Ahigh-level policy dialogue has taken place in Nairobi with African and international delegates convening to deliberate on strategies to enhance private sector investment in Africa’s agrifood sector. The two-day forum, organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), brought together over one hundred stakeholders, including senior government officials, business leaders, and representatives from regional economic communities. The discussions were grounded in a shared ambition to foster inclusive, sustainable investment that strengthens local agricultural systems and mitigates external vulnerabilities.
Hosted under the theme of mobilising private capital for sustainable trade and agribusiness development, the dialogue placed a critical focus on structural challenges faced by the continent. These include persistently high food import bills, fluctuating commodity prices, and systemic barriers to smallholder productivity. Experts at the meeting emphasised that strategic private sector participation is essential not only for bridging investment gaps but also for driving innovation and long-term resilience across the agricultural value chain.
Themba Khumalo, director of the private sector unit at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, highlighted the urgent need for a paradigm shift. He noted that Africa’s dependence on imported food continues to burden fiscal stability and exposes millions of Africans to global supply disruptions. He stressed that the AfCFTA provides an unprecedented platform for scaling intra-African trade in agricultural goods and unlocking investment flows that are crucial to enhancing productivity, incomes, and food sovereignty.
Khumalo further explained that a unified continental market presents unique opportunities to reduce fragmentation, harmonise standards, and boost competitiveness across borders. This, in turn, positions agriculture not merely as a sector for subsistence but as a core driver of industrialisation and regional integration. He noted that such transformation must be grounded in public-private collaboration that centres the agency of African producers and consumers alike.
Romania’s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florian-Emil Dumitru, acknowledged the pivotal role of private actors in advancing climate-resilient agriculture. He underscored the relevance of technologies such as precision farming, mechanisation, and sustainable irrigation systems which can be adapted to Africa’s diverse agroecological zones. Dumitru affirmed that investment in such innovations could substantially increase yields while addressing the environmental pressures associated with conventional farming.
Speaking from a continental perspective, former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, noted the importance of building inclusive financing ecosystems. He argued that smallholding farmers continue to face persistent barriers including limited access to affordable credit, under-resourced extension services, and weak integration into formal markets. Osinbajo called for tailored investment strategies that respond to these realities and empower local communities through co-designed agricultural solutions.
This initiative reflects a growing recognition that Africa’s food future cannot be determined through isolated national efforts or externally imposed models. Rather, there is a growing appetite for African-centred investment approaches that reinforce sovereignty, local ownership, and long-term equity. The Nairobi gathering serves as a signal that there is a shift underway in how food security and agricultural development are being conceptualised and financed.
This forum marks one of several regional initiatives aligned with the goals of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and builds on a wider body of policy work undertaken by African institutions and multilateral partners. By facilitating dialogue that acknowledges the complexity and promise of African agrifood systems, the Nairobi summit illustrates the need for evidence-driven, locally responsive investment strategies that advance both economic and human development.
