NAIROBI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 public and private sector stakeholders will gather in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, this month for a global summit aimed at unlocking sustainable financing for Africa's agri-food systems.
Paul Kipronoh Ronoh, principal secretary in Kenya's State Department for Agriculture, said in a statement on Friday that the Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Summit, which will be held from June 30 to July 2, will focus on implementation, investment mobilization, and measurable outcomes aimed at transforming Africa's agri-food systems financing landscape.
He said the event's theme, "Towards Sustainable Financial Architecture for Africa's Food Systems," comes at a critical moment for strengthening the continent's agricultural sector, noting that financing must be results-oriented, delivering measurable outcomes to enhance agri-food sustainability.
"The FINAS summit provides an opportunity to take stock of financing in the sector and assess whether our goals have been achieved. Building on the strong track record of previous editions, this summit will unlock key opportunities for Africa," Ronoh said.
Ronoh said Africa has spent years defining its food system challenges, and FINAS 2026 shifts the focus toward accelerating action.
By aligning policies, finance, and partnerships, the initiative aims to unlock investments and deliver tangible results for farmers, agribusinesses, and regional economies, he added.
Sophia Baumert, project manager for Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies at GIZ Kenya, described the summit as a crucial platform for advancing collaboration, noting that such partnerships are essential for building reliable, secure, and resilient agri-food systems across Africa.
The summit will also place strong emphasis on climate-smart agricultural finance, recognizing the need to align agricultural investment with climate adaptation and mitigation goals. ■