GCF and AGRA’s Bold Re-Gain Initiative Seeks to Unlock USD 1 Trillion African Food Market and Addresses Climate Crisis Through Agricultural Transformation

By Kilimokwanza.org Team

The Green Climate Fund (GCF), in partnership with AGRA, has launched a transformative regional program named Re-Gain. This initiative is designed to bolster Africa’s potential as a major hub for food production. It will focus on climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable food systems, and empowering smallholder farmers.

Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia are some of the nations at the forefront of benefiting from the Re-Gain program’s initiatives and have pledged their support and participation in this transformative regional program.

These nations recognize the significance of addressing food loss and bolstering climate-resilient agriculture as essential steps in enhancing food security and economic development across the African continent.

Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA, commended the program, emphasizing the often-underestimated impacts of food loss on food security. She highlighted that Re-Gain is a timely intervention to address multiple facets of food loss, including post-harvest losses and supply chain inefficiencies, at national, regional, and international scales.

• USD 100 million in financing is committed to supporting the adoption of food loss solutions through the Re-Gain program.
• Nearly 300 million people in Africa are affected by escalating food and nutrition insecurity.
• Africa possesses 60 percent of the world’s unused arable land, which represents a significant agricultural potential.
• Africa has the capacity to create a food market worth USD 1 trillion by 2030.
• The initiative aims to mobilize private capital at scale, potentially benefiting the livelihoods of millions of smallholders, their families, and communities.

Dr. Kalibata said, “Underestimating the repercussions of food loss can inadvertently downplay its profound effects on the critical issue of food security. This program is timely in expediting innovative solutions for the various dimensions of food loss, from post-harvest losses to supply chain inefficiencies at both the national, regional, and international levels.”

Announced during the African Heads of States Food Systems Session at COP28, Re-Gain, the innovative regional program is designed to address pressing concerns: the escalating food and nutrition insecurity affecting nearly 300 million people in Africa and the intensifying impacts of the climate crisis, a joint press statement said. It aims to transform the agricultural landscape by enhancing access to technology for smallholders, reducing food loss, and fostering conducive environments for food system transitions.

One of the standout features of Re-Gain is its commitment to leveraging over USD 100 million in financing, in partnership with the private sector, to support the widespread adoption of food loss solutions. Already, countries such as Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia have rallied behind this initiative, with expectations of further participation in subsequent phases.

The financial support provided through Re-Gain will empower partner organizations and participating countries to undertake vital diagnostics, consultations, and align their programs with both climate science and national priorities. Ultimately, this initiative aims to make a substantial impact on the lives of African smallholders.

What sets Re-Gain apart is its pioneering approach. It is well on its way to becoming the first project developed under the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) innovative Project Specific Assessment Approach (PSAA). This approach is designed to streamline and broaden access to GCF resources by collaborating with new partners, countries, and technologies that have been underserved by the existing GCF Accredited Entity network.

Mafalda Duarte, GCF Executive Director, expressed pride in the collaboration with AGRA, stating, “GCF is proud to partner with AGRA on Re-Gain, which has the potential to transform Africa’s food systems. When implemented, this initiative will mobilize private capital at scale and help lower the cost of innovative solutions to prevent food loss and improve the well-being and livelihoods of smallholders, their families, and communities. This is also the first program to come out of a GCF pilot that expands access to funding for organizations that are not accredited to GCF.”

H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and AGRA Board Chair, emphasized the multifaceted nature of addressing post-harvest losses. He stated, “Addressing post-harvest losses requires a multi-faceted approach that includes investments in infrastructure, technology dissemination, and the creation of effective market linkages. With proper investment and partnership among key stakeholders, it is possible to empower African smallholders, enhance food security, and contribute to the overall economic development of the region.”

Despite the challenges posed by the climate crisis, Africa holds tremendous potential to become the world’s breadbasket. The opportunities and challenges facing Africa’s food systems are immense. The continent possesses 60 percent of the world’s unused arable land and has the potential to accelerate agricultural productivity by two or three times.

Additionally, Africa has the capacity to create a food market worth USD 1 trillion by 2030. However, it must address the dual challenge of escalating food and nutrition insecurity impacting nearly 300 million people while grappling with the intensifying effects of the climate crisis.

With project preparation funding from GCF to support the development of the program, GCF and AGRA will work together in designing and implementing an initiative to leverage over USD 100 million in financing to support the widescale adoption of food loss solutions, in partnership with the private sector. A group of countries including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia have joined this initiative, and further participation is expected in subsequent phases.

The financial support will enable partners and participating countries to conduct necessary diagnostics and consultations, align programs with country priorities and climate science, and deliver meaningful impact to African smallholders.

This initiative is on track to become the first project developed through GCF’s pilot Project Specific Assessment Approach (PSAA). PSAA is a new funding modality that aims to streamline and broaden access to GCF resources by working with new partners, countries, and technologies that have been underserved by the existing GCF Accredited Entity network.

“GCF is proud to partner with AGRA on this important initiative that will address the pressing challenges of food security in the context of climate change in Africa. The program demonstrates ambition, accelerates action, and strengthens partnerships that will ultimately improve the well-being and livelihoods of smallholders, their families, and communities. As the first program to come out of PSAA, a new modality that aims to increase access to GCF funding, it is a reminder of GCF’s commitment to accelerate climate financing for the most vulnerable,” said Mafalda Duarte, GCF Executive Director.

“Addressing post-harvest losses requires a multifaceted approach that includes investments in infrastructure, technology dissemination, and the creation of effective market linkages. With proper investment and partnership among key stakeholders, it is possible to empower African smallholders, enhance food security, and contribute to the overall economic development of the region,” said H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and AGRA Board Chair.