By scaling investments, ATLAS aims to unlock the sector’s potential to achieve global development goals. (Image source: ATLAS)
Despite being one of the most important sectors in Africa, agriculture receives less than 3% of global development funding, which is why this year's World Economic Forum's Agricultural Transitions Lab for African Solutions (ATLAS) launched the 2x30 Challenge to boost investments in Africa's agri-food systems by 2030
The 2×30 Challenge is a bold initiative to galvanise global funders and policymakers to respond to the pressing need to close the annual funding gap, which amounts to US$200bn. 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. 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," said Justin Vaïsse, DG, Paris Peace Forum. "The 2×30 Challenge represents both an opportunity and a necessity to foster global resilience and equitable growth."
President of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Hicham El Habti also emphasised that the challenge reflected their commitment to empowering communities and driving meaningful change across the continent.
