The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has called on agrifood investment stakeholders to take decisive action to turn Eastern Africa’s significant agrifood investment opportunities into bankable investments and tangible development outcomes, following the conclusion of the regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
Convened by FAO, through its Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, the Forum brought together government representatives, investors, financial institutions, development partners, agribusinesses and regional organizations from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda from 24 to 25 August 2026. Held under the theme “Leveraging the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to Mobilize Investment for Agrifood Systems Transformation,” the Forum provided a platform to showcase investment opportunities, exchange perspectives on financing and investment challenges, and strengthen connections among governments, investors and potential partners.
Opening the Forum, Farayi Zimudzi, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, highlighted the region’s agrifood investment potential. She said, “Eastern Africa has the resources and market opportunities to become a major agrifood investment frontier; what we need now is to translate that potential into bankable investments through stronger partnerships and decisive action.”
The call for decisive action was echoed by the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Telesphore Ndabamenye, who emphasized the need for “opportunities to be translated into investment decisions and actions.” He underscored the importance of converting the region’s opportunities, including growing markets, large production capacity and an entrepreneurial youth population, into bankable, financially viable investments that can contribute to job creation and improved livelihoods.
Over the two-day Forum, government representatives presented investment cases from their countries, while private sector actors, financial institutions and regional economic communities shared perspectives on investment opportunities, financing needs, challenges and the conditions required to attract and scale investment. The programme also featured investor reflections, followed by a matchmaking session connecting governments, investors, financial institutions and agribusinesses. The Forum concluded with presentations of matchmaking results, partnership commitments and a call to action for continued investment and collaboration across the region.
The Forum also presented and agreed on priority regional value chains for Eastern Africa, including livestock, coffee, rice, and fisheries and aquaculture. The value chains were found to align closely with the priorities of regional economic communities, providing important entry points for cross-border collaboration, value addition, trade expansion, job creation and food security. Representatives of regional economic communities highlighted the importance of strengthening regional integration and accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to improve market linkages, expand intra-regional trade and strengthen regional value chains.
The Hand-in-Hand Initiative was also presented to participants by FAO experts, highlighting opportunities to use its data-driven approach, country-led investment priorities and partnerships to support investment and advance agrifood systems transformation across Eastern Africa.
At the close of the Forum, FAO Eastern Africa issued a Call to Action urging stakeholders to step up efforts to translate the region’s agrifood investment potential into investments and tangible results. The call outlined areas for action across governments, the private sector, financial institutions, development partners and regional economic communities. These areas include improving the investment environment, strengthening access to finance, developing stronger market linkages and regional value chains, and advancing investments that create jobs, improve livelihoods and contribute to food security.
Unlocking Eastern Africa’s agrifood investment potential
Eastern Africa has significant agrifood investment potential, supported by abundant natural resources, diverse production systems, growing markets and rising demand for food. However, climate shocks, infrastructure gaps, limited access to finance and weak value-chain linkages continue to constrain investment and growth.
FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative supports nationally led agrifood transformation by using data and partnerships to identify investment opportunities and develop priority value chains. Across Eastern Africa, the Initiative provides a platform to strengthen investment readiness, mobilize partnerships and advance investments that can create jobs, improve livelihoods and build resilience.
The Eastern Africa Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum responds to a request by FAO Member States at the 19th Multidisciplinary Team Meeting of the FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, held in Addis Ababa in November 2025, for a regional platform to connect governments and investment partners and accelerate agrifood systems transformation.
Related Links: Hand in Hand Investment Forum for Eastern Africa
