Nairobi: The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, will host the Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) 2025 Summit from 22nd to 25th May 2025 in Nairobi. The event is intended to drive sustainable investment in agri-food systems by bringing together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to explore innovative financing models that support food security, economic growth, and climate resilience across the continent.
According to Kenya News Agency, Agriculture Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Paul Ronoh, highlighted the crucial role of agriculture in Kenya's economy, which contributes 20 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 40 percent of its population. He emphasized the urgent need for financing in the sector to support farmers with farming inputs, land, and improving marketing costs. The FINAS 2025 Summit aims to explore innovative financial solutions to drive the growth and sustainability of agri-food systems in Kenya and across Africa.
Dr. Ronoh disclosed that the government has increased the agricultural budget to sh77.7 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year, reinforcing its commitment to food security, job creation, and market access. The initial FINAS dialogue, held on 27th March 2024, led to the development of a sustainable financing framework, now being implemented with support from GIZ and other partners. He urged partnerships from other key stakeholders to spearhead the initiative and bridge financial gaps in the agricultural sector. Kenya is adopting blended financing, green bonds, and private-sector investments to ensure long-term resilience in the agricultural sector.
The Summit Director, Charity Mutegi, provided an overview of the FINAS Summit 2025, noting that the event marks a significant step in assessing progress and reinforcing efforts toward a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future. The summit event structure comprises pre-conference dialogues, a media launch, the main summit, and post-conference dialogues. The main summit will feature keynote speeches, breakout sessions, a hackathon, and exhibitions aimed at showcasing innovative solutions in agribusiness financing.
Freddy Bob-Jones, the Managing Director at ACELI Africa, emphasized their work with banks and impact investors to support underserved businesses. Since 2020, ACELI has helped unlock US $293 million in financing, benefiting over 3,000 Agri-SMEs. Bob-Jones expressed their commitment to improving access to finance for Agri-SMEs by reducing lending risks and mobilizing private capital, with a focus on economic empowerment, food security, and climate resilience in East Africa.