Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva addresses delegates during the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. Credit: Africa Food Systems Forum

NNA News - African leaders, policymakers and development partners have called for urgent action, increased investment and stronger public-private partnerships to transform the continent's agri-food systems and address persistent hunger, poverty and unemployment.

The call was made at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, which has brought together more than 5,000 delegates from over 50 countries, including political leaders, policymakers, researchers, farmers, investors, scientists and development partners.

Opening the forum, Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said Africa needed to move beyond viewing agriculture as a traditional sector and position it as a source of employment, entrepreneurship, innovation and economic opportunity. "The task for us is to build credible partnerships that connect capital to these opportunities and ensure that value is shared fairly across the system, especially with smallholder farmers," he said.

Moses Vilakati, African Union commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment, said the continent's challenge was no longer a lack of policies, strategies or knowledge, but the failure to translate existing commitments into concrete results. He called for greater access to quality seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, mechanisation, digital technologies, finance, infrastructure, markets and extension services.

Gerardine Mukeshimana, vice-president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, stressed the need for stronger investment and private-sector participation to achieve lasting transformation of African food systems. She said Africa must make nutritious diets more affordable, create decent jobs and strengthen resilience while driving broader economic transformation.

AGRA Board Chair and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn warned that Africa's agricultural transformation continued to face deep structural challenges despite two decades of efforts. He identified productivity, value-chain and implementation-related traps as major barriers, citing inadequate water control, low-yielding seeds, fragmented markets, post-harvest losses, weak transport and cold-chain infrastructure, trade barriers and limited access to finance.

African leaders, policymakers and development partners pose for a group photograph during the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. Credit: Africa Food Systems Forum

The discussions come as African countries seek to increase agricultural productivity while creating jobs and strengthening food security. The forum, whose main programme is being held in Kigali through Friday, is bringing together stakeholders to examine investment, agricultural production, food security, resilience and the development of stronger food value chains.