4th- 6th November 2025 Kigali, Rwanda

Hosted by : The Economic Policy Research Network (EPRN), Rwanda

1. Introduction
The 12th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders Conference convenes at a pivotal time of global geopolitical disruption, economic volatility, and fragmented trade and investment flows. Rising protectionism and contested multilateralism are reshaping markets, disrupting supply chains, and putting pressure on African policymakers to respond quickly, often with limited data and under high uncertainty. At the same time, Africa faces overlapping shocks, from conflict and governance challenges to climate change and extreme weather, threatening progress toward sustainable food systems.

This complex landscape demands adaptive, evidence-informed policies that balance immediate pressures with long-term goals. ANAPRI’s role in generating data, supporting decision-making, and fostering regional dialogue is more critical than ever. At the continental level, CAADP, reaffirmed by the Kampala Declaration continues to guide efforts toward inclusive growth, food security, and climate resilience. Realizing its vision will require bold reforms, targeted investments, and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Under the theme “Driving Africa’s Food Systems Transformation : Strategic Investments, Resilient Policies, and Global Partnerships”, the 12th ANAPRI Conference will examine how African countries can unlock the potential of their food systems amid global turbulence. The event will highlight opportunities for collaboration among governments, the private sector, and development partners to build inclusive and shock-resilient systems.

To enrich the dialogue, ANAPRI will also convene side events ahead of the main conference, tackling emerging and cross-cutting issues such as power dynamics in food systems, youth employment, digital extension, and soil health. These sessions will foster practical insights and support more effective policy and investment outcomes.

2. Objectives
2.1 Overall Objective
The 12th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders’ Conference offers a timely platform for strategic dialogue on strengthening Africa’s food systems amid growing challenges. It aims to help decision-makers identify policies and investments that balance urgent needs with long-term goals. By sharing evidence, engaging stakeholders, and promoting actionable learning, the conference will drive deeper exchange, investment-focused discussions, and coordinated action across the continent.

2.2 Specific Objectives
1. Analyze global and continental dynamics shaping Africa’s food systems, including trade disruptions, climate variability, digital transformation, geopolitical shifts, and financial volatility.
2. Prioritize strategic investments that respond to local needs and promote sustainable agriculture, inclusive and equitable value chains, and resilient, nutrition-sensitive food systems.
3. Strengthen collaboration among governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and development partners to scale context-specific, evidence-informed, and impact-driven solutions.

3. Thematic Areas
The 12th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders Conference will revolve around three overarching thematic areas that reflect Africa’s pressing priorities in food systems development. These themes are designed to foster integrated dialogue, promote strategic investments, and align local action with continental and global shifts. Each area will frame both the main sessions and curated side events.

3.1. Creating Resilient Food Systems : Jobs, Equity, and Inclusion
This thematic area focuses on building food systems that are capable of withstanding and adapting to both man-made and natural shocks, while generating decent jobs, promoting equity, and ensuring inclusive participation across all levels. It emphasizes a systems approach that addresses structural barriers and advances livelihood opportunities, particularly for youth, women, and smallholder farmers, who are often the most vulnerable yet central to food system transformation.
The discussion will explore how food systems can become vehicles for economic empowerment, social stability, and environmental sustainability by integrating employment strategies into resilience-building efforts. It will also consider how governance structures, territorial approaches, and community-led solutions influence who benefits from policy and investment decisions. Topics for discussion will include :
• Power dynamics and governance structures shaping food systems
• Gender equity, youth employment, and pathways to decent jobs in agriculture and agrifood value chains
• Territorial approaches, indigenous knowledge systems, and community-driven resilience
• Just transitions, social protection, and inclusive development strategies

3.2. Investment, Innovation, and Financing for Transformation
This thematic area explores how Africa can mobilize and direct strategic investments toward priority areas of food system transformation by aligning public, private, and development finance with coherent policy frameworks. It draws on ANAPRI’s work under the Policy and Priority Value Chains Initiative (PPVC II), which supports governments in identifying high- potential value chains and designing integrated policy responses grounded in evidence, modelling, and stakeholder consultation.

The focus will be on building comprehensive policy stacks, where investment incentives, regulatory reforms, institutional coordination, and digital infrastructure work together to deliver transformation at scale. This systems-oriented approach emphasizes that financing alone is not sufficient ; it must be underpinned by coherent, layered policy action across input systems, markets, trade, technology, and service delivery. Topics for discussion may include :
• Building investment-ready value chains through targeted policy support under PPVC II
• Institutional alignment and governance reforms to operationalize value chain–driven growth
• Blended and catalytic financing strategies to crowd in private investment
• Strengthening public–private partnerships in infrastructure, logistics, and innovation hubs
• Leveraging digital tools and AI for smarter service delivery and monitoring

3.3. Sustainability, Trade, and Climate Action
This thematic area explores how the African continent can build more sustainable, climate- resilient, and integrated food systems in response to growing environmental stress, market volatility, and global disruptions. Advancing this agenda requires greater policy coherence and regional coordination to promote climate adaptation, sustainable land and soil management, and inclusive trade. Frameworks such as the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP 3.0), and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provide critical pathways for aligning national priorities with continental goals. As countries roll out AFSH Action Plans, there is a growing emphasis on strengthening data systems, improving policy tracking, and linking agricultural transformation with broader sustainability and resilience objectives.

Since the launch of the Farmer Know Your Soil campaign at the last ANAPRI conference in 2024, efforts have intensified to raise farmer awareness and adoption of sustainable soil management practices through localized soil data, digital advisory tools, and field-level engagement. These initiatives are helping to bridge the gap between policy and practice by equipping farmers with the information needed to restore soil health and improve productivity. At the same time, spatial tools such as the Africa Adaptation Atlas are being tested to guide climate-risk mapping, investment planning, and coordinated adaptation responses across agroecological zones. These innovations underscore the importance of cross-sector collaboration and shared learning in building data-driven, climate-smart food systems across the continent.

Topics for discussion will include :
• Advancing national AFSH Action Plans and their integration into public investment frameworks
• Operationalizing CAADP 3.0 through policy support, data systems, and value chain prioritization
• Scaling the “Farmer Know Your Soil” Initiative for improved soil intelligence and uptake of sustainable practices
• Leveraging the Africa Adaptation Atlas to support spatial planning and regional collaboration on climate adaptation
• Coordinating regional responses to transboundary environmental threats, land degradation, and climate-linked food insecurity

4. Conference Structure
The 12th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders’ Conference will take place from November 4–6, 2025 at the Ubumwe Grande Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, with hybrid (in-person and virtual) participation. It will be preceded by pre-conference side events on November 3, offering deep dives into emerging and cross-cutting issues to inform the main discussions.

Anchored in the theme “Driving Africa’s Food Systems Transformation : Strategic Investments, Resilient Policies, and Global Partnerships”, the conference will explore three core pillars : Jobs, Equity and Inclusion ; Investment and Innovation ; and Sustainability and Climate Action.

The programme will feature a dynamic mix of formats, including :

• Opening Ceremony and High-Level Plenary with senior leaders reflecting on Africa’s food systems in a shifting global context
• Keynote Presentations from leading thinkers to frame each day’s agenda
• Thematic Panel Discussions to unpack key policy and investment opportunities
• Interactive Café-Style Sessions fostering peer exchange and problem-solving
• Innovation and Research Exhibitions, including ANAPRI’s PPVC II policy tools

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