Kenya to host key food systems finance stakeholders at the FINAS 2025 Summit in Nairobi, uniting innovators, governments, and development partners to rethink sustainable financing for agriculture
Kenya is set to host the 2025 Summit on Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) from May 20 to 22, 2025, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The summit comes at a critical time for Africa, where the need for resilient and inclusive agri-food systems has never been greater. Under the theme “Taking Ownership: Rethinking Sustainable Financing for Africa’s Food Systems,” FINAS 2025 aims to position the continent as a leader in sustainable agri-finance innovation.
Organized following months of extensive dialogue and consultation, the FINAS 2025 Summit will bring together a wide array of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, financiers, farmer organizations, and researchers. Their mission: to reimagine the financing landscape that supports Africa’s food systems.
The Summit will officially be opened on May 20 by Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, alongside Dr. Paul Kiprono Ronoh, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Agriculture. Other high-level dignitaries expected include Prime Cabinet Secretary H.E. Musalia Mudavadi; AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment H.E. Mr. Moses Vilakati from Eswatini; and Secretary General of the East African Community, H.E. Veronica Mueni Nduva.
The closing ceremony on May 22 will be led by H.E. Hon. Dr. Wycliffe A. Oparanya, the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development.
Throughout the three days, FINAS 2025 will tackle a range of issues crucial to the continent’s agricultural future. These include bridging the agri-finance gap, de-risking agricultural investments, strengthening farmer cooperatives, leveraging digital solutions, and building enabling policy and regulatory frameworks. Each session is designed to move beyond theory and into actionable solutions tailored for the African context.
Day one will focus on policy, regulation, and the public sector’s role in unlocking investment. Keynote addresses will be delivered by Ravi Kiran Malik, an expert on agricultural finance from India, and Brian Milder, CEO of Aceli Africa. AGRA will present on the Kampala Declaration, highlighting how continental commitments are shaping agricultural finance reform. The day’s sessions will emphasize how inclusive policy frameworks can attract and sustain investment.
On day two, attention will turn to funding resilient food systems. Nadine Gbossa, Director of Food Systems Coordination at IFAD, will provide insights into global financing innovations, while James Kashangaki from FSD Kenya will delve into building financial resilience in agriculture. Breakout discussions will examine climate mitigation, blended finance, infrastructure investment, and agri-insurance. A special hackathon will challenge participants to develop solutions in climate resilience, nutrition, and food loss and waste.
The final day will spotlight youth, gender, technology, data, research, and capacity building. Sessions will explore how emerging ag-tech innovations, digital finance tools, and data-driven decision-making can scale access to capital and improve productivity across value chains. Discussions will also cover how to empower women and young people as central players in Africa’s agri-financing ecosystem. The summit will conclude with the Recognizing Excellence Awards hosted by FINTAK, honoring outstanding contributions to food systems financing.
FINAS 2025 will feature voices and contributions from across the continent and beyond. Major partners include AGRA, FSD Kenya, GIZ, Aceli Africa, Finance in Motion, Heifer International, the Africa Development Bank, Netherlands Food Partnership, and Digifarm, among others. The summit is further supported by key ministries within the Government of Kenya, demonstrating a whole-of-government approach to financing transformation.
At its core, FINAS 2025 is a rallying call for Africa to lead in designing its own financing future. The summit is not just about funds—it’s about ownership, innovation, inclusion, and the political will to build agri-food systems that work for everyone, from the smallholder farmer to the global investor.
As conversations unfold in Nairobi, all eyes will be on the outcomes that emerge. Africa’s food systems future is at a turning point—and FINAS 2025 offers a powerful platform to take bold steps toward sustainable, inclusive prosperity.