The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum) and Veteran Clubs World Championship (VCWC) have joined forces in a strategic partnership with the goal of harnessing the combined influence of sports and agri-food business to accelerate sustainable transformation of Africa’s food systems.
The partnership, formalized through an agreement signed by both parties, seeks to harness the influence and audience of sports legends to champion impactful innovative communication, public policies on sport and food systems nexus, investment and resource mobilization and fostering partnerships aimed at strengthening the sustainability of the African food system.
As influential stakeholders with global platforms, the AFS Forum and VCWC acknowledged the intricate relationship between food systems and sports in shaping Africa’s trajectory, with a particular emphasis on the vital role of youth engagement for productive, healthier, nutritious, inclusive and resilient food systems in the continent.
Speaking on behalf of the AFS Forum partners, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, highlighted the influence of sports legends, underscoring the profound influence of sports on Africa’s rural youth as well as the opportunities that food systems present for the young people. She stated, “African food systems are projected to become a trillion-dollar industry in the coming years driven by rapid urbanisation across the continent.
Connecting African youth to food systems given their agility and innovative potential will be hugely transformative. AGRA and the AFS Forum Partners are committed to harnessing the transformative power of sports by engaging and linking rural youth to these opportunities. This partnership stands as a win-win for sports, food systems, and health.”
Dr. Kalibata expressed her desire to see the collaboration amplifying the pace of policy advancements and innovations on food and sport nexus. Additionally, she emphasized leveraging the vast potential of sport legends to inspire, empower and elevate African youth as pivotal drivers in transforming the continent’s food systems.
Fred Siewe, President of the International Federation of Veteran Football (FIFVE) and Chairman of VCWC, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “The VCWC is committed to harnessing the influence and audience of sports legends to contribute to sustainable development. By partnering with the AFS Forum, we can leverage both platform to advocate for positive change and empower youth and women across Africa.” He said Amath Pathe Sene, Managing Director of the AFS Forum, supported the complementarity of the two events scheduled for the same week in September.
He highlighted the interconnectedness of sports and nutrition, noting that sustained excellence in sports often requires access to nutritious and healthier food. “becoming a legend in sport requires top-level performance over many years. This cannot be achieved without nutritious and healthy food,” he said.
Sene emphasized the value of partnering with VCWC to promote the values of sports while also exploring opportunities within the sports business sector.
“Sport and food are interlinked, this partnership with VCWC will not only promote the values of sport but also showcase the opportunities through the business of sport,” he added.
The AFS Forum and VCWC will coincide between Sep 1 to 10 Sep 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, presenting a unique opportunity for synergistic action towards advancing global development goals. The partnership will harness the collective expertise, networks and platforms to facilitate investments in sustainable projects that will advance the livelihoods of small holder farmers and the food systems community.
