The FANRPAN Regional Multistakeholder Policy Dialogue 2025 aims to provide a platform for collective reflection, knowledge exchange, and co-creation of actionable solutions to accelerate Africa’s food systems transformation. Proceedings will be guided by the following objectives:
Africa’s agri-food systems face persistent and complex challenges—including the impacts of climate change, policy fragmentation, limited investments, and deep-rooted inequalities. While frameworks such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Africa’s Agenda 2063 provide strategic direction, a disconnect often exists between policy commitments and actual implementation. This misalignment impedes progress toward resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.
At the global level, 2025 is a defining year. South Africa’s G20 Presidency prioritizes sustainable food systems under the Agriculture Working Group, while COP30 in Brazil and the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) Stocktake offer critical platforms to advance Africa’s voice in global food systems governance. These milestones underscore the need for Africa to consolidate its priorities, align regional and national policies, and ensure investments are responsive to the continent’s unique needs.
In response, the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) will convene its 2025 Regional Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue to drive strategic conversations, foster collaboration, and co-create actionable solutions for Africa’s food systems transformation.
The Regional Policy Dialogue theme reflects the urgency of harmonizing national, regional, and continental policies to address Africa’s food systems challenges holistically. It emphasizes the critical need for coherence between African frameworks (CAADP, AfCFTA, Agenda 2063, etc) and global commitments (G20, UNFSS, UNFCCC) to ensure policies translate into meaningful investments, inclusive development, and systemic transformation.
The FANRPAN Regional Multistakeholder Policy Dialogue 2025 will focus on four interconnected sub-themes that address critical enablers for Africa’s food systems transformation.
The FANRPAN Regional Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue 2025 will convene a diverse and representative mix of over 150 stakeholders from across Africa and beyond. The event will foster cross-sector collaboration by bringing together actors who play critical roles in shaping, implementing, and influencing food systems transformation. Expected participants include:
• Policymakers and government representatives from the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and national ministries
• Youth and women agri-entrepreneurs and innovators
• Researchers, academic institutions, and think tanks
• Development partners, international organizations, and donor agencies
• Private sector actors and farmer organizations, including agribusinesses, cooperatives, and producer associations
• Media practitioners, knowledge intermediaries, and advocacy groups
Daily Foundation
Each day will begin with a welcome and scene-setting session to frame the day’s objectives and relevance. A high-level keynote address will follow, offering global or regional perspectives linked to the day’s theme. Two moderated plenary discussions will then bring together expert speakers from across sectors to explore key policy issues, share experiences, and highlight innovative solutions. These plenaries will be interactive, incorporating audience participation through Q&A, polling, and real-time reflections to foster an open and dynamic exchange.
Innovation Spotlight Days 1 & 2
A 15-minute spotlight session held before lunch will showcase innovators and community contributors. These short presentations will spark curiosity, direct participants to specific exhibits, and provide a platform to highlight contributions to food systems transformation.
Focused Dialogue
Each afternoon will feature two concurrent sessions led by partners, offering focused technical or regional dialogue aligned with the daily sub-theme. These sessions will support deeper exploration, cross-learning, and co-creation of policies and strategies for regional action.
Daily Synthesis
Held at the end of each day, these synthesis plenaries will consolidate key insights from the plenaries, exhibit pitches, and partner-led sessions. They will help participants connect thematic threads and contribute directly to the development of the Dialogue Resolutions.
Relationship Building
To foster informal dialogue and relationship-building, a Cocktail Reception will be held on Day 1 and a Networking Dinner on Day 2. These social spaces will allow participants and partners to strengthen connections, explore synergies, and extend conversations beyond formal sessions.
Outcomes & Commitments
On the final day, a high-level closing plenary will present outcomes of the dialogue, including a summary of each day’s key messages and the formal adoption of the Dialogue Resolutions. Key partners will deliver closing remarks to reaffirm commitments and outline next steps for sustaining momentum and translating outcomes into action.
Innovation Showcase Days 1 & 2
A curated exhibition space will showcase innovative research, technologies, and community practices that support food systems transformation. The exhibition will offer hands-on access to practical solutions and serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and increasing visibility for showcased initiatives.
Director-General: Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development South Africa
He is an experienced and goal driven executive with high regard for attention to detail. He strives to complete set goals on time, within budget and to the utility of stakeholders. He is a strategic thinker who is always willing to engage on variety leadership and management issues. His key objectives in life are to make a difference in people's lives and continuously strive to improve workplace capacity and capabilities.
