The African Development Bank (AfDB) will host a high-level side event titled “From Pledges to Plates: Financing Africa’s Agriculture and Food Systems” on 3 September 2025 in Diamnadio, Dakar, Senegal, with livestream access for global participants. This event, held alongside the Africa Food Systems Forum, aims to foster dialogue, share lessons, and strengthen collaboration among African finance ministers, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society, and farmer organizations to scale investments that advance food security across the continent.
The forum will focus on innovative financing mechanisms, improving delivery platforms, and increasing accountability for transformative food systems. Participants will discuss the current status of national compacts and other commitments made during the Dakar 2 Summit on Feed Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience in January 2023. These compacts, adopted with measurable indicators, aim to accelerate investment, policy reform, and agricultural transformation in Africa.
Key areas of discussion will include supporting smallholder farmers and Agri-SMEs through financing innovations, developing public-private partnerships to create inclusive value chains, and promoting climate resilience. The event will also emphasize youth engagement and gender inclusion as essential components of sustainable and equitable food systems, highlighting AfDB’s role in driving strategic investments and accountability for the continent’s agricultural development.
