More than 1,000 policymakers, financiers, development partners, investors, and private sector leaders will gather in Nairobi from 30 June to 2 July for the Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Summit, a continental forum aimed at accelerating investment and mobilising sustainable financing for Africa’s agri-food systems.
Held under the theme “Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa’s Food Systems,” the summit will shift the conversation from commitments to implementation, bringing together key stakeholders to forge partnerships, unlock investment opportunities, and develop practical solutions to close Africa’s persistent agricultural financing gap while strengthening food security and climate resilience.
Africa’s agri-food systems remain central to economic growth and livelihoods, contributing up to 20–30 percent of GDP in many countries and employing more than 60 percent of the workforce. Yet the sector continues to face a financing gap estimated at over USD 100 billion annually, with agriculture receiving less than five percent of formal bank lending in most markets. These gaps disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, women, youth, and agri-SMEs, even as they produce up to 70–80 percent of the continent’s food supply.
At the same time, climate change, market volatility, and rising food import bills are increasing the urgency for resilient, inclusive, and scalable financing solutions.
Speaking during the official media launch of FINAS 2026 Summit last month in Kenyas’s Capital, Nairobi, Dr. Paul Ronoh, Principal Secretary, State Department of Agriculture, noted that the summit comes at a critical moment for the continent in strengthening the industry.
“The FINAS summit provides an opportunity to take stock of the funding in the sector and check if our goals have been realised. Building on the strong track record of previous editions, this summit will unlock key opportunities for Africa. Financing must be results-oriented, delivering measurable outcomes to enhance agri-food sustainability. Let’s move forward to improve efficiency, ensuring that every shilling invested delivers value.” said Dr Ronoh in a keynote speech read on his behalf by Rashid Khator, Secretary of Administration in the State Department of Agriculture.
Africa has spent years articulating the challenges facing its food systems. FINAS 2026 is about accelerating action, aligning policy, finance, and partnerships to unlock investment and deliver tangible results for farmers, agribusinesses, and economies.”
Dr. Sophia Baumert, Project Manager, Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys) at GIZ Kenya termed the summit as crucial platform for advancing collaboration and partnerships towards reliable, secure and timely agri-food systems in Africa.
She said: “FINAS began as a national platform in 2024 and has advanced into a continental forum advancing agri-systems dialogue from a pan African perspective. The platform holds all actors accountable and as GIZ, we are coming to drive the dialogue as process facilitator and foster stronger collaborations towards our common goal. We look forward to a strong FINAS 2026 summit and rally more partners to join us in this cause.”
FINAS 2026 will be preceded by a series of high-level pre-summit dialogues, targeted engagements focused on structuring an Agricultural Development Fund, unpacking the Kampala Declaration, advancing green finance as a lever for meaningful change and laying ground for the unveiling a private-sector-led agri-food systems finance working group.
The three-day summit programme will feature a ministerial and CEO roundtable, keynote addresses, side events, and deal-making sessions centred on four core pillars: policy alignment, innovative and inclusive finance, green and climate-resilient economies, and trade, investment, and multilateral cooperation. The summit will end with some site tours whereby participants will have the opportunity to see and experience some of Kenya’s most dynamic innovation investments hubs at the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NTCCTA) in Mombasa, Konza Technopolis and Tatu City.
According to Prof. Hamadi Boga, Vice President in charge of Programme Delivery at AGRA and the Chair FINAS Secretariat, the summit represents a turning point for the food systems finance agenda:
“FINAS 2026 is about moving beyond commitments to coordinated delivery. By bringing together policymakers, financiers, and practitioners, the summit provides a platform to unlock capital at scale and translate policy ambitions into bankable investments that reach farmers and agri-enterprises.”
The summit will also place strong emphasis on climate-smart finance, recognising the need to align agricultural financing with climate adaptation and mitigation goals. Jared Ochieng’, Agriculture Finance Lead at FSD Kenya underscored the importance collaboration for innovative financial models.
He said: “Food systems in Africa have been hit with challenges such as funding & market challenges, wars and climate change. As key stakeholders, we need to join hands, reshape economies and find a greater path toward financing Africa’s agri-food systems effectively.”
The summit comes at a time when there is growing momentum around agri-food systems transformation across Africa. Governments are increasingly prioritizing agriculture through budget allocations and policy reforms, while private sector players and development finance institutions are expanding investments into sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the summit as delegates, partners, or exhibitors, and to contribute to shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and investment-ready future for Africa’s food systems.
