CGIAR partnerships in Africa turn food systems investment into measurable impact — by connecting science, evidence, policy, delivery systems and finance so proven innovations can move from pilots to scale. CGIAR heads into the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 with four key messages:
Invest in people, not just production
CGIAR science helps improve nutrition, livelihoods, jobs, inclusion and resilience.
Lead transformation with evidence
CGIAR supports African leadership with trusted science, data and policy analysis that turn commitments into action.
De-risk investment and accelerate delivery
CGIAR connects proven innovations with finance, policy and delivery systems so investment can achieve impact at scale.
Shape CGIAR’s future with Africa
CGIAR's emerging strategy for 2040 will define CGIAR’s value to partner countries in a changing world. Now is the moment for African partners to shape it through genuine dialogue and shared design— including at the AFSF consultation on Thursday, 3 September, 11:00–13:00.
About the event
Africa’s food systems stand at a turning point. Climate shocks, demographic change, and growing nutrition demands require solutions that are scalable, science-based, and investment-ready. The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026 signals a shift from ambition to measurable delivery.
At AFSF, CGIAR will highlight how research, partnerships, and finance come together to strengthen resilient and inclusive food systems across the continent. From water-efficient agriculture in climate-stressed drylands to climate-adapted crops, sustainable livestock systems, and youth-driven agribusiness models, our 2025–2030 Research Portfolio aligns directly with Africa’s priority platforms on nutrition, resilience, women, youth, digitalization, and sustainable production.
Through our events and engagement, discover our science and innovation across East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, and dryland regions and our collaboration with governments, regional bodies, and private partners to translate science into practical solutions that improve productivity, expand economic opportunity, and safeguard natural resources.
CGIAR is the world’s leading public research partnership for food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Its 2025–2030 Portfolio brings together CGIAR Research Centers, Science Programs, Accelerators and the Scaling for Impact Program to connect scientific discovery with country priorities, policy processes, delivery systems and investment pathways.
The CGIAR Investment Case makes a clear proposition: agricultural research and innovation are high-return investments in food security, prosperity and resilience. It positions CGIAR as a proven investment that can help translate science into scalable solutions, with a historic 10-to-1 return on investment, a proposed US$6 billion investment over five years, and projected 2040 outcomes across hunger, smallholder income, emissions, water use and land protection.
CGIAR’s 2040 Strategy will define CGIAR’s value to partner countries in a changing world. Now is the moment for African partners to shape it through genuine dialogue and shared design— including at the AFSF consultation.
CGIAR and its partners will host a full programme of side events ahead of the official forum. Timings for selected events are being finalised and will be published shortly.
