The SAIP Initiative is a landmark $80–100 million blended-finance Public-Private Producer Partnership (PPPP) to transform Somalia’s food system into a climate-smart, nutrition-focused growth engine. Anchored by an integrated farm, more than 20,000 smallholder out-growers, and a modern, digitalized processing facility, SAIP will deliver fortified foods tailored to both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term national resilience.

 

This interactive youth networking session where youth delegates will explore the powerful connection between food, choices, and well-being. Through expert insights, engaging discussions, fun activities, food tasting and peer-to-peer sharing, the session will explore how our food choices impact health, carbon footprints, and the prosperity of farmers and communities. This networking session is curated for individuals passionate about nutrition, curious about food systems, or simply seeking to connect with like-minded peers. At the end of this session, delegates will have the opportunity to learn, reflect, and explore how their food choices can influence the food system.
 

This landmark gathering will unite a diverse coalition of leaders, funders, investors, farmers, youth, innovators, and partners to reflect on AGRA’s 20-year journey, envision the next chapter, and galvanize action for agricultural transformation under the theme “Agriculture Can’t Wait.” We believe your insights and leadership would be invaluable in inspiring participants and setting the tone for this significant convening.

 

As a follow-up to the session on Africa’s Food Systems Financing held during the Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (FSS+4), this session will convene some African decision-makers, technical experts, development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders to dive deeper into first-of-its-kind data intelligence on the distribution and relative importance of development finance and domestic resource mobilization in country-level food systems financing. It will also signal the launch of a continuing process of dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collective action to sustain momentum beyond a single convening on food systems financing 
 

The session will sensitize young people on the business case for tackling Africa’s nutrition challenges. It will equip youth agripreneurs with practical insights and guide them through key steps to start or scale nutrition-sensitive enterprises. Participants will engage in at least one hands-on activity or assignment, ensuring real-time application of concepts. The Masterclass will inspire and empower youth to drive change across food systems by integrating nutrition into their business models for improved health and economic impact.

 

Africa’s food environments are at a critical time of transformation—shaped by rapid urbanization, market disruptions, climate stress, cultural preferences, and aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods. These factors influence what people eat, how they access food,

 

The African Union identifies weak implementation capacity and coordination as an essential problem to resolve if the Kampala Declaration period (2026-35) is to meet its agri-food transformation goals. All the while headwinds like climate change and geo-political tensions are making the challenge harder. The problem and the solution to implementation capacity and coordination is the same: By building Food Systems Leadership. A desire for new forms of collaboration cross-sector are outlined in the CAADP Strategy and Implementation Plan . But how is this to be achieved? By building Food Systems Leadership.

 

This session will showcase how youth are taking leadership in governance spaces for food systems transformation, focusing on accountability, inclusivity, and sustainability. Youth champions from across the continent will highlight solutions they are advancing, while policymakers and partners will reflect on opportunities to support and scale youth-led initiatives.

Africa faces a growing nutrition crisis with one-third unable to afford healthy diets. As donor aid declines, private sector innovation and investment become vital. This session explores how the African private sector is responding. It also touches upon post-N4G financial commitments and generates solutions for inclusive nutrition financing through investment in youth entrepreneurs and positive innovation. 

This event will be highlighting the transformative impact of the role of youth and showcase circular solutions led by youth and MSMEs circular agrifood practices in regenerative agriculture, food loss and waste reduction, health diets and productive use of waste and general resource use efficiency. Through interactive dialogue and case presentations, the event will promote inclusive partnerships and policy alignment to scale circular food system innovations across Africa, especially among the youth. It will centre on gender-inclusive FLW solutions and strengthen youth agency in transforming agri-food systems, policy, and sustainability in Africa.

WISHH will be sponsoring SMEs active in livestock and animal feeds to pitch at the AFSF forum. They will be having five SMEs pitching one after the other to investors 
 

Food System Transformation (FST) is happening, but not quickly enough. It faces new headwinds in the shrinking of aid, disruptions to trade and threats to multilateralism.  This session will explore the enablers and barriers to faster FST and will introduce a multiparter initiative—the Accelerator—designed to accelerate FST by (a) partnering with governments to quickly turn their policy priorities into investible actions that leverage the private sector and (b) mobilising and connecting DFIs to FST policy and capacity to help finance these actions to accelerate food system transformation. The Accelerator aims to partner with 50 countries globally by 2030.
 

“The Nexus Game” is a life-sized, strategy-based simulation that places participants in real-world roles — farmers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and energy providers, development sector — to explore the trade-offs in food systems transformation under climate stress, energy constraints, and nutrition deficiencies,

 

“The agriculture sector consumes 30% of global energy, yet in sub-Saharan Africa, many farmers lack reliable electricity, limiting productivity and resilience. Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE), such as off-grid solar, can meet up to 80% of off-grid agricultural needs but is often overlooked in favor of large-scale grid projects. DRE can power irrigation, refrigeration, and processing, supporting nutrition and smallholder livelihoods. Integrated energy planning that aligns centralized and decentralized solutions with agricultural needs is essential. This session introduces off-grid solar in agriculture, showcasing real-world cases and exploring how DRE can improve food systems, incomes, and nutrition in rural communities.

 

For young leaders committed to unlocking Africa’s potential through food system transformation, this masterclass is your next strategic step. It's carefully curated to provide you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to lead impactful efforts. Informed by the GAIN Youth Leadership Initiative and the Africa Food Fellowship, the session offers a rich and practical learning environment, connecting robust theory with actionable insights. 

 

"Brief description of event for public program 
This special event will explore how to strengthen African agrifood systems as engines of meaningful job creation for young rural women, focusing on three enablers: opportunity, awareness, and capacity.
Opportunity: FAO research shows most job growth will occur between the farmgate and consumer—sectors like processing, transport, storage, and retail—dominated by MSMEs. The challenge is enabling these enterprises to start, survive, and scale, with young women at the forefront.
Awareness: key to shifting outdated perceptions of rural agrifood jobs. Policymakers must recognize these systems not just for food and income, but for employment potential. Consumers, too, must shift toward nutritious diets to drive demand and MSME job growth. Capacity building through education, training, and apprenticeships is vital. 
The session will highlight intersections with nutritious food demand—an expanding, labor intensive sector—and aims to raise awareness, spotlight synergies with food systems goals, and identify practical actions to support young women in job creation and nutrition."

The LAWFF program, now in its 3rd year, is a six-month fellowship that supports outstanding African women who are transforming the food ecosystem. The Closeout Event brings fellows together for learning, networking, visibility, and graduation, marking the culmination of their fellowship journey.