Unlocking Africa’s Future: Financing Agri-Food Systems & Sustainable Energy Transition

The Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) 2025 will host two pivotal side events focused on unlocking sustainable investments for Africa’s future.

Organized by the Paris Peace Forum and key global partners, these side events will explore pathways to enhance agricultural financing and reframe international cooperation on energy transition minerals (ETMs) between Africa and Europe.

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ATLAS Side Event: Unlocking Development Finance to Transition African Agri-Food Systems

Date: February 26, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Venue: Foyer Auditorium 1, Cape Town International Convention Centre 1

Africa’s agri-food systems are at the heart of global sustainability efforts, yet they face a staggering $200 billion annual funding gap. Despite being a key driver of food security, economic resilience, and climate adaptation, the sector receives less than 3% of global development funding.

The ATLAS – Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions initiative, launched by the Paris Peace Forum, aims to align investments, promote innovative partnerships, and enhance accountability through the Investment Barometer . During the World Economic Forum 2025, ATLAS introduced the 2×30 Challenge, calling for a doubling of annual investments in African agri-food systems by 2030.

This side event will:

• Present the ATLAS – Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions initiative and its strategic vision
• Introduce the 2×30 Challenge, mobilizing funders to invest in Africa’s agricultural transformation
• Explore actionable solutions to unlock development and climate finance for African agriculture

Speakers Include:

• Rémy Rioux, Director General, French Development Agency (AFD) & Chair, Finance in Common
• Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund of Agricultural Development
• Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group
• Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD
• Sérgio Pimenta, Regional VP for Africa, International Finance Corporation
• Moderator: Ndidi Nwuneli Okonkwo, CEO, ONE Campaign

More information on ATLAS

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Minerals Side Event: Revamping international Cooperation on Energy Transition Minerals: A mutually beneficial opportunity for Europe and Africa

Date: February 28, 2025
Time: 10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Venue: Foyer Auditorium 1, Cape Town International Convention Centre 1

The global push for a clean energy transition has heightened the demand for Energy Transition Minerals (ETMs). Africa, endowed with abundant ETMs, is poised to play a crucial role in global supply chains. However, to break the cycle of being a raw material exporter, the continent must mobilize investments to develop value-added processing and sustainable industrialization.

Co-hosted by the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) and the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals by the Paris Peace Forum (PPF), this interactive panel will explore:

• How Africa can leverage its ETM reserves for industrialization and job creation
• Policy and investment frameworks to secure Africa’s access to clean technologies
• The role of the Development finance institutions (DFIs), the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the Public Development Banks (PDBs) in fostering responsible investments
• Mechanisms to ensure Africa-Europe cooperation on ETMs is just, equitable, and mutually beneficial

Conversations will continue during ministerial discussions at the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados on 12-13 March 2025, setting the stage for significant announcements and progress leading up to COP30 in Brazil and in the context of the South African Presidency of the G20+1.

More information on the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals | Paris Peace Forum