The Financing Agri-Food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) dialogue has grown from a national initiative into a continental platform driving solutions for agrifinance. FINAS 2024 spotlighted urgent priorities such as de-risking investments, expanding credit access for smallholders, and piloting innovative financing tools. FINAS 2025 (Continental Platform), broadened focus to resilient and inclusive financing structures, addressing Africa’s financing gap through coordination, digitalization, and climate adaptation. FINAS 2026 seeks to advance these priorities by focusing on building a sustainable financial architecture that links capital flows to policy, trade and investment frameworks.
Thematic Areas
The theme builds on FINAS 2024 and 2025, responding to the demand for an inclusive, investment-driven food system finance architecture that bridges systemic funding gaps, strengthens intra-African trade, and embeds resilience, digitization, and climate-smart principles.
Speakers
Hon. FCPA Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, EGH
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Co-Operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of Kenya
Dr. Paul Kipronoh Ronoh (CBS)
Principal Secretary State Department for Agriculture, MoALD, Government of Kenya
Hon. Kenneth Lusaka Governor
Bungoma County and Chair, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee, Council of Governors (CoG)
Prof. Emeritus Ratemo Waya Michieka, PhD, EBS, SS, FKNAS
President of KNAS and Chancellor of Tharaka University.
Abdihakim Yusuf Ainte
Director of Food Systems and Climate Change
Office of the Prime Minister Somalia
Alike Peter
Director Technical, Office of the Permanent Secretary and Team Lead, Technical Working Group on Climate Change
Cappitus Chironga Jazz
Deputy Director, Financial Sector Analysis Research Department
Central Bank of Kenya
Dr Berber Kramer
Senior Research Fellow, Markets, Trade and Institutions Unit International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Dr Girmaw Abebe Tadesse
Principal Scientist and Manager
Microsoft AI for Good Lab | Member of UN Scientific Panel on AI
Dr Sophia Baumert
Project Manager, Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany
Dr. Denis Fidalis Mujibi, PhD
Associate Director in charge of Data Insights and Market Intelligence
Strathmore Agri-Food Innovation Center (SAFIC).
Dr. John Deng Diar Diing, PhD.
Executive Secretary
Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA).
Duncan Oyaro
Enterprise Finance and Innovation Specialist and Programme Lead for the Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) Programme FSD Kenya
Enock Sing’oei
Agricultural Insurance & Climate Risk Specialist
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
H.E Ambassador Philip Thigo, MBS
Special Envoy on Technology, for H.E the President of the Republic of Kenya.
Office of Special Envoy on Technology
Hillary Korir
Assistant Director - Financial & Sectoral Affairs Climate Finance & Green Economy Unit
The National Treasury
Hon. Diana Kendi Tarichia
Youth and Policy Technical Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and livestock Development, Government of Kenya
Hon. Prof Kiringai Kamau
CECM - Devolution, Agroecology. MicroInvestment, Partnerships and External Linkages (DAMIPEL)
Murang’a County, Kenya
Isaac Otolo
Partner – PwC Mainland East Africa Transaction & Infrastructure Advisory Leader
PwC Transaction Services, East Africa
Kiplimo Araap Lagat, PhD
County Executive Committee Member, Agriculture & Co-operative Development,
County Government of Nandi.
Maurice Ouma
Project Program Coordinator DRIVE Kenya Project
Government of Kenya, State Department for Livestock Development
Prof. Ndiritu Simon Wagura
Associate Professor of Development Economics
Strathmore University Business School
Saseun Emmanuel Olawale
Ag. Head, Financial Partnerships Unit
National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF)
Tom Akeno
Chief Strategy, Business Development & Planning Officer, AFC
Agricultural Finance Corporation
Zakayo Ngetich
Vice President, Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA Funds) Sahel Capital.
Anchor Partners
