Overview

The Africa Food Systems Forum will host its annual summit in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 August to 5 September

Africa’s Food Systems Forum, formerly AGRF, is the world’s premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African food systems forward. Africa Food Systems Forum is designed to energise political will and advance the policies, programs, and investments required to achieve an inclusive and sustainable food systems transformation.

This year’s summit theme is:

 “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation"

 What to Expect

• Keynotes and Panels: Engage with global experts and African leaders on innovative approaches to drive inclusive agricultural growth and food security.
• Youth-Led Solutions: Learn from and network with young entrepreneurs spearheading impactful agri-food initiatives.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Connect with development agencies, civil society, researchers, investors, and grassroots movements to forge new alliances.
• Implementation Insights: Explore practical strategies and best practices for accelerating transformation across the agriculture value chain.

GAIN’s Ongoing Work Across the Africa Food Systems Forum Content Pillars

1. Women & Youth in Food Systems

At the core of GAIN's work is the understanding that women’s empowerment and the norms and institutions that enable it, is essential for achieving our mission of healthier diets for all, especially for those most vulnerable to malnutrition.

Women in Food Systems

Young people have extraordinary potential to mobilize and influence global food system change, beginning with simple pledges and collective action.

Youth in Food Systems

2. Sustainability & Climate

At GAIN, we align our work to improve access to healthy diets with key aspects of environmental sustainability—such as climate change, biodiversity, pollution, water and soil health, and plastic waste.

Environment at GAIN

3. Finance Gap & Accountability

GAIN collaborates with the Nutritious Food Financing Facility (N3F) to bridge the financing gap for nutrition-focused SMEs across Africa.

Through the Food Systems Dashboard, GAIN works with various partners to support countries in tracking progress on food systems transformation and identifying policy and investment gaps

4. Digital and Innovation

GAIN’s Fortify Forward Innovation Challenge (2024–2025) is a regional competition driving innovation in large-scale food fortification and biofortification across East and West Africa. Organized by GAIN’s LSFF, Biofortification, and Nutrition Connect, the challenge seeks scalable solutions to combat micronutrient deficiencies affecting nearly 500 million people, while improving public health through nutritious, fortified foods.

GAIN at Previous Africa Food Systems Forums

GAIN has been an active participant and contributor to the Africa Food Systems Forum over the years, using this platform to spotlight nutrition as a core element of food systems transformation.

The Africa Food Systems 2024 Rwanda 

The Africa Food Systems 2023 Tanzania