Session overview

At UNFSS+4, financing returns to center stage in a strained food finance ecosystem. The picture is mixed: some low- and middle-income countries have made steps in mobilizing domestic resources, and development finance for food systems has increased, signaling donor commitment. Yet overall financing remains insufficient. The tension between short-term humanitarian needs and long-term structural investments persists. Blended finance continues to favor middle-income countries, while low-income countries struggle to attract private capital. Most agri-SMEs remain locked out of affordable finance. UNFSS+4 is a critical inflection point, but also a moment of opportunity. Promising and innovative country-led financing solutions are emerging, combining domestic, development, and private capital that empower small-scale entrepreneurs, women, and youth. This flagship session—featuring the UN Deputy Secretary-General, ministers, IFIs, private sector and small agri-entrepreneurs—will assess progress and risks, and engage the audience in bold, country-led financing solutions that inspire action. Let us rise to the moment—financing food systems transformation with urgency, ambition, and unity.