The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), along with country fora in Uganda and Madagascar, will participate in the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum, slated for 31st August- 4th September 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda.
AFAAS will be joined by the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), Access Agriculture, and the Young Professionals in Agricultural Research and Development (YPARD), and other partners, to amplify the role of rural advisory services in accelerating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems across Africa.
A major focus will be sharing experiences and lessons from the Global Programme for Small-scale Agroecology Producers and Sustainable Food Systems Transformation (GP-SAEP), Accelerating agroecological transformation through Rural Advisory Services (ÆRAS) Project. Through GP-SAEP ÆRAS Project, partners have been working with extension actors, farmer organisations and farming communities to strengthen capacities, facilitate farmer-led experimentation, promote peer learning, and support co-creation, adoption , and adaptation of agroecology transformative actions in Uganda, Madagascar, Costa Rica and Ecuador.
About the Africa Food Systems Forum
The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF2026) will convene over 5,000 global leaders, innovators, policymakers, and private sector stakeholders, from over 50 countries to advance the transformation of sustainable food systems across Africa. Through high-impact programming, strategic deal-making, and policy dialogue, the Forum will provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge and lessons, forge partnerships, and catalyse practical actions and solutions that can be scaled across the continent.
Organized under the theme, “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience,” this year marks the 20th anniversary of the summit.
The AFSF is an avenue to position AFAAS as a continental voice on agricultural extension and advisory services (AEAS), agroecology, digital advisory services, and last-mile delivery of food-systems transformation.
Participation of AFAAS in the AFSF2026
Led by the Executive Director, Dr Lilian Kidula Lihasi, the AFAAS network will:
i) Host a high-level Breakthrough Innovation Event an opportunity to showcase GP-SAEP’s practical agroecological innovations, strengthen partnerships, facilitate policy dialogue, mobilise investment, and identify scalable approaches that can accelerate Africa’s transition toward sustainable food systems.
- Theme: GP-SAEP Africa Agroecology Innovations: Scaling Participatory Rural Advisory Services (RAS) for Agroecological Transition
- Date: 01 September 2026
- Time: 08:30 – 10:30 CAT (3 Hours)
- Venue: Kigali Convention Centre – Room AD 10), Kigali Rwanda.
ii) Host a dedicated side event for GP-SAEP Africa Regional Closure and Dissemination (Africa-ReCaD) Workshop on agroecology. This will provide an opportunity to connect project-generated evidence and lessons with wider regional priorities on agroecological transformation, professionalisation of RAS, farmer-to-farmer learning, and sustainable food systems development
iii) Participate and speak at a number of sessions, all aimed at strengthening the visibility and influence of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) within Africa’s food systems transformation agenda.
Some of the delegates from the African Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) Network
To get more information about the AFAAS-related events at the Africa Food Systems Forum, please contact Dr Rosemirta Birungi through:
Email: brosemirta@afaas-africa.org, or Tel/WhatsApp: +256772589493