African civil society organisations are calling for a shift away from aid dependency towards greater investment in commercial agriculture, arguing that smallholder farmers, women and youth-led agribusinesses should be treated as viable investment opportunities.

The call was made during the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, where CSO representatives discussed ways to strengthen grassroots participation in agricultural investment, improve accountability and turn community-based agricultural networks into organised investment opportunities.

The organisations warned that declining international development financing could undermine Africa’s agricultural transformation unless new sources of capital are mobilised. They called for financial systems that make it easier for smallholder farmers and emerging agricultural businesses to access domestic, private, philanthropic and community-based investment.

Chikondi Chabvuta-Mkawa, African Union Commission engagement lead with CARE International and chairperson of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Non-State Actor platform, said communities should be viewed as partners in food-system development rather than recipients of aid.

She said civil society organisations can help connect public, private, philanthropic and domestic capital with community-led initiatives focused on climate resilience, food security and job creation. This role is also expected to support implementation of the CAADP Kampala Implementation Guidelines for 2026–2035, national agricultural investment plans and wider food systems programmes.

Chabvuta-Mkawa said Africa must increasingly recognise agriculture as an economic sector capable of generating jobs, expanding trade and creating investment opportunities, rather than approaching it primarily as a social development issue.

Constance Okeke, an ActionAid International project manager, said inclusive investment should go beyond simply raising more money. Investment must be structured so that funding reaches smallholders, women-led businesses, youth enterprises, informal food businesses and local communities through transparent, fair and climate-resilient systems.

Elizabeth Namaona, director of the Malawi Civil Society Agriculture Network, also stressed the importance of accountability within civil society. She said organisations must demonstrate transparency, evidence-based programming, innovation and financial sustainability if they expect governments and other institutions to meet the same standards.

The CSOs’ position reflects wider African Union calls for increased agricultural investment focused on smallholder farmers, women and youth, while strengthening informal markets, decent employment, nutrition and climate resilience.

Speaking at the forum, Vilakati said Africa already has many of the policies needed to address its food production challenges, but implementation and investment remain insufficient. He called for stronger political commitment, collaboration and accountability to build resilient food systems and move African countries from food importers towards processors and exporters.

The Africa Food Systems Forum, held from August 31 to September 4, 2026, brought together stakeholders under the theme “Investing in Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs and Building Resilience.” The discussions highlighted the growing need for Africa to mobilise commercial and domestic capital alongside traditional development financing to accelerate agricultural transformation.