On September 1, 2025, FASA team took part in the Africa Food Systems Forum 2025 (ASFForum2025) to showcase how catalytic capital can unlock the potential of agricultural SMEs across the continent.
Born from the urgent need to close an estimated $100–160 billion annual financing gap, FASA is designed to ensure that rural entrepreneurs — particularly women and youth — are not left behind in food systems transformation.
During the session “Catalytic capital empowers agri-entrepreneurs”, panelists and participants, underlined several key messages:
- Catalytic finance is essential to de-risk investments and provide patient, flexible, and tailored support to agri-SMEs
- Gender and youth inclusion must be intentionally embedded in financing solutions to drive meaningful impact
- Local funds and financial institutions should play a stronger role in enabling smaller agri-SMEs to access capital
- Science-based innovation, such as FASA’s climate toolbox, cost-effective impact measurement methods, and capacity building, can strengthen resilience and performance across the sector
More than a fund, FASA positions itself as a platform for financing, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, aiming to set new benchmarks for inclusive, climate-smart agricultural finance.
FASA extends its gratitude to all partners and speakers who contributed to this inspiring session : Godefroy Grosjean PhD., Co-Lead CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF) | Amb. Paul Gulleik Larsen, Special Representative for Climate and Food Initiatives, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Mamadou Ndao, FASA Investment Director, Investisseurs Et Partenaires (I&P) | Godefroy Grosjean PhD., Co-Lead CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF) | Caz Shaps, Sustainable Agriculture Investment Adviser, Uk Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) | Ada Osakwe, Agrolay Ventures Founder and Managing Director, FASA AIC Member | Rouffahi Koabo, EY4 Program Director, Teranga Capital | Richard K. OFORI-MANTE, Director, Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Department, AFDB | Sandra Milach, Chief Scientist CGIAR.
Together, the discussions confirmed that catalytic finance has the power to scale agri-SME financing, strengthen climate resilience, and drive inclusive growth across Africa.
