{
  "id": 5506371,
  "title": "FG pushes innovative financing to boost African agriculture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/fg-pushes-innovative-financing-to-boost-african-agriculture",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T05:56:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/fg-pushes-innovative-financing-to-boost-african-agriculture/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), has urged for an innovative financial model that merges public, private, and concessional resources to speed up the modernization of African agriculture. This call came during the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda, in a session titled “Aligning Investment to Fast-Track CAADP Objectives.” Ibrahim emphasized the necessity for African nations to move away from conventional funding methods and embrace financial structures that match investments with national goals, mitigate risks, and boost private-sector involvement.\n\nIbrahim highlighted that the main obstacle to agricultural financing lies not just in the capital's availability but also in its dispersion and inadequate coordination. He stressed the need to harmonize financial capital due to issues like insufficient capital availability and fragmented capital structures. NADF is striving to bridge this gap by mitigating risks associated with agricultural investments and constructing bankable project pipelines that can draw private-sector funding.\n\nThe NADF leader stressed that public funds should be used strategically to lure private investment, rather than replace it. He pointed out that the absence of commercially viable projects is a significant hurdle to capital mobilization. Ibrahim posed a critical question: \"If we do not have credible pipelines or the right projects that would attract private capital, then what do we do?\"\n\nAdditionally, Ibrahim advocated for robust data and accountability systems to enhance investment choices and ensure that agricultural financing yields tangible benefits, especially for smallholder farmers. Speaking at the same forum, Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Director of Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems at the Gates Foundation, noted that philanthropic capital could serve as a catalyst by offering patient, high-risk financing for groundbreaking agricultural solutions until commercial investors enter the scene. She argued that such financing could generate insights, fortify public-sector capabilities, and diminish risks, making agricultural investments more appealing to commercial entities.\n\nAll participants concurred that exceeding the goals of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) necessitates more than just increased funding. They advocated for coordinated financing, credible investment pipelines, stronger accountability, and better synchronization between public policies and private capital to convert pledges into enhanced agricultural productivity.",
  "summary": "The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Ibrahim, has called for an innovative financial framework that combines public, private and concessional resources to accelerate the modernisation of African agriculture. Ibrahim made the call at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda, during a plenary on “Aligning Investment to Fast-Track […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}