More Than $3 Billion in Private Sector Investment for the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition

The New Alliance is a shared commitment to achieve sustained and inclusive agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa. New Alliance efforts will help lift 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years by aligning the commitments of Africa’s leadership to drive effective country-led plans and policies for food security and nutrition; the intentions of private sector partners to increase investments where the conditions are right; and the commitments of G-8 members to expand Africa’s potential for rapid and sustained agricultural growth. All parties recognize that achieving transformational and sustainable economic growth and impacting smallholder livelihoods requires attracting significant and socially responsible private investments.

Africa’s economic growth, with agriculture as a strong driver, is creating substantial new business opportunities, and the rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is higher than in any other developing region. Responsible private sector investment is a critical component in the development of all economies and thus a vital driver of human development. The private sector can increase food availability by not only increasing investment in production, but also by linking smallholder farmers to broader markets and creating incentives for innovation that improve productivity. This, in turn, can improve access to food and employment opportunities that raise smallholder farmer incomes.