Press Release – Paris, France – 20 January, 2025 – At this year’s World Economic Forum, ATLAS (Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions, an initiative of the Paris Peace Forum) is unveiling the 2×30 Challenge, which calls for doubling annual investments in Africa’s agri-food systems by 2030 – from $50 billion to $100 billion. This is a transformative step toward building more productive and resilient food systems across the continent.

African agriculture currently receives less than 3% of global development funding 
The 2×30 Challenge is a bold initiative to galvanize global funders and policymakers to respond to the pressing need to close the annual funding gap, which amounts to $200 billion. 

Rallying all stakeholders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal
By scaling investments, ATLAS aims to unlock the sector’s potential to achieve global development goals by driving transformative progress in poverty reduction, food insecurity, health and education inequalities, while driving economic growth, social progress and climate resilience. With strategic and targeted investments, Africa’s agrifood systems could close 30–50% of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) gaps. Investments will be tracked through a yearly Investment Barometer, that will consolidate public, private and development funding across the continent.

“If improving African agriculture seems to be a magic wand to make progress on several key sustainable development goals, that’s because it is. The 2×30 Challenge represents both an opportunity and a necessity to foster global resilience and equitable growth,” said Justin Vaïsse, DG, Paris Peace Forum. 

“At UM6P, we are driven by a clear vision: a prosperous Africa fueled by innovation and resilience. The 2×30 Challenge represents an important step towards achieving this goal. This initiative reflects our commitment to empower communities and drive meaningful change across the continent,” added Hicham El Habti, President of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic. 

“Africa’s agricultural transformation holds great promise for a Sustainable Future. As a continent rich in untapped opportunities, we believe that, through the ATLAS 2×30 challenge, Africa can play a significant role in contributing to global food security,” said Iliass El Fali, Managing Director – Corporate Strategy, Performance Management & Operations Coordination, OCP Group. 

“African agri-food systems are the unlock to half of the world’s Sustainable Development Goals. Yet we hardly invest 3% of global development funding and 5% of total investments into Africa. The 2×30 Challenge aims to reduce this massive mismatch and to bring together leading public, private and development funders to transform African agri-food systems into engines of growth and resilience for the world. The Investment Barometer will ensure we measure actual progress against these targets,” said Patrick Dupoux, Managing Director and Senior Partner, BCG.

This Challenge will be launched at a high-level session at the World Economic Forum in Davos 

• Date: 20th January 2025, 6:00pm-7:30pm 
• Location: SDG tent, Davos, Switzerland 
• Format: Presentation followed by a panel discussion and networking cocktail 

Distinguished speakers include: H.E. Hodan Osman, President (Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank) ; Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President (AGRA) ; Ndidi Okonkwo, CEO (ONE) ; Shalini Unnikrishnan (BCG) ; Iliass El Fali, MD (OCP) ; Dr. Alvaro Lario, President (IFAD), Dr. Ismahane Elouafi (CGIAR); Raj Kumar, CEO (Devex) ; Patrick Dupoux, Managing Director and Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group ; Dr. Justin Vaïsse, DG (Paris Peace Forum). 

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For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

About ATLAS: ATLAS is a collaborative platform launched by the Paris Peace Forum. It brings together 30+ major institutions and advocates for an increase in investments in African agriculture, aligning investment priorities, and enhancing accountability through the Investment Barometer. By aligning investments and promoting innovative partnerships, ATLAS seeks to position Africa as a global agricultural powerhouse. Visit ATLAS website 

Source : Parispeaceforum

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