Organized under the leadership of H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the 2025 AFS Forum Summit, will be held under the theme “Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and the Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation”.
With only five years left to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and one year away from the Malabo Declaration's deadline, transforming African food systems stands as a paramount task, crucial for ensuring food security and fostering job opportunities particularly for youth and women on the continent.
The summit aims to catalyze this transformation through innovative science and policies, digital technologies and equipment’s, home-grown and global solutions, and scaled investments.
2025 Theme: “Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation.”
Date: 31 August – 4 September; 5 September Field Visit
Venue: CICAD & Diamniadio Expo Center - Dakar, Senegal
CA4SH Side Event
Public Incentives and Information Systems for Africa’s Soil Health
Co-Hosts: CA4SH, CIFOR-ICRAF, GIZ, YPARD Kenya, AUDA-NEPAD, Government of Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Norad, Clim-Eat, World Bank, AICCRA, YPARD
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Time slot: 16:30 – 17:30
Venue: CICAD & Diamniadio Expo Center - Dakar, Senegal
This session will spotlight the central role of soil health in advancing Africa’s food systems transformation through strengthened continental policy coherence, evidence-based decision-making, and inclusive public incentive mechanisms. Framed within the CAADP Kampala Strategy, the event will explore how enhanced soil information systems can support African Union Members in integrating soil health into national planning processes and the CAADP Biennial Review, supported by technical guidance, led by AUDA-NEPAD with partners including CA4SH, CIFOR-ICRAF, Norad, and AICCRA .
Robust soil data systems are essential for designing and implementing effective public support that delivers inclusive and sustainable outcomes. These systems form the backbone of innovative incentive mechanisms, such as those promoted by the CompensACTION initiative, led by BMZ with partners including GIZ, IFAD, World Bank, and Clim-Eat. Such mechanisms aim to reward agricultural producers, especially small-scale farmers, youth and women, for generating environmental and social public goods. Central to this is the repurposing of fertilizer subsidies into targeted support for soil-specific amendments, including organic inputs and performance-based payments for integrated soil management practices.
Government representatives from countries leading in soil policy reform - such as Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Kenya - will share their experiences and lessons learned, alongside youth leaders and technical experts. The session will facilitate dialogue on aligning national and continental frameworks, strengthening institutional and technical capacities, enhancing soil monitoring systems, and enabling the uptake of inclusive incentive mechanisms that promote sustainable and equitable food systems.