CEO and Head of Mission FANRPAN
Is an experienced applied research, policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, policy advocacy specialist in the area of food systems, agriculture and natural recourses (FANR) with a total of more than 25 years working experience. Six (6) years of these is at an executive management level. Currently, as a CEO and Head of Mission of FANRPAN, Tshilidzi is vested with the key responsibility to provide overall strategic leadership and guidance to the organization.
ESRF: Research Assistant
Mr. Maxmilian Pius Yanda serves as a Research Assistant at the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he supports a wide portfolio of economic and social research projects. With a Master’s in Project Management from Asia Pacific University and a BA (Hons) in Economics and Management Studies from the University of Portsmouth, he applies both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in data collection, analysis, and report writing. Maxmilian plays an instrumental role in projects like the development of Tanzania’s National Export Strategy and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project Stakeholder Management Plan, delivering actionable insights that inform policy frameworks across economic development and sustainability sectors.
FANRPAN: Nutrition Specialist
Dr. Beatrice Nyanchama Kiage‑Mokua is a seasoned Nutrition Specialist with FANRPAN (Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network), based in Nairobi, Kenya. With over a decade of experience integrating nutrition-sensitive agriculture and implementation research, she holds a PhD in Nutrition and Household Economics and serves as a Senior Lecturer in Human Nutritional Sciences at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology ke.linkedin.comanu.ac.keorcid.org. Dr. Kiage‑Mokua has led projects such as the Ziron Pulse initiative—developing high‑zinc, high‑iron bean varieties to tackle childhood malnutrition—and focuses on climate‑resilient food systems and community health.
CEO SACAU
In his role of CEO, Ishmael has spearheaded the organisation’s work in relation to digital solutions; climate change; the development of a new generation of farmers and farmers’ organisations; multi-stakeholder platforms; systems thinking; and the governance of value chains. His wide-ranging experience and thought leadership has seen him serving a range of organisations, including the United Nations Food Systems Summit, the World Economic Forum, African Union/NEPAD, AGRA, Montpellier Malabo Panel of Experts, Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Generation Africa and the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification. Mr. Ishmael Sunga holds a BSc (Economics) from the University of Zimbabwe and an MSc (Strategic Management) from the University of Derby, UK. He is also a holder of other post-graduate qualifications and has wide-ranging experience, with more than 30 years’ in the development sector, including development research, international development assistance and development consultancy. His experience spans several sectors and areas, including small enterprise development; agricultural and rural development; rural transport; rural manufacturing; micro-hydro power; irrigation schemes; small scale mining; the informal sector; cooperatives, as well as membership-based organisations. He worked in the UK for a few years, and apart from Southern Africa, he also has undertaken assignments in in other parts of Africa, as well as in India, Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka.
FANRPAN Board Chair
An alumnus of the University of Melbourne, Dr Agumya holds a doctorate degree in Geo-Information Sciences (GIS). He also holds an MSc in GIS from the International Centre for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC) in Enschede, the Netherlands and a BSc in Surveying and Photogrammetry from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Africa Regional Coordinator: YPARD
Mr. Kofi Kisiedu Acquaye serves as the Africa Regional Coordinator for Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), where he oversees country chapters across sub‑Saharan Africa and bridges young agriprofessionals with key stakeholders at forums like FARA and FANRPAN. He was recently appointed by YPARD to represent African youth on FANRPAN’s Board of Governors, reinforcing his role in strategic policy engagement and youth empowerment in agri-food systems across the continent. Kofi has moderated and participated in events including COP27, AgriYouth Africa Café, and Global Landscapes Forum, amplifying youth voices in discussions on climate change, food security, and sustainable agriculture
Technical Manager: SANSOR
Kobus van Huyssteen is the Technical Manager at the South African National Seed Organisation (SANSOR), where he also serves as Certification Manager. With extensive experience in seed certification and regulatory compliance, he leads efforts to align South Africa’s certification systems with international standards such as ISTA and OECD. Kobus has overseen the development of advanced digital tools for certification management and played a key role in establishing South Africa’s Cannabis Certification Scheme. A vocal advocate for seed integrity and sustainable agriculture, he regularly engages stakeholders on the risks of uncertified seed and the importance of varietal purity. He holds an MBL in Project Management from UNISA.
