FICs 2025: Closed-door Side Meeting on Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems 

Closed-door Side Meeting on Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems 

The first in-person meeting of the FiCS Agriculture Coalition took place on Thursday, 27 February 2025, from 11:00 to 12:00 at Westin Seal & Robben Island. This closed-door session aimed to facilitate high-level dialogue among Public Development Banks (PDBs), donors, and international organizations, promoting knowledge exchange and strengthening capacity-building. Dr. Alvaro Lario, President, IFAD, and Federica Diamanti, Associate Vice President for External Relations, IFAD, delivered the keynote addresses, while Pieternel Boogaard, Managing Director of the Office of Technical Delivery, moderated the discussion. 

Dr. Alvaro Lario opened the session, emphasizing PDBs’ role in sustainable agriculture, financial inclusion, and climate resilience. He highlighted private sector and SME engagement to complement public investments and outlined strategies to improve finance access, capacity-building, and digital tools through the Agri-PDB Platform. Other key speakers echoed these themes. Hélène Djoufelkit, Deputy Executive Director for Sustainable Finance and Economy, AFD, stressed the importance of food nutrition and sustainability, particularly agroecology. She reaffirmed AFD’s commitment to the platform through dedicated staff and grant funding to drive impactful and inclusive agricultural transformation. Adolfo Cires Alonso, Policy Officer for Private Sector and Financial Markets Development, DG INTPA, emphasized capital mobilization and financial tools for agroecology and sustainable finance. He praised the platform’s role in knowledge exchange and partnerships while seeking feedback on PDB collaboration.  

Themba Rikhotso, CEO, Land Bank, highlighted the importance of structured partnerships for smallholder farmers (SHFs) and navigating complex financial structures. He announced the launch of the first index insurance program to support sustainable agriculture. Dr. Kao Thach, CEO, ARDB Cambodia, emphasized collaboration with PDBs to scale climate finance and advance green initiatives, including green bond issuance. Lloyd Banda, CEO, MAIIC, underscored the platform’s role in securing investments for agroecological projects. He stressed the importance of concessional finance to support smallholder farmers and urged prioritizing lending to youth and women for inclusive growth. Ibrahim Adama Touré, Group Branch Director, BNDA, highlighted investments in irrigation, livestock, and storage, as well as financial training. He referenced partnerships with “Grande Muraille Verte” and Syngenta, BNDA’s Green Climate Fund accreditation, and ongoing climate finance efforts.  

Eduardo Vasquez Kunze, Head of Institutional Relations, ALIDE, emphasized PDB collaboration in agricultural finance, referencing FIRA’s role and Kenya’s event on Building Resilient Local Agri-Food Systems. He invited stakeholders to upcoming global cooperation initiatives. Fernando Jiménez-Ontiveros, Director for Multilateral, AECID, stressed trust funds and sovereign guarantee loans for sustainable investment. He highlighted efforts to mobilize $250 million for small farmers in Latin America and tech firms in India, while addressing private investment challenges. Shaji Krishnan Vimalanandavally, Chairman, NABARD, focused on digital access to financial services, credit guarantees, and rural cooperatives. He emphasized onboarding farmer organizations onto digital platforms to improve market access and financial sustainability. Diana Kos, FMO, highlighted investments in rural infrastructure, mobile banking, and land use for agriculture and solar energy. She stressed partnerships with mobile providers to expand financial access, citing Mpesa as a success model. 

Thierry Latreille, Agri-PDB Platform Coordinator, invited PDB members and partners to engage in capacity-building and peer-to-peer exchanges. Federica Diamanti concluded the session, thanking PDBs, regional organizations, the European Commission, and AFD for supporting the platform’s development initiatives. The session reinforced the vital role of PDBs in driving sustainable and inclusive food systems, fostering collaboration, and mobilizing resources for impactful agricultural transformation.