Africa’s Food Crisis: Can We Build a Shield Against the Next Shock?

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is set to reveal what worked—and what didn’t—in its massive emergency food production push. At a high-level side event during the Forum on Food Systems in Africa, the Bank will present key lessons from its African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF). The session is titled, "From emergency responses to food system resilience: lessons learnt from the AEFPF for the next generation of agricultural investment in Africa." The AEFPF was launched to counter severe food shortages caused by global supply chain disruptions. The goal was to rapidly boost local production of staple crops like wheat, maize, and rice. Now, the AfDB is shifting focus. The core question is how to move from short-term crisis response to long-term system strength. The event will explore how to design the next wave of agricultural investment to better withstand future shocks. By sharing these findings, the Bank aims to guide governments and investors toward more durable solutions. The discussion will center on turning emergency aid into sustainable food security for the continent.