By Prossy Nandudu
Heifer International is to engage agriculture sector stakeholders at this year’s Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF) to come up with innovative financing and support for youth-led solutions that can improve Africa’s food systems.
Innovations by the youth that need funding include climate-smart and sustainable practices in farming, food productivity and storage infrastructure among others.
This was revealed by Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President, Africa Programs, Heifer International, in a statement they issued on Wednesday evening.
“We believe that the gathering of vital stakeholders for Africa’s agricultural development at the AGRF 2023 is a critical opportunity to share our knowledge and experience in leveraging innovative funding and strategic partnerships to build more-resilient and sustainable food systems,” Ifedi said.
He explained that the summit presents an opportunity for the youth to showcase their innovations and technologies that are helping Africa’s smallholder farmers increase productivity and incomes.
Innovations from the youth that will be showcased are aligned with the summit’s theme which is “Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation,” with a focus on building better food systems and food sovereignty with youth and women at the centre, Ifedi added.
The AGRF 2023 organised by AGRA AFrica with support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,Rockafella,IFAD,AFDB , taking place September 4-8 in Dar es Salaam, is Africa’s leading venue for agriculture stakeholders to come together and agree on practical actions to transform food systems and end hunger.
This year’s summit will convene more than 3000 attendees from over 70 countries. More than 350 experts and policymakers will present on ways that Africa can build back better food systems and strengthen the continent’s food sovereignty – with youth and women at the centre.
