Read the background paper produced by the GDPRD to inform and stimulate discussions during the 2024 Annual General Assembly (AGA) on 26 – 27 November. The AGA will focus on the theme “Financing Food Systems Transformation and Rural Revitalization: Opportunities and Challenges.”

The year 2023 marked the Donor Platform’s 20th anniversary and the report highlights the activities and results in catalysing change and harmonizing impact. Highlights include a focus on sustainable and blended financing for SDG 2, stronger collaboration among donors for greater impact, and better data systems for food systems and rural development.

This technical note presents the detailed research, findings and recommendations from the enquiry into sustainable finance in agrifood systems conducted in 2023 by the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate in collaboration with members of the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD). This accompanies the summary report released in March 2024, Unleashing the Catalytic Power of Donor Financing to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2.

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the enquiry into sustainable finance in agrifood systems conducted in 2023 by the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate for Donor Platform members. The investigation included a series of interviews which explored how donors, philanthropic organizations, public funds and blended capital funds can make their funding effective and act as an incentive for achieving SDG 2.

Key messaging and speaker quotes are captured in this short report of the Annual General Assembly (AGA) convened on 26 and 27 October 2023. The AGA was a chance to celebrate the Platform’s 20th anniversary and reflect on how the donor landscape in agriculture, rural development and food systems has evolved.

There has never been a greater need for coordinated donor investments and collaboration that align with partner countries' needs and priorities. This flagship report is the culmination of a year-long workstream on donor coordination conducted by the GDPRD and includes key messages and recommendations for donors to consider in the way forward.