FANRPAN Board Deputy Chair
Prof. Fortunata Songora Makene is the Deputy Chairperson of the FANRPAN Board and serves as the Executive Director of Tanzania’s Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) fanrpan.orgesrf.or.tz. A distinguished development sociologist with a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and over 30 policy-relevant publications, Prof. Makene has shaped research and policy on socio-economic reforms, gender equality, women’s and children’s rights, and urbanization across East Africa university.open.ac.uk+8esrf.or.tz+8fanrpan.org+8. She has taught Sociology, Global Studies, and Women’s Studies at institutions in the U.S., led policy development at the UONGOZI Institute, and now steers ESRF’s strategic research portfolio and publications unit. In early 2025, she expressed honour at her appointment as FANRPAN’s Vice Chair, committed to advancing inclusive and climate-resilient food systems across the continent.
LUANAR: Associate Professor
Dr. Alexander A. Kalimbira is an Associate Professor of Human Nutrition and Head of the Department of Human Nutrition and Health at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi. With a PhD in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph, Canada, he brings over two decades of experience in nutrition research, policy, and academic leadership. His work spans critical areas such as addressing micronutrient deficiencies (notably selenium and zinc), combating child stunting, improving dietary quality, promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and enhancing sustainable food systems in resource-limited settings luanar.ac.mwtrialsjournal.biomedcentral.com. Dr. Kalimbira has led and contributed to high-impact research projects funded by international agencies including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, USAID, FAO, and more; his findings have informed national nutrition policy and strengthened institutional capacity through supervision of over 50 postgraduate students
Director - Policy Research and Analysis at FANRPAN
Sithembile coordinates FANRPAN’s climate smart agriculture policy research and advocacy projects. Her work focuses on enhancing the research to policy and practice interface to help raise investment in, and policy support for climate-smart agriculture. she manages a portfolio of programs that include projects on Irrigation Water Management, Post-harvest Management, and Climate Smart Resilient Agriculture.
Africa Director, Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), Michigan State University
Professor Richard Mkandawire is a renowned socio-economist and policy expert with over 30 years of leadership in agricultural transformation, rural development, and public policy across Africa. He currently serves as the Africa Director of the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) at Michigan State University and Chairperson of the Malawi National Planning Commission, where he leads strategic national development planning.
Prof. Mkandawire played a pivotal role as a Senior Advisor to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), where he was the lead architect and champion of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)—a pan-African policy framework that has shaped agricultural reform across the continent. His leadership contributed to CAADP being adopted by over 40 African governments and development agencies.
He has also served as Vice President of the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), where he spearheaded initiatives that enhanced fertilizer access for over seven million smallholder farmers in three years, strengthening agro-dealer networks and agribusiness linkages throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
In academia, Prof. Mkandawire has contributed extensively to research and policy through his leadership at the University of Malawi (Bunda College), where he helped establish the Centre for Agriculture Research and Development (CARD). He has also held key roles promoting youth development, including as Africa Regional Director for Youth Programmes at the Commonwealth Secretariat and as the founding director of the Centre for Youth Studies at the University of Venda.
Prof. Mkandawire’s contributions have earned him multiple honors, including an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a “Driver of Change” Award in 2008, and appointment as an Extra-Ordinary Professor by the University of Pretoria.
An accomplished thought leader, he has published widely on agricultural policy, food systems, land tenure, youth development, and institutional reform. Prof. Mkandawire continues to advise regional and international institutions, helping shape Africa’s development agenda through inclusive, evidence-based policy design.
National Director @ CISANET
Experienced and visionary development leader with a proven track record in strategic leadership, policy engagement, institutional strengthening, and multi-stakeholder coordination for over 7 years. Currently serving as National Director of CISANET, I provide overall leadership and management of a national civil society network advancing inclusive agricultural policy and food systems in Malawi. I drive the development and execution of strategic plans, champion governance best practices, and ensure impactful programme implementation.
My work spans high-level stakeholder engagement, donor relations, human resource empowerment, gender mainstreaming, and financial sustainability. Passionate about transformative leadership, I foster innovation, build strategic partnerships, and steer complex policy and development processes to deliver tangible results for marginalized populations.
I’m particularly passionate about transformative leadership, systems thinking, and creating collaborative spaces where innovation and accountability thrive.
Let's connect if you’re interested in partnerships for inclusive policy and agricultural development, civil society strengthening, or food systems transformation.
Kulima Integrated Development Solutions
Dr Katharine Vincent is a distinguished geographer and climate change expert who has dedicated over two decades to advancing our understanding of climate vulnerability, adaptation, and gender dimensions of environmental change. As Director of Kulima Integrated Development Solutions and Visiting Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, she stands at the forefront of climate change research and policy in Africa. Her work has significantly influenced international climate policy through her contributions to multiple IPCC Assessment Reports, including her role as a Lead Author for the Fifth Assessment Report.
