Africa holds nearly 65% of the world’s unused arable land, yet the continent remains heavily dependent on food imports. At the centre of this paradox are women—who produce an estimated 70% of Africa’s food, but control less than 15% of land ownership and receive under 5% of agricultural credit.

Addressing this imbalance is the driving force behind the AGM Women Network, launched in Paris in December 2025 as a pan-African platform dedicated to unlocking women’s human capital across agriculture and agri-food value chains.

As the sector enters 2026, the focus has shifted decisively from dialogue to delivery.

From Advocacy to Action

The AGM Women Network is working directly with private-sector partners to accelerate agricultural transformation through four priority levers:

Infrastructure development – including storage, local processing facilities, cold-chain systems, and market-access roads;

Mechanisation – promoting affordable and context-appropriate equipment adapted to women farmers in rural areas;

Climate finance mobilisation – supporting resilient and sustainable agri-projects through innovative financing structures; and

Agroecology – advancing productive farming systems that protect ecosystems and strengthen long-term resilience.

At its launch, the network convened more than 130 women entrepreneurs, investors, and sector experts around a shared objective: unlocking the “3F Equation” – Financing, Training, and Land. Since then, the initiative has expanded its operational footprint through partnerships grounded in proven economic models, including agribusiness platforms in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire that operate across multiple African markets.

A 2026 Roadmap for Scale

The Network’s Paris Roadmap 2025 is now translating into concrete commitments scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026:

• The establishment of a dedicated investment fund for women-led agri-food enterprises;
• A digital platform integrating training, mentoring, and direct access to markets; and
• A coalition for inclusive land reform, piloted in five African countries.

Practitioners on the ground continue to stress the importance of hybrid solutions that blend formal finance with informal and digital tools—particularly in rural economies where women remain underserved by traditional banking systems.

Agroecology and Climate at the Core

Climate volatility and environmental degradation are no longer future risks—they are present-day constraints on African food systems. In response, the AGM Women Network has embedded agroecology across its programmes, equipping women farmers with sustainable practices while facilitating access to green and climate-linked financing.

This approach recognises that productivity, resilience, and environmental stewardship must advance together if African agriculture is to meet both domestic and global food demand.

Bridging Vision and Reality

The launch in Paris marked a starting point, not a conclusion. In 2026, implementation is shifting decisively to the field—working alongside the millions of women who already sustain Africa’s food systems.

By connecting finance, land access, skills, and markets, the AGM Women Network aims to turn structural exclusion into economic opportunity. The message is clear: transforming African agriculture is not possible without women—and empowering women at scale may be the continent’s most powerful lever for food security.

About the AGM Women Network

The AGM Women Network is a pan-African operational platform that connects women-led agricultural and agri-food projects with financing, markets, innovation, and technical expertise. Its mission is to position Africa as a solution to global food security through inclusive, sustainable, and women-driven agricultural transformation.