammed Food Systems and Agricultural Policy Specialist, Sudan*
• Demba Sabally National Food Systems Convenor, The Gambia
• Roza Fachi Mbilizi Food Systems and Nutrition Expert, Malawi
• Samira Hotobah-During Executive Secretary and Director Alliance African Local Food and Nutrition Supply Chains 
• Richard Tweneboa Kodua Director, Science and Innovation, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana

6. Panel Discussion: How to Capitalize on the Youth Dividend and Promote Co-Leadership for Food Systems Transformation?

Purpose: To explore how young people can be empowered as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in food systems transformation.

• Caesar Vulley (Moderator) Youth and Food Systems Advocate, Ghana
• Haroun Moussa (Opening Remarks) Technical Adviser on Youth and Skills Development, AUDA-NEPAD
• Delfina Hlashway (Keynote) Youth Food Systems Champion, Namibia
• Kefilwe Roba Moalosi Senior Nutrition and Food Safety Officer, AUDA-NEPAD
• Mirirai Tembo Youth Representative, Food Systems Movement, Zambia
• Fatmata Binta Founder and Executive Director, Community Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sierra Leone

Related:

 22 May 2026. Farmer cooperatives play a critical role in strengthening inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems by organizing smallholder producers and enhancing access to markets, finance, technology, and knowledge, while increasing farmers’ bargaining power and income security and supporting local value chain development. 

The session brought together practitioners, policymakers, development partners, and cooperative leaders to share practical experiences and lessons learned from cooperative-led initiatives, examine how cooperatives enhance smallholder inclusion in food systems, and identify policy, institutional, and investment pathways to strengthen cooperative models, as well as opportunities to scale cooperative-driven solutions across diverse contexts, ultimately generating actionable insights on how to effectively support cooperatives in accelerating food systems transformation at both national and global levels.