Regional and international development partners are coming together in Nairobi to strengthen financing for food systems transformation across the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region. The high-level workshop is being organized by IGAD in collaboration with the UN Joint SDG Fund, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, AGFUND, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and other United Nations partners.
The initiative aims to address one of the biggest challenges in development finance—turning funding commitments into investable projects that support sustainable and resilient food systems. The workshop will bring together government representatives, UN agencies, financial institutions, and private sector investors to align investments with national priorities across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.
The IGAD region faces significant food security challenges despite its ecological diversity. Approximately 70% of the region consists of hyper-arid drylands, while climate change, conflict, land degradation, and fragmented markets continue to affect agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Organizers believe stronger regional cooperation and innovative financing are essential to breaking recurring cycles of food insecurity.
The workshop builds on recent commitments to strengthen food systems financing. In 2024, the Arab Coordination Group pledged up to USD 10 billion by 2030 for land restoration and climate resilience across the region. In addition, a coordinated USD 15 million investment announced during the 2025 UN Food Systems Summit demonstrated the potential of collaborative financing models involving governments, development partners, and investors.
Participants will identify barriers that limit investment in food systems and develop a select number of coordinated regional investment pathways that will be refined with financial partners over the next year. These investment opportunities will be based on existing national development plans, climate commitments, and adaptation strategies to ensure they are country-led and investment-ready.
The organizers emphasize that the challenge has shifted from securing financial commitments to creating bankable projects capable of attracting large-scale investment. By fostering stronger partnerships between governments, international organizations, and the private sector, the initiative seeks to accelerate sustainable agriculture, improve food security, enhance climate resilience, and support long-term economic development across the IGAD region.
