The Africa Food Systems Forum - AGRF

30/10/2026

What can sport do for Africa’s food systems?

At the in Dakar last year, , President of Basketball Africa League (Basketball Africa League) challenged us to think bigger about the connection between sport, jobs, food and the people who feed us.

As Dakar welcomes the world for the , that conversation has now become very relevant. Sports can bring people together, shift perceptions and open new pathways for Africa’s food systems.

At our upcoming “Youth Champions for Health” side event on location in , we will continue exploring how sport can help build a healthier future for the next generation.

28/10/2026

As Amath Pathe SENE puts it: “No single group can keep Africa’s children healthy, so Dakar brings together leaders from every sector to connect and work toward the same goal. Real success means these partnerships continue long after the event ends.” 

When we look at the equation for empowering Africa’s youth ahead of the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympics, the math is simple: Strong Food Systems + Multi-Sector Partnerships = Healthy Champions. 

It takes an entire ecosystem to fuel the next generation, both on the sports field and in everyday life. Let’s keep the formula working long after the games end!

26/10/2026

Behind every winning streak is a community that thrives.

As the world gathers for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, We are proud to join forces with the Gates Foundation , AGRA , SEED Project , and ғ🌍ʀ ʜ♾ᴘᴇ in Dakar.
Under the theme “From Sporting Excellence to Community Health”

We will be exploring how nutrition, sport, and health intersect to build resilient futures across Africa.

31 October - 13 November 2026

Dakar, Senegal

Reach out to us for collaboration!

26/10/2026

16/10/2026

15/10/2026

43% of the global agricultural workforce is made up of women, yet they face unequal access to land, resources, and leadership.

Today, on the International Day of Rural Women, AFSForum honors the millions of resilient women farmers, producers, and indigenous leaders who act as the backbone of our global food systems and the primary stewards of our land.

From conserving seeds to nourishing communities, their work sustains us all.

True agricultural progress is impossible without gender equity. Let’s invest in their rights, resource access, and future.

09/10/2026

Africa’s food systems story is also a global one. At GFSS in Abu Dhabi, the AFS Forum took its message to the UAE-Africa Pavilion: Bringing Global Opportunities to the continent’s food future.

The conversations centred on investment, innovation and scale, on the finance needed to grow, and on sovereignty in how Africa feeds itself. The goal is to feed the future, and Africa has earned its seat at the table.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, visited the pavilion and shared their vision. The momentum continues.

08/10/2026

How do we bring hands together to make Africa’s food security a reality?

That question has run through three days of engaging conversations at . Yesterday was Africa Day, hosted alongside the Africa Investment Forum, and our Lead for Communications and Advocacy, Jessie Lafourcade-Morena, reflects on what came out of it.

The message was clear. Africa needs a roadmap with solutions adapted to its realities, more capital and investment flowing into its food systems, and practical solutions that deliver real benefits for farmers.

The conversations continue, and so does the work of turning them into action.

08/10/2026

Africa is a continent of opportunity, and connections are key to turning that opportunity into shared progress.

At the session on Africa’s Contribution to Global Food Security: Investment, Innovation and Scale, co-hosted by the UAE Food Cluster and AFSF, leaders explored how the right partners can connect Africa’s agricultural strengths with capital, knowledge, technology and markets to strengthen food security across the continent and globally.

The scale of opportunity is clear. According to the AfDB, Africa’s food and agribusiness sector is projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030, while by 2050, one in four people on earth will be African. Its land resources, youthful population and the integrated market being built through the AfCFTA offer a strong foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation called for joint investment built on comparative advantages, supported by bilateral cooperation and coordinated action between governments and the private sector.

Richard Kwaku Ofori-Mante, Director of Agricultural Finance and Rural Development at the African Development Bank, highlighted how partnerships can help de-risk investment through blended finance, guarantees, value chain financing and the Agri-Food SME Catalytic Financing Mechanism (ACFM).

Hon. Bryan Smart Kanu, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Sierra Leone, shared how Feed Salone is delivering results in rice and cassava, guided by the principle: « Sovereignty first, value kept at home, export success. »

As AFSF Managing Director Amath Pathe Sene put it: « The potential is there. What is remaining is what it takes for the continent to play its part. »

The next step is to turn these connections into a shared roadmap for action. Through triangular cooperation and practical solutions that can scale, these partnerships can create value for farmers, businesses and communities, and advance both African and global food security.