AFSF 2026: Bonaventure Nyirimana on how AFSF can support his school feeding work

1. Why is this year’s AFSF important to your work?

This year’s African Food Systems Forum (AFSF) is particularly important to my work because it brings together policymakers, development partners, researchers who are shaping the future of food systems across Africa. I am especially interested in discussions around resilient food systems, nutrition and sustainable financing mechanisms. The AFSF provides a valuable platform to learn from successful experiences across the continent.

2. How are you looking forward to contributing your skills and expertise at the AFSF?

I look forward to sharing practical experiences from Rwanda and highlighting lessons learned from implementing school feeding initiatives that link schools with local farmers and communities. My work has involved coordinating stakeholders, supporting programmeimplementation, monitoring results, and promoting community ownership, all of which can contribute to discussions on building sustainable and inclusive food systems.

I am particularly interested in engaging in sessions related to school feeding, nutrition, local procurement, and food system transformation. Beyond sharing experiences, I also hope to learn from others and experts whose work can help strengthen and scale impact in Rwanda and across the region.

3. What are the most important outcomes you are hoping will come out of the AFSF?

One of the most important outcomes I hope to see is stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, the private sector, and local communities to accelerate food systems transformation. Sustainable solutions require coordinated action, and forums like AFSF create opportunities to build the partnerships

4. Who are you most looking forward to meeting or hearing from at the AFSF, and why?

I am particularly looking forward to hearing from food systems experts, and organizations that have successfully implemented large-scale programmes linking agriculture, nutrition, and social protection. Learning how different countries are addressing food security challenges while supporting local economic development can provide valuable insights for future programmedesign and implementation.