Africa faces an unprecedented food and nutrition security crisis, with an estimated 140 million people facing acute food insecurity. Despite this, more than 50% of the workforce are in the agriculture sector and it contributes between 15% and 50% of national Gross Domestic Products (GDPs). However, agriculture is responsible for over 80% of deforestation and conversion worldwide and unsustainable agricultural practices are causing a decline in the quality of resources (soil, water and air). In Africa, expansion by smallholder farmers is problematic but, with Africa’s population expected to grow from ~1.4 to ~2.5 billion by 2050, pressure to convert natural habitat into agricultural land is increasing; compunded by the fact current economic models are failnig to acknowledge the importance of nature to biodiversity, carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services that support healthy lives.

Conservation of natural resources must play a fundamental role in a just and equitable transitions of African's food and agricultural systems. The Africa's Food Future initiative provides a strategic pathway and interventionst to transition to nature-positive food systems that can nourish everyone.

The Africa Food Futures Initiative (AFFI) strategy provides a high-level framework that is being locally adaptable and implemented in  East Africa, Southern Africa and the Congo basin and associated transboundary landscapes.

This initiative fills a critical gap by supporting farmers in areas that are often not reached by government agricultural investment projects and extension services or development organisations.   

We are working to deliver three outcomes: