Kigali to host Africa’s Food System forum with focus on youths, women

Over 5,000 stakeholders from across Africa and internationally are expected to convene in Kigali, Rwanda next month to discuss Africa’s food system.

The annual Food System Forum (AFSF) would focus on accelerating food systems transformation with youth and women at the helm.

World leaders, innovators, academia, development agencies, farmers’ organizations and the private sector from across Africa and beyond are expected to attend, according to a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday by the conveners, AFSF.

This year’s summit, themed “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era,” would spotlight innovations and technologies, policies and delivery mechanisms, and best practices.

They claimed that this would showcase business models and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa with youth and women at the helm.

Leaders at this year’s convening would examine the urgent need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and meet the Malabo Declaration’s commitments by 2025.

The event is expected be graced by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, along with several current and former presidents, ministers and key players from government and the private sector.

Amath Pathé Sene, Managing Director of the AFS Forum, said their presence at the forum showcased the high-level commitment to addressing the critical issues facing Africa’s food systems.

“Innovating, accelerating and scaling are not just words, they are the pillars upon which the future of African food systems will be built. We are committed to leveraging the best of science, policy and technology to drive this transformation,” Sene stated.

He added that this year’s summit provided an unparalleled platform for stakeholders to come together, share insights, and forge partnerships that will lead to tangible actions.

Sene emphasized that it was through such collective efforts that the pressing challenges of climate change, food insecurity and economic inclusivity can be addressed.

Rwanda Prime Minister, Edouard Ngirente, who officially launched the forum in March, called for the transformation of agriculture to make it a powerful engine of the economy.

Ngirente said to transform the agriculture sector into a powerful engine for economic development, Rwanda was embracing innovation and making evidence-based policy decisions.

“In this context, the government has focused on de-risking the sector to ensure that it becomes more profitable and attractive for the youth and private sector actors,” he said.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.