The Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Investment Forum 2025 opened at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, presenting over $15.9 billion in investment opportunities aimed at improving food security for vulnerable populations worldwide. The four-day event brings together more than 2,000 participants from governments, private companies, development banks, and foundations, enabling countries to pitch projects across a range of sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, and cash crops. Countries such as Somalia, Tuvalu, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Paraguay are presenting investment cases designed to generate both economic returns and livelihood improvements.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu emphasized that transforming global agrifood systems requires not only increased investment but better-targeted and long-term financing aligned with national priorities. He highlighted that low- and lower-middle-income countries hold significant potential for growth, and strategic allocation of resources guided by robust data and analysis is essential to maximize impact. The forum this year features 31 countries and six regional initiatives with investment opportunities across agrifood sectors valued at nearly $16 billion, potentially benefiting over 175 million people by enhancing food security, nutrition, and climate resilience.
The Hand-in-Hand Initiative provides countries with tools and technical support, including geospatial analysis, soil mapping, climate-risk assessment, and economic analysis, to prepare investment plans. Investors can connect with countries and regional initiatives through bilateral meetings facilitated by a dedicated app. By leveraging public finance as a catalyst, the forum helps de-risk private investment, fostering collaboration that translates capital into crops, innovation, and improved livelihoods. President Gabriel Boric of Chile delivered a keynote address, reinforcing the importance of collective action to support sustainable agrifood systems.
The forum’s agenda includes thematic sessions on systemic investing, climate finance, and approaches targeting women and youth, as well as panels on connecting investments with smallholder farmers and resilient value chains. A new regional initiative for Pacific Small Island Developing States, totaling nearly $1 billion, focuses on biosecurity, pest management, digitalization, certification, traceability, and infrastructure improvements for coconut, taro, and fisheries. The Investors Networking Lounge and private sector reception facilitate dialogue and collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and private investors.
Since its inception, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative has expanded to include 80 countries. The 2024 forum showcased $15 billion in investment opportunities from 29 countries and five regional initiatives, potentially reaching over 120 million beneficiaries. Notable successes include Papua New Guinea securing $60 million to develop national horticultural markets, South Sudan receiving $55.6 million to boost rice and sorghum production and support climate-smart agriculture, and São Tomé and Príncipe advancing its blue economy strategy with $15.6 million in financing. Small-scale farmers in highland Peru also benefited from HIH-facilitated deals, selling 600 tonnes of native potatoes to processing companies, demonstrating the initiative’s tangible impact on local food systems and livelihoods.
