The article, originally published on CNBC Africa and authored by Ambassador Gabriel Ferrero, highlights the urgent food security challenges facing Africa as its population rapidly grows. By 2050, Africa is projected to house one in four people globally, yet despite global improvements, hunger is increasing on the continent, with over 300 million Africans undernourished in 2024. Climate change disproportionately affects African food production, exacerbating this crisis and fueling instability through rising food prices, as seen in Sudan’s 2018 protests.
African leaders and partners are convening at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar to address these challenges by transforming agrifood systems. Hunger not only threatens the right to food but also drives social unrest and displacement, emphasizing the need for systemic change to maintain stability both locally and internationally. The growing population and intensifying shocks make food system transformation critical for Africa’s future.
Despite these challenges, Africa has a significant opportunity to harness its potential by investing in food systems as part of the African Century vision. The continent has established the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Plan (CAADP) 2026-2035, which sets ambitious goals for agrifood transformation, poverty eradication, and global food security. African governments are already mobilizing resources and initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area to build more resilient food systems.
The CAADP outlines a commitment to secure $100 billion in public and private investment by 2035, but raising funds is only the first step. The critical challenge is ensuring that investment is impactful and aligned with country-specific priorities to maximize returns and support sustainable development goals. Effective coordination of international support behind African leadership is essential for success.
A demand-driven approach, where development agencies and partners align with African governments’ priorities, can reduce duplication and transaction costs while focusing resources where they have the greatest effect. Coordinated financing platforms like the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) pool resources from multiple donors, empowering African stakeholders to manage investments for agrifood transformation.
Examples of successful, locally-led initiatives funded by GAFSP illustrate the benefits of this approach. In Ethiopia, projects supported nearly 700,000 farmers, significantly increasing crop yields and incomes while building climate resilience. Similarly, a program in Senegal, backed by the African Development Bank, improved food security by enhancing productivity and water management, benefiting thousands of farmers, including women and youth, highlighting the importance of inclusive development.
These successes demonstrate that coordinated, locally prioritized investments can create catalytic effects, scaling impact across the continent and attracting further development finance and investor confidence. The key to achieving continent-wide agrifood transformation lies in closing the investment gap through unified efforts aligned with country-led plans.
The Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar represents a pivotal moment to move from commitment to action, ensuring that resources flow efficiently and effectively to build a more food-secure, stable, and prosperous Africa by 2035.
