10th AFRICAN DIASPORA AGROFOOD FORUM

23-24 October 2026. ADAF26 - 10th AFRICAN DIASPORA AGROFOOD FORUM - REIMAGINING REMITTANCES Mobilizing Diaspora Wealth for Food Systems Transformation. 

OFFICIAL OPENING :  

• Moderator Paddy Siyanga Knudsen - African Non-state Actors Platform on Migration & Development 
• Welcome remarks from Food Bridge vzw  - Dr. Maureen Duru, Founder The Food Bridge vzw 

Opening Remarks 

• Mr.  Rob de Lobel — Head of Labour Mobility Unit, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Belgium and Luxembourg 
• Mr. Raschad Al- Khafaji — Director, FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium.
• His Excellency, Dr Adebayo Emmanuel Adeyemi— Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Belgium. 
• Keynote Speech: His Excellency Henry Tachie-Menson, Ambassador of Ghana to the Kingdom of Belgium 

High - level Panel Discussion 

• Mauro Martini, Senior Technical Specialist - Remittances, Migration and Development at the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 
• Francois Stepman, Advisor Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research  
• Esther M. Mbidi, Founder- Credassur Group Europe  
• Latifa Ait-Baala, Member of Brussels Parliament 

PANEL 1  African Diaspora Entrepreneurs: Building the Future of Africa's Food Systems 

Diaspora entrepreneurs are creating businesses, introducing African products to new markets, investing in processing and agriculture, and connecting African producers to international consumers. 

Central question: What will it take for African diaspora entrepreneurs to move from individual business success to becoming major drivers of Africa's food systems transformation? 

• Nana Adjoa Sifa Amponsah, Founder, Guzakuza & WiFAI Global United Kingdom 
• Nvenakeng Suzanne Awung, Deputy CEO Suzy-Farms Ltd Cameroon 
• Kamogelo Thumankwe, Founder & CEO, Tsarona Germany 
• Ana Tavares, AECV France

SPECIAL PRESENTATION - Launch of the 2026 Compendium of African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs  

Official presentation highlighting entrepreneurs, innovations, businesses and emerging opportunities across the diaspora agrofood ecosystem. 

Special African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur Award 

Recognition of an outstanding African diaspora entrepreneur demonstrating innovation, impact, entrepreneurship and contribution to African food systems. 

PANEL 2 - INVESTMENT & FINANCE 

From Remittances to Investment: Mobilizing Diaspora Capital for Africa's Agrofood Growth Central question: What will it take to move diaspora capital from remittances and savings into investable, scalable and profitable African agrofood enterprises? 

• Ayele Sikavi Gabiam, Co-founder & Director of partnerships LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub Belgium 
• Jaona Ravaloson, Partner Arborenscence Capital 
• France Kizito Odhiambo, Founder & CEO agriBORA , Germany 
• Giulia Castro, Project Coordinator, Migration Team, FAO-Headquarters Rome Italy
• Moderator: Fridah Ntarangwi- Co founder, ZidiCircle 

10 Years of Building Diaspora Agrofood Bridges: Moving from Community Initiatives to Global Agrofood Ecosystem 

A retrospective and forward-looking conversation about diaspora entrepreneurship ecosystem, marking the 10th edition of ADAF. 

24/10 INNOVATION WORKSHOP & PRODUCT SHOWCASE 

Taste the Future: From African Crop to Global Product; Reinventing Indigenous African Foods - By Collective Action on Forgotten Foods 

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS' ROUNDTABLE 

Beyond Remittances: Rethinking the Role of Development Agencies in Diaspora-Led Agrofood 

Projects. Central question: How can development agencies move from engaging diasporas primarily as remittance senders to partnering with them as development actors, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators and market connectors? 

CLOSING SESSION 

From Conversation to Action: Building the Diaspora Agrofood Investment Ecosystem. Representatives from the workshops briefly present 3-5 actions or recommendations emerging from their sessions. Closing remarks, acknowledgements, partner recognition and announcement of next steps.