Heifer International is urging governments and partners to prioritize youth-led, locally-driven solutions and innovative finance models to combat Africa's worsening hunger crisis, which now affects nearly one in five people. The organization will highlight its transformative approach at the upcoming Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF 2025) in Dakar, Senegal.

• 307 million people in Africa are hungry, according to the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report.
• Heifer International’s Senior Vice President of Africa Programs, Adesuwa Ifedi, emphasized the need for "bold, collaborative action" and solutions combining blended finance, catalytic capital, and youth-powered innovation.
• Through its AYuTe NextGen initiative, Heifer International has mobilized over $11 million in catalytic investments, supported nearly 100 youth-led agri-tech businesses, created 23,000 jobs, and reached over 3.5 million smallholder households since 2021.