Transforming Food Systems and Improving Nutritional Outcomes Through Africa’s Food Processing Sector

The food processing sector in Africa has the power to drive economic growth and rural development, promote gender equity, mitigate climate change, and improve diets, making it a crucial element in strategies to transform food systems.

Operating across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia from 2018-2024,  the Alliance for Inclusive and Nutritious Food Processing (AINFP) program focused on enhancing the competitiveness of the food processing sector. 

This public-private partnership funded by USAID and implemented by TechnoServe and Partners in Food Solutions sought to create better nutritional outcomes for low-income consumers and more profitable market opportunities for local farmers. The program worked with nearly 260 organizations, facilitating mobilization of over $13 million of capital through loans and grants.

In the eight briefs below, you can learn more about strategies, results, and recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of the food processing sector and positively affecting the food system:

• Impact Brief: Private Sector Engagement Approaches to Affect Local Food Systems 
• Learning Brief: Advancing women’s economic empowerment in the food processing sectors in East and Southern Africa
• Smallholder Sourcing Lean Impact Study 
• An AINFP Learning Brief: Impact of Access to Finance Support for Food Processing SMEs in East Africa
• Food Processor’s Role in Supporting the Consumption of Safe, Nutritious Foods for Improved Nutrition
• Regenerative Practices in the Food Processing Sector Promoting Climate Action and Business Gains
• Partnering with Food Processors to Tackle Sourcing Challenges and Strengthen Farmers’ Livelihoods
• Opportunities to Reach Base-of-the-Pyramid Consumers by Partnering with Food Processors