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From clean energy to construction, breakout sessions generated bold ideas and actionable partnerships.
Unlocking Agrifood Opportunities in Displacement
On Day 3 of AFD 2025, delegates turned their attention to the agrifood sector — a space brimming with potential in displaced communities but still deeply fragmented. Despite a wealth of market-level data, much of it remains underutilized, scattered, and uncoordinated.
The presence of diverse players, from clean cooking innovators to food-for-education programs and agri-extension providers, signals that the market is ready for structured investment. However, to turn data into action, we need a systematic approach: organizing and translating insights into scalable, government-backed projects.
This can’t happen in isolation. Private sector insights are essential to inform policy, optimize resources, and avoid duplication. The time for siloed efforts has passed. What’s needed now is coordination, speed, and precision.
Somalia Roundtable
Somalia, like its neighbor Sudan, continues to grapple with protracted displacement and fragile governance. Yet amidst the crisis lies opportunity: more than one million displaced individuals can be empowered to participate meaningfully in the country’s economy.
At the Somalia Roundtable, government leaders and private sector players came together to map out practical, long-term solutions. The key? Moving from emergency aid to investment-driven resilience.
Panelists emphasized the need for durable, localized interventions — such as skills development, smart irrigation, innovative financing, and improved service delivery. The strongest message was clear: localization is the foundation of job creation and economic inclusion.
To make this vision real, Somalia must work towards building a seamless, investor-friendly environment that allows the private sector to fuel transformation — not just relief. This is how the country can shift from dependence to sustainable development.
Cohort 1 Fellows Graduation
The highlight of AFD 2025 was the graduation of Amahoro’s Cohort 1 Fellows — a powerful close to a transformative journey. What began with fear and uncertainty, as captured in Isaac Kwaku’s emotional speech, ended in a moment of pride, hope, and celebration.
When no one else could see, hear, or believe in the bold visions of these young leaders, Amahoro Fellowship Program did. It gave them what they needed most — a chance to be seen, heard, and believed in. As Isaac said, “Trust is all we need. Trust is a powerful tool.”
And the results spoke for themselves. In just 12 months, these fellows created over 250 jobs, with 77 of them in forcibly displaced populations. But more than numbers, they delivered bold ideas, deep purpose, and strong community bonds that redefined displacement as a platform for innovation and leadership.
On the final night of the forum, we didn’t just celebrate graduates — we witnessed a new generation of leaders reclaiming their power to lead boldly and change the narrative.
