Join IFDC at the upcoming Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), the continent’s premier platform for advancing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient food systems held from August 31 to September 5 in Dakar, Senegal.
We invite you to attend the following side events, where IFDC and its partners will share practical strategies, innovations, and insights aimed at improving soil health, boosting productivity, and building resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Side Events
Advancing the Momentum of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan
Led by: The African Union Commission (AUC), the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), AGRA, and the AFSH-AP coalitions
Date: Monday, September 1
Time: 15:30-19:00 GMT
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This action-oriented event will address the implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Nairobi declaration and the technical needs to implement the Plan, the progress made so far, and ongoing initiatives. The session will discuss the key role of the Coalitions and regional hubs as emphasized in the Action Plan including the private sector in driving the implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan.
Shaping Africa’s Inclusive Agribusiness Through Public-Private Partnerships for a Resilient Future
Led by: The 2SCALE program (Netherlands DGIS, IFDC, SNV, BoP Innovation Center)
Date: Tuesday, September 2
Time: 18:00-19:30 GMT
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This 2SCALE-led side event will explore how public-private partnerships can drive inclusive agribusiness development across Africa. Discussions will focus on building resilient food systems that empower smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs while fostering sustainable growth. The session will also highlight lessons from the 2SCALE program and its partners on scaling impact through locally driven, market-based solutions.
Scaling Inclusive Finance for Youth-led Agribusinesses
Led by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), CGIAR, and the 2SCALE program
Date: Wednesday, September 3
Time: 18:00-19:30 GMT
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This session will explore innovative strategies to expand access to finance for young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector, spotlighting practical solutions, partnerships, and policy actions that support inclusive agribusiness growth. Discussions will emphasize the role of financial inclusion in empowering youth and driving sustainable food systems.
Scaling Soil Health and Sustainable Production in Fragile Settings: Realizing the Three Rio Conventions
Led by: IFDC and Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
Date: Wednesday, September 3
Time: 18:00-19:30 GMT
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This session will showcase how IFDC, WHH, and partners are advancing soil health, sustainable agricultural practices, and seed system development to strengthen African food systems. The event will highlight how these efforts work together to advance the goals of the Rio Conventions—biodiversity, climate action, and combating desertification—while also promoting better livelihoods and ending hunger.
From the Ground Up – Scaling Soil Health Solutions for Planet and People
Led by: Soil Values Coalition: Netherlands DGIS, IFDC, SNV, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), AGRA, the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Date: Thursday, September 4
Time: 10:30-11:30 GMT
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This session will explore how the Soil Values program is restoring degraded lands and strengthening food systems in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria through a five-pronged approach: bundling services, integrating watershed management, brokering investment, convening policy action, and advancing inclusive learning. The event will also demonstrate how this work supports the African Union Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan and the ECOWAS Fertilizers and Soil‐Health Roadmap for West Africa and the Sahel, with a focus on inclusion and impact at scale.
