Nairobi Hosts Regional Food Systems Dialogue Ahead of UNFSS+4

As food insecurity, climate shocks and economic disruptions continue to challenge lives and livelihoods across the continent, stakeholders are regrouping, realigning and reimagining how Africa’s food systems can deliver for its people and the planet. This week in Nairobi, leaders, farmers, experts and UN partners are convening to shape a unified African position ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit+4 (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa later this year.

Hosted by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting is more than a technical forum—it is a moment of strategic reflection, collective learning and policy ambition to drive food systems that are resilient, equitable and locally rooted.

“This isn’t about policy papers. It’s about whether we eat or go hungry,” said Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, during the opening session. “Africa cannot keep importing what it can grow. Transforming food systems is not a luxury—it’s survival.”

“Africa cannot keep importing what it can grow. Transforming food systems is not a luxury—it’s survival.”

The Nairobi meeting marks the fifth and final regional preparatory dialogue ahead of the UNFSS+4, which will be co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy in Addis Ababa from 27–29 July 2025. These meetings build on the 2021 Summit and provide countries with space to assess progress, exchange experiences and scale up bold, locally driven commitments.

UN Resident Coordinator Dr Stephen Jackson emphasised Africa’s centrality in global food systems: “Africa holds two-thirds of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land. If we are to ensure global food security sustainably, Africa quite literally holds the key. The world must listen, invest and partner.”

He called for a shift away from piecemeal interventions toward systems thinking that connects each part of the food value chain.
“To fix food systems, start at the seed and follow every link to the plate,” said Dr Jackson. “From planting and harvesting to aggregation and clean cooking—every step must work for the farmer and for the future.”

A key highlight was Kenya’s commitment to scale up school feeding, targeting 10 million children daily by 2030, up from 2.7 million today.

“I was a school meal kid in the 60s,” said CS Kagwe. “Now we want to feed 10 million children—not with imports but with food from our own farms. That’s transformation.”

He outlined how Kenya is already laying the foundation—having digitally registered 6.5 million farmers, trained and deployed 7,000 agri-entrepreneurs and integrated local production into its national nutrition systems.

“We want farmers to make money not just survive. We want youth in agritech not jobless. We want school meals sourced from Kenyan soil. That’s how food systems deliver dignity, health and opportunity,” CS Kagwe added.

Mr Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, acknowledged both the progress and the urgency of addressing Africa’s food systems challenges.

“One in five Africans faces hunger. Three out of four cannot afford a healthy diet,” he said. “Africa contributes just 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions yet it bears the worst climate impacts. That’s a systemic injustice.”

He emphasised the need to invest in agro-processing, value chains, gender equity, youth innovation and climate-smart technologies, backed by policy alignment with the Malabo Declaration, Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“African countries are not starting from scratch—we are standing on strong frameworks. Now is the time to align ambition with action,” Mr Fotiou added.

As discussions continue through 7 May, Africa’s path toward the UNFSS+4 Summit in July is becoming clearer and stronger. What began as a technical agenda is emerging as a political declaration: Africa will no longer be spoken for. It will speak for itself and lead.

“We must harvest the wisdom of this continent and go to Addis with one voice,” said Dr Jackson. “Africa is ready to lead on food systems transformation. Not just for itself but for the good of the world.”

“Africa is ready to lead on food systems transformation. Not just for itself but for the good of the world.”

The message from Nairobi is clear: Africa is not waiting. It is organising, innovating, investing and reshaping its food systems not only to feed itself but to nourish the world.