Report calls for bold finance models to bridge Africa’s US$77B agrifood investment gap

RWANDA – A fresh report from the Malabo Montpellier Panel says Africa must explore and expand innovative financing methods to close a US$77 billion annual gap needed to transform its agrifood systems by 2030.

The publication, MONEYWISE: Policy Innovations to Finance Africa’s Agrifood Systems, outlines how targeted public policies and private sector engagement can strengthen food systems while linking them to related sectors such as energy, trade, and infrastructure.

The report arrives at a time when overseas development aid is shrinking, raising questions on how African nations will fund the sector amid fiscal pressure, climate impacts, and rising inequality.

“Bold and innovative financial strategies will be indispensable to the sustainable transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems,” said Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson of AKADEMIYA2063 and Co-Chair of the Malabo Montpellier Panel.

“This report demonstrates that strategic public policies, designed to enable strengthened domestic financial ecosystems, smart investments, and multistakeholder cooperation across borders, can drive inclusive growth, improve food security, and build climate resilience across the continent.”

The report features case studies from Malawi, Morocco, and Rwanda. In Malawi, the National Economic Empowerment Fund offers loans to marginalized groups including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, using a revolving model that reinvests repayments.

Morocco’s Agricultural Development Fund provides subsidies for private investment in land restoration, irrigation, and agro-processing, with reimbursements covering most input costs.

Rwanda’s Development Bank and Capital Market Authority support capital mobilization, while Village Savings and Loan Associations expand access to finance for smallholders.

“By showcasing success stories from across the continent, this report provides a clear roadmap for African governments and development partners to mobilize the finance in new ways for agrifood system transformation,” said Prof. Joachim von Braun, Co-Chair of the Panel.

“The report is relevant for the implementation of the 2025 Kampala Declaration, and it should also revitalize public finance for agrifood systems from development partners, as it shows the big development opportunities.”

The report also connects with the African Union’s Kampala CAADP Declaration, which sets a goal of mobilizing US$100 billion in public and private agrifood investment by 2035.

This comes as the sector, employing about 65 percent of Africa’s workforce, remains central to economic growth and industrialization.

The Malabo Montpellier Panel consists of 13 experts in agriculture, ecology, nutrition, and food security. It works to guide African policymakers toward evidence-based strategies that strengthen food systems.

Its related Malabo Montpellier Forum serves as a platform for high-level dialogue, using the Panel’s findings to support government action on agriculture and nutrition.

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