Africa Food Systems Forum 2026

1 September 2026
to 4 September 2026
Kigali,
Rwanda

The Agri-Energy Coalition returns to the Africa Food Systems Forum this year with its largest programme yet: a full week of sessions, a Coalition booth, and networking evenings bringing together partners working to put renewable energy at the centre of Africa's food systems transformation.

This year's programme brings together partners from across the Coalition: Open Capital, Practical Action, REEEP, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEA), Welthungerhilfe (WHH), GOGLA, Energy Saving Trust (EST), SNV, AGRA, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Wageningen University & Research, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP), BASE, IKEA Foundation, Acumen, C4SA, Partners in Food Solutions, Efficiency for Access, Helen Keller International and BoP Innovation Center, alongside government champions and PURE companies invited through the Coalition network.

Across the week, the Coalition's programme spans all four of its action areas: development approaches, policy, finance, and business. From plenary debate on climate resilience to a dedicated finance session unpacking the agri-energy investment gap, the sessions build the case that energy access is not a side issue for food systems but a precondition for solving them.

Where to find us

The Coalition will host a booth at the Kigali Convention Centre for the full duration of the Forum, from Monday 31 August through Friday 4 September.

Event schedule

Monday, 31 August

7:45 AM–4:30 PM — Field visit, Power for Food Partnership Rwanda (hosted by SNV)
10:30–11:30 — Power the Plate: Energy for Nutrition (side event, hosted by WHH)
10:30–11:30 — Agri-Energy Finance for Underserved Groups (side event, hosted by Rockefeller Foundation, Practical Action, Global Energy Alliance and BASE)
16:30–20:00 — Power for Food Partnership Rwanda drinks and buffet

Tuesday, 1 September

10:00–13:00 — Deal Room Session 1 (hosted by WHH, Deal Room B Stage)
13:30–15:30 — Connecting Climate Action with Livelihoods (plenary session, hosted by GOGLA, SNV and AGRA)
14:00–17:30 — Deal Room Session 2 (hosted by WHH, Deal Room B Stage)
16:00–18:00 — Powering Agri-Food Systems Value Chains Amid a Global Energy Crisis (Innovation Hub session, hosted by GOGLA and SNV)
18:00–20:00 — C4SA Leadership and Networking Event on African Agrivoltaics (hosted by C4SA and Akademiya2063)

Wednesday, 2 September

07:30–09:30 — Financing the Agri-Energy Nexus: Breaking Institutional Silos (hosted by GOGLA, Lemigo Hotel)
10:00–13:00 — Deal Room Session 3 (hosted by GOGLA, Deal Room B Stage)
10:30–12:30 — Powering CAADP: The Agri-Energy Nexus (Breakthrough session, hosted by SNV, GOGLA and AGRA)
Power the Plate Networking event hosted by WHH — time TBC

Thursday, 3 September

08:30–10:30 — What Makes Agri-Energy Businesses Thrive (hosted by Acumen and SNV)
19:00–22:00 — Putting Clean Energy at the Heart of Food Systems: Networking Evening, co-hosted by the Agri-Energy Coalition, Practical Action, Energy Saving Trust and the Power for Food Partnership/SNV, at Practical Action's Rwanda office

Friday, 4 September

Coalition booth open all day at the Convention Centre

Join us

The Coalition booth will be open throughout the Forum showcasing SMEs a variety of PURE technologies and services to show how they improve efficiency and add value. Come meet the coalition partners, the companies using clean energy in agri-food systems and discuss partnership opportunities or learn how to join the Coalition.

We look forward to seeing you in Kigali!

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