Laura Wekesa
Marketing Advisor, GAIN
Webinar: Shaping Consumer Demand for Nutritious Diets in Africa
Exploring the drivers of consumer demand, and the influence of private-sector strategies and policy frameworks.
Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Time: 3:30–5:00 pm CEST
Format: Virtual webinar
Duration: 90 minutes
About the event
Shaping Consumer Demand for Nutritious Diets in Africa
Consumer food choices are shaped by many factors, including knowledge, awareness, affordability, pricing, convenience, access, taste, trust and marketing. These factors influence what people choose to eat across both informal and formal markets, and play an important role in shaping demand for nutritious foods.
As African countries seek to improve nutrition outcomes while advancing sustainable agri-food systems, more attention is needed on how consumer demand can be influenced to support healthier diets.
This webinar will explore the key drivers of consumer demand for nutritious diets and examine how private-sector action and enabling policies can shape healthier food environments. It will also reflect on the opportunities, constraints and trade-offs involved in aligning commercial objectives, affordability and nutrition goals in Africa’s rapidly evolving food systems.
The session will explore:
- How consumer demand can support healthier diets.
- The role of private-sector strategies in shaping food environments.
- How policies and regulatory frameworks can support nutritious food choices.
- Insights to inform Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 Nutrition and Health Platform discussions.
Programme
Webinar programme
| Time | Session | Speaker / Lead |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30–3:35 pm | Introduction and scene-setting | Wanjiru Kamande, GAIN Regional Marketing Advisor – Consumer Nutrition |
| 3:35–3:40 pm | Opening remarks Broader context of the Africa Food Systems Forum and relevance of the webinar | Bertha Mkandawire, AGRA Lead, Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture |
| 3:40–4:00 pm | Presentations Enabling environment for nutritious foods and healthy diets; private-sector role and retailer assessment findings | IDRC speaker to be confirmed; Freddie von Kaufmann, ATNI |
| 4:00–4:05 pm | Introduction to the panel session | Moderator |
| 4:05–4:35 pm | Panel discussion: Shapers of Demand and the Influence of the Private Sector and Enabling Environment | Greg Hallen, IDRC; Laura Wekesa, GAIN; Consolata Musita, CGIAR; OECD speaker to be confirmed |
| 4:35–4:55 pm | Interactive Q&A | All speakers and participants |
| 4:55–5:00 pm | Closing remarks and call to action | To be confirmed |
Organizers
This webinar is led by GAIN and convened in collaboration with AGRA, ATNI, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, OECD and IDRC.
GAIN Participants and Contributors
GAIN colleagues contributing to this webinar through moderation, technical input and discussion on consumer demand, market partnerships and nutritious diets.
Miriam Shindler
Programme Lead, Children and Young People
Aimé Kwizera
Programme Lead, Nutrition Enterprise Development
Webinar focus
What the webinar will explore
The webinar will bring together evidence, practical experience and policy-relevant insights on how to strengthen demand for nutritious foods across Africa’s formal and informal markets.
01
Drivers of demand
Examine how awareness, pricing, marketing, desirability, taste, convenience and access shape consumer preferences and behaviours for nutritious foods.
02
Private-sector strategies
Explore how private-sector action can increase availability and desirability of healthier diets while reducing incentives that promote unhealthy food choices.
03
Enabling policies
Discuss how policies and regulatory frameworks can support increased demand for nutritious foods and reduce the supply of unhealthy foods.
04
AFSF 2026 insights
Generate insights to inform upcoming AFSF 2026 dialogues on policy, thematic action and investment priorities.
Who should attend
Bringing together actors across Africa’s food systems
This webinar is designed for stakeholders working to improve food environments, strengthen nutritious food markets and support healthier diets across Africa.
Policymakers and government officials
For those working across nutrition, agriculture, trade and industry, finance and urban development.
Private-sector actors
Including food producers, processors, retailers, SMEs, informal market operators and business associations.
Investors and finance institutions
For organisations supporting investment in agri-food systems and nutrition-sensitive food environments.
Regional and continental institutions
For institutions supporting regional food systems, nutrition and development priorities.
Civil society and development partners
Including NGOs and partners working on nutrition, food systems, health and inclusive development.
Researchers and practitioners
For experts working in nutrition, food systems, consumer behaviour and public health.
Youth- and women-led entrepreneurs
For agri-food entrepreneurs shaping markets, products and consumer access to nutritious foods.
Farmer and business associations
For groups representing producers, businesses and market actors across the agri-food sector.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Organised by:
This webinar is convened by GAIN, in collaboration with AGRA, ATNI, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, OECD and IDRC.
