Location
Global
Stakeholders involved
77 member countries
Lead organization
Scale
The estimated reach of the project is smallholder and family farmers, local private sector entities and over
million individuals
Co-investment model
This initiative supports the implementation of nationally-led programs by using advanced geospatial modelling and analytics and a robust partnership-building approach to accelerate the market-based transformation of agrifood systems. Innovative engagement with investors through strategic matchmaking as part of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum and HIH partner Matchmaking has effectively helped to mobilize investment. It attracts finance from public, private and impact investors.
Impact
billion in funding
To date, the initiative has mobilized almost USD $10 billion in funding. A focus of member governments is increasing productivity to generate income, reduce poverty and improve food security. This helps build interest in the program and attract investors.
Levers and enablers
Through the initiative, innovative geospatial analysis and advanced socio-economic analysis have supported over 50 governments in identifying, quantifying and proposing agrifood investments. The initiative now uses the annual Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum to optimize its impact with all agrifood investor groups to accelerate investments into agrifood system transformation.
A unique HIH Matchmaking app developed as part of the HIH Initiative Investment Forum has helped facilitate multistakeholder collaboration at a high-level and bilateral meetings, thus enabling and optimizing the participation of international financial institutions, development banks and other investors.
Moreover, the enhanced design of the HIH Initiative Investment forum promotes and supports greater risk sharing and engagement with the private sector and international financial institutions. For instance, the addition of an Investors Networking Lounge facilitates networking and engagement between governments and the private sector on opportunities for collaboration, including investment de-risking and risk sharing.
Through the initiative, innovative geospatial analysis and advanced socio-economic analysis have supported over
governments in identifying, quantifying and proposing agrifood investments
Barriers
Financial barriers include the risks of agrifood system investments in landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS). The initiative has drawn from a data-driven approach to identify suitable territories to prioritize agrifood system investment with an emphasis on poverty reduction.
Lessons for scaling
- Develop more specialized geospatial expertise and resources to support country, global and regional efforts;
- Develop the human capacity of member countries through training to enhance uptake and mainstream tools and approaches into national systems;
- Scale further investments through meaningful partnerships and engagements with key investor bodies and expertise to engage with investors on their needs, priorities and feedback;
- De-risk investments through both financial plans and information and quality of investment plans.
3 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2023). Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2023: Reforming Agricultural Support for Improved Outcomes. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/agricultural-policy-monitoring-and-evaluation/.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2021). A Multi-Billion-Dollar Opportunity: Repurposing Agricultural Support to Transform Food Systems. Retrieved from: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/CB6562EN.
World Bank (2023). Repurposing agricultural subsidies: What, why, and how? Retrieved from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2023/05/25/repurposing-agricultural-subsidies-what-why-and-how.
- Invest in systems that will outlast individual interventions rather than simply projects;
- Blend finances strategically to share risk and align incentives across the value chain.
