From Left: Kennedy Oketch, Agriculture Economy and Financial Advisor, GIZ Kenya, David Adama, Senior Policy Officer, AGRA, Rashid Khator, Secretary of Administration in the State Department of Agriculture (representing, Dr. Paul Ronoh, Principal Secretary, State Department of Agriculture) and Peter Owoko, Director of Policy at the State Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture during the FINAS2026 media launch in Nairobi.
Africa’s persistent agricultural financing gap is set to take centre stage at the Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2026 Summit, as policymakers, investors and development partners push to move from dialogue to implementation.
Scheduled to take place in Nairobi from June 30 to July 2, the summit will convene more than 1,000 stakeholders drawn from government, finance, agribusiness and development institutions to accelerate solutions for funding Africa’s food systems.
The gathering comes at a critical moment. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of African economies—contributing up to 20–30% of GDP in many countries and employing over 60% of the workforce—yet the sector faces an annual financing gap exceeding $100 billion. At the same time, agriculture continues to receive less than 5% of formal bank lending across most markets.
Organisers say FINAS 2026 aims to bridge this gap by catalysing practical financing solutions rather than repeating high-level commitments. The summit will focus on unlocking blended finance, scaling climate-smart agriculture funding, and strengthening financial inclusion across agricultural value chains.
A key priority is improving access to affordable credit for smallholder farmers, who often remain excluded from traditional banking systems due to perceived risk, lack of collateral, and limited financial records. Discussions will explore innovative financing models, including digital lending platforms, warehouse receipt systems, and insurance-backed credit mechanisms designed to de-risk agricultural investments.
Another major theme is the role of private capital. While public funding and donor support remain critical, stakeholders increasingly recognise that sustainable transformation of Africa’s food systems will require significantly greater participation from institutional investors, commercial banks, and impact funds. FINAS 2026 will therefore emphasise the creation of bankable projects and investment-ready pipelines capable of attracting long-term capital.
Climate resilience is also expected to feature prominently. With African agriculture highly vulnerable to climate variability, the summit will highlight the need to align financing with adaptation and mitigation strategies. This includes supporting irrigation infrastructure, drought-resistant crops, and regenerative farming practices that can enhance productivity while preserving natural resources.
In addition, the summit will address structural bottlenecks that continue to hinder agricultural investment. These include weak infrastructure, fragmented markets, and policy inconsistencies that increase transaction costs and deter investors. Participants are expected to call for stronger coordination between governments, regional bodies, and financial institutions to create a more predictable and enabling investment environment.
Importantly, FINAS 2026 is positioning itself as an action-oriented platform. Beyond panel discussions, the event is expected to facilitate deal-making, partnerships, and policy commitments that can be tracked beyond the summit.
As Africa seeks to strengthen food security, reduce import dependence, and build resilient value chains, financing remains the critical lever. The outcomes of FINAS 2026 could therefore play a pivotal role in determining whether the continent can move from agricultural potential to sustained transformation.
Brandon Moss is the Editor of AgriFocus Africa, where he leads editorial coverage on African agriculture, agribusiness, food security, and rural development. With a strong focus on market intelligence, policy analysis, and industry trends, he oversees content that connects producers, investors, and decision-makers across the continent’s agricultural value chain.
