Workstreams
Catalysing finance for food systems transformation
In today’s complex and fast-changing global environment, the role of public and private finance in food systems has never been more critical. Amid growing food insecurity, economic volatility, and evolving donor priorities, traditional development financing alone is no longer sufficient to meet the scale of the challenge.
Building on previous work to unlock the catalytic potential of public and private financing, this workstream focuses on making development finance more effective, coordinated, and fit for purpose.
By promoting the strategic use of donor resources and unlocking new forms of capital, particularly through blended finance, the Platform aims to ensure that agriculture, rural development, and food security remain at the centre of global financing discussions.
Talking about Finance
Talking about Finance
Workstreams
Advancing financing for food: Efficiency, innovation and impact
Building on previous work to unlock the catalytic potential of public donor and private financing, this new workstream explores how development finance can become more effective, efficient and aligned with today’s global challenges.
Why we engage
With donor priorities shifting and growing global economic uncertainties, financing for agriculture and rural development is becoming increasingly fragmented.
In the face of these challenges, we work to ensure that agriculture, rural development and food security remain central to global discussions, alongside climate resilience and sustainable economic growth.
We promote stronger donor coordination to reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and strengthen financial tracking and reporting mechanisms through the exchange of best practices.
The Global Donor Platform for Rural Development (GDPRD) stands ready to lead this next phase to collectively advance smarter, more resilient and inclusive financing models to deliver on prosperity, security, sustainability and resilience.
By strengthening collaboration among donors, the workstream focuses on four strategic pillars: improving donor coordination to reduce fragmentation and duplication; increasing accountability through stronger financial tracking; fostering innovation and private sector engagement in fragile contexts; and promoting value for money in a shrinking funding environment.
A High-Level Advisory Group was convened to develop a White Paper, providing forward-looking recommendations to position agrifood systems high on the strategic investment agenda and to mobilize capital for transforming these systems at scale.
The narrative must change: Investing in the agrifood sector is not just about coping with crises or responding to food insecurity. It is a driver of opportunity, growth and long-term value.
Key engagements:
Workstream Activities
Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), shares her own experiences leading a global, youth-led organization.
Sebastian Pedraza is the Latin America Country Coordinator of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and the Chair of the YPARD Board. He shares his experiences both growing up in a rural environment and now working with rural youth to give them opportunities and a voice in their futures.
Seville, 30 June 2025 - At the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the Donor Platform hosted a high-level side event titled “Financing Agrifood Systems for People, Planet and Prosperity,” marking the launch of a new White Paper that calls for a dramatic shift in how the world invests in agrifood systems.
The global community needs a new financing model that aligns public and private capital, leverages innovation and positions agrifood systems at the centre of sustainable development. This White Paper outlines a bold yet practical agenda to unlock the capital, partnerships, and innovation needed to drive change at scale.
Agnes Johan, Head of Blended Finance at Rabo Partnerships, shares why food systems must become a global priority and the surprising progress emerging market banks are making on sustainability. From her roots in agricultural economics to her passion for blended finance, she offers a grounded, hopeful vision for impactful change.
Ines Rocha, Regional Director for Europe at IFC, shares what keeps her up at night—from the war in Ukraine to climate-driven disasters—and why, despite the challenges, she remains hopeful about the momentum for change. Hear how private sector innovation and collective global action are shaping a more sustainable future.
Using innovative approaches to finance the future of food was the key theme and focus of the Platform’s activities in 2024. This year’s report highlights the crucial role of official development assistance (ODA), innovative blended finance, and private sector collaboration in transforming food systems and revitalizing rural development globally.
Global food systems face a financing crisis, with an annual shortfall of up to $400 billion needed for transformation. Meanwhile, the hidden costs of food production—ranging from environmental damage to health impacts—amount to US$12 trillion each year. As donor priorities shift, can development aid be reimagined to build resilient, sustainable food systems? This article explores the path forward for development communities across the world.
The 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit (27-28 March) comes at a critical time, with malnutrition still affecting millions and food systems under strain. This briefing paper outlines the challenges and opportunities of financing food systems for nutrition, along with policy recommendations for N4G and beyond, to optimize the catalytic potential of donor resources.
Co-Chairs Bruce Campbell (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - SDC) and Federica de Gaetano (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, AICS) are featured in the Devex 2024 Global Voices list, for their opinion piece on “How blended finance can catalyse private capital for agriculture”, originally published on 1 October 2024.
Genna Tesdall, Director of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), shares her own experiences leading a global, youth-led organization.
Sebastian Pedraza is the Latin America Country Coordinator of Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and the Chair of the YPARD Board. He shares his experiences both growing up in a rural environment and now working with rural youth to give them opportunities and a voice in their futures.
Seville, 30 June 2025 - At the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the Donor Platform hosted a high-level side event titled “Financing Agrifood Systems for People, Planet and Prosperity,” marking the launch of a new White Paper that calls for a dramatic shift in how the world invests in agrifood systems.
The global community needs a new financing model that aligns public and private capital, leverages innovation and positions agrifood systems at the centre of sustainable development. This White Paper outlines a bold yet practical agenda to unlock the capital, partnerships, and innovation needed to drive change at scale.
Agnes Johan, Head of Blended Finance at Rabo Partnerships, shares why food systems must become a global priority and the surprising progress emerging market banks are making on sustainability. From her roots in agricultural economics to her passion for blended finance, she offers a grounded, hopeful vision for impactful change.
Ines Rocha, Regional Director for Europe at IFC, shares what keeps her up at night—from the war in Ukraine to climate-driven disasters—and why, despite the challenges, she remains hopeful about the momentum for change. Hear how private sector innovation and collective global action are shaping a more sustainable future.
Using innovative approaches to finance the future of food was the key theme and focus of the Platform’s activities in 2024. This year’s report highlights the crucial role of official development assistance (ODA), innovative blended finance, and private sector collaboration in transforming food systems and revitalizing rural development globally.
Global food systems face a financing crisis, with an annual shortfall of up to $400 billion needed for transformation. Meanwhile, the hidden costs of food production—ranging from environmental damage to health impacts—amount to US$12 trillion each year. As donor priorities shift, can development aid be reimagined to build resilient, sustainable food systems? This article explores the path forward for development communities across the world.
The 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit (27-28 March) comes at a critical time, with malnutrition still affecting millions and food systems under strain. This briefing paper outlines the challenges and opportunities of financing food systems for nutrition, along with policy recommendations for N4G and beyond, to optimize the catalytic potential of donor resources.
Co-Chairs Bruce Campbell (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - SDC) and Federica de Gaetano (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, AICS) are featured in the Devex 2024 Global Voices list, for their opinion piece on “How blended finance can catalyse private capital for agriculture”, originally published on 1 October 2024.
