The Food and Agriculture Organization has highlighted scalable solutions to transform agrifood systems across Africa during a special event at the 34th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. The event demonstrated how FAO’s flagship initiatives are delivering measurable results while unlocking new opportunities for investment, innovation, and inclusive growth.
Bringing together governments, partners, and practitioners, the event showcased five key initiatives: the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, One Country One Priority Product, Digital Villages Initiative, Green Cities Initiative, and the Villages Recognition Initiative. These programmes are already operating at scale, with 40 African countries engaged in the Hand-in-Hand Initiative alone, generating investment portfolios exceeding $12 billion.
Additional progress includes 35 countries developing value chains for 20 special agricultural products under the One Country One Priority Product initiative, while the Digital Villages Initiative has introduced advanced tools, including artificial intelligence, to rural communities in 10 countries. Meanwhile, the Green Cities Initiative is supporting 53 cities across 24 African countries, mobilizing over $21 million in investments.
Opening the session, Beth Bechdol emphasized that these initiatives are translating the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031 into practical, country-led solutions aligned with the “Four Betters” approach—better production, nutrition, environment, and quality of life.
Country-level examples illustrated the real-world impact of these programmes. In Zimbabwe, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative is supporting the development of a national agricultural investment plan designed to attract both public and private financing while strengthening food security. In Côte d’Ivoire, the Green Cities Initiative is promoting circular economy practices, including projects that convert organic waste into animal feed and fertilizer, creating jobs and reducing environmental impact.
Digital innovation is also playing a key role. In Rwanda, the Digital Villages Initiative is enabling farmers to access advisory services through AI-powered tools, improving productivity and market access, particularly for youth and women. Similarly, Malawi is leveraging the One Country One Priority Product initiative to revive banana production affected by pests and disease, while generating new income opportunities.
The event also introduced the Villages Recognition Initiative, which celebrates rural communities preserving agricultural heritage while embracing innovation. Rosso was among the first communities recognized for its sustainable farming practices and community-led development along the Senegal River.
Beth Crawford highlighted the importance of sharing lessons and scaling impact across countries, noting that success depends on data-driven planning, strong investment frameworks, and integrated approaches that connect production, markets, technology, and environmental sustainability.
Overall, the event underscored a clear message: transforming Africa’s agrifood systems requires moving beyond isolated projects toward coordinated, scalable solutions. With increasing pressure from climate change, economic challenges, and population growth, expanding these initiatives will be essential to achieving long-term food security and sustainable development across the continent.
