During this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, ATLAS (Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions), an initiative of the Paris Peace Forum, is launching the 2x30 Challenge. This ambitious initiative calls for doubling annual investments in Africa’s agri-food systems by 2030, increasing funding from $50 billion to $100 billion. This is a transformative step toward building more productive and resilient food systems across the continent.
Currently, African agriculture receives less than 3% of global development funding, contributing to a $200 billion annual funding gap. The 2x30 Challenge seeks to address this issue by mobilizing global funders and policymakers to scale investments in African agriculture. This would not only close the funding gap but also significantly advance progress toward global development goals such as poverty reduction, food security, health, education, and climate resilience.
ATLAS believes that with strategic investments, Africa’s agri-food systems could help close 30–50% of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) gaps. An annual Investment Barometer will track public, private, and development funding across the continent, ensuring transparency and accountability.
“If improving African agriculture seems to be a magic wand to make progress on several key sustainable development goals, that’s because it is. The 2x30 Challenge represents both an opportunity and a necessity to foster global resilience and equitable growth,”
Justin Vaïsse, Director General of the Paris Peace Forum
This announcement is in presence of high-level speakers at a dedicated session at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 20th January 2025 (6:00pm-7:30pm).