Deadline: 31-Jul-2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with its partners, is inviting technical contributions for the Africa Forum on Harnessing Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation. The Forum supports the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035 by promoting science, technology, innovation, policy, and investment to transform Africa’s agrifood systems. Selected contributions will help shape policy discussions, investment opportunities, and a regional roadmap for strengthening agricultural research and innovation across Africa.

Africa Forum on Harnessing Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation

The Africa Forum on Harnessing Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation is a continental initiative organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with international partners.

The Forum serves as a platform to connect scientific research, technological innovation, policymaking, investment, and implementation to accelerate sustainable agrifood systems transformation across Africa.

The initiative aligns with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035.

Objective of the Forum

The primary objective is to accelerate Africa’s agrifood systems transformation by creating a continental platform that connects:

• Scientific research
• Technology and innovation
• Public policy
• Investment and financing
• Practical implementation

The Forum also aims to:

• Showcase scalable and inclusive agricultural innovations
• Support adoption of technologies by smallholder farmers
• Promote high-level policy dialogue
• Strengthen enabling environments for agricultural innovation
• Build partnerships between innovators, investors, governments, and the private sector
• Develop a regional roadmap for strengthening agricultural research and innovation systems across Africa

Focus Areas

Technical contributions should align with one or more of the Forum’s five priority pillars.

Productivity and Value-Chain Optimization

This thematic area focuses on:

• Increasing agricultural productivity
• Improving value addition across supply chains
• Reducing food loss and waste
• Enhancing food quality and safety
• Promoting sustainable production systems
• Supporting innovative business models and technologies

Resilience and Environmental Sustainability

This area encourages innovations that:

• Build climate resilience
• Improve natural resource management
• Address environmental risks
• Promote sustainable agriculture
• Strengthen long-term food system resilience

Science, Innovation and Policy Interface

This cross-cutting pillar focuses on:

• Linking scientific research with policymaking
• Improving evidence-based decision-making
• Strengthening research and innovation policies
• Creating supportive regulatory environments

Investment and Partnerships

Submissions may demonstrate:

• Investment-ready innovations
• Public-private partnerships
• Financing models
• Institutional collaboration
• Technical cooperation
• Resource mobilization strategies

Inclusivity

The Forum promotes innovations that:

• Support smallholder farmers
• Empower women and youth
• Include indigenous communities
• Encourage participatory innovation
• Deliver equitable and locally appropriate solutions

What the Call for Technical Contributions Is Seeking

FAO is inviting technical contributions that provide practical, evidence-based solutions capable of informing the Forum’s discussions and long-term regional agenda.

The call seeks contributions that demonstrate:

• Proven innovations
• Validated technologies
• Successful business models
• Effective institutional approaches
• Practical implementation experiences
• Scalable and adaptable solutions

Selected contributions should support one or more of the following outcomes:

• Improved agricultural productivity
• Increased resilience of agrifood systems
• Environmental sustainability
• Greater social inclusion
• Improved market access
• Stronger research-to-field knowledge transfer
• Better policy and regulatory environments
• Increased investment readiness
• Stronger partnerships
• Enhanced regional research and innovation systems

Who is Eligible?

The call is open to a wide range of stakeholders involved in agriculture, research, innovation, and development.

Eligible applicants include:

• National research institutions
• Regional research organizations
• Agricultural professionals
• Agricultural practitioners
• Researchers
• Academicians
• Universities
• Centers of excellence
• Private research and development institutions
• Civil society organizations
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Agribusiness companies
• Agri-tech enterprises
• Policymakers
• Government representatives
• Students
• Early-career professionals
• International organizations
• Regional organizations
• Philanthropic organizations
• Development agencies
• Community-based organizations

How the Technical Contribution Process Works

Step 1: Select a Priority Area

Choose one or more of the Forum’s five priority pillars that best matches your work.

Step 2: Prepare Your Technical Contribution

Describe:

• The innovation or solution
• The challenge being addressed
• Evidence supporting effectiveness
• Implementation experience
• Potential for scaling or replication

Step 3: Demonstrate Impact

Clearly explain how the contribution improves:

• Productivity
• Sustainability
• Climate resilience
• Policy development
• Investment readiness
• Research systems
• Community inclusion

Step 4: Highlight Partnerships

Include information on:

• Collaborating organizations
• Funding partners
• Government engagement
• Community participation
• Private-sector involvement

Step 5: Submit Your Contribution

Ensure your submission presents evidence-based findings with practical relevance for Africa’s agrifood systems transformation.

Why This Forum Matters

The Forum plays an important role in accelerating agricultural transformation across Africa by:

• Connecting research with practical implementation
• Promoting evidence-based agricultural innovation
• Supporting sustainable food systems
• Encouraging investment in agricultural technologies
• Strengthening regional cooperation
• Improving food security
• Supporting climate-smart agriculture
• Building stronger agricultural innovation ecosystems

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting concepts without supporting evidence
• Failing to align with the Forum’s priority pillars
• Presenting innovations that cannot be scaled
• Ignoring policy or implementation considerations
• Providing insufficient data on project impact
• Focusing only on technology without community relevance
• Not demonstrating partnership or investment potential

Tips for a Strong Submission

• Present validated or proven innovations
• Include measurable outcomes and evidence
• Demonstrate scalability across African contexts
• Show strong collaboration among stakeholders
• Explain policy relevance
• Highlight benefits for smallholder farmers
• Emphasize sustainability and inclusivity
• Include practical recommendations for adoption

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is organizing the Africa Forum?

The Forum is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with international partners.

2. What is the main objective of the Forum?

The Forum aims to accelerate Africa’s agrifood systems transformation by connecting science, innovation, policy, investment, and implementation.

3. Who can submit technical contributions?

Researchers, universities, research institutions, agribusinesses, NGOs, policymakers, development organizations, students, and agricultural professionals are all eligible.

4. What types of contributions are preferred?

The Forum seeks proven or validated innovations, technologies, business models, institutional mechanisms, and research that demonstrate practical impact and scalability.

5. What themes should submissions address?

Submissions should align with productivity, resilience, science-policy integration, investment and partnerships, or inclusivity.

6. What outcomes is FAO looking for?

FAO seeks solutions that improve productivity, resilience, sustainability, market access, policy development, investment readiness, and regional innovation systems.

7. Why is evidence important in the submission?

Evidence demonstrates that innovations are practical, effective, and capable of being adopted, replicated, or scaled across different African contexts.

Conclusion

The Africa Forum on Harnessing Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation provides a unique opportunity for researchers, innovators, policymakers, and development organizations to contribute to the future of sustainable agriculture across Africa. By showcasing evidence-based innovations and strengthening collaboration between science, policy, and investment, the Forum aims to accelerate resilient, inclusive, and productive agrifood systems.

For more information, visit FAO.