NFP at the African Food System Forum 2025 in Dakar

The 2025 edition of the AFS forum was dedicated to Africa’s Youth, very much needed to “lead and implement Agri‑Food Systems Transformation”. NFP co-hosted two side sessions and a lively exhibition booth with eight partners from the Netherlands.

About the side sessions

Marjan Riepma (NFP & Young Expert Programmes) facilitated the start of an interactive side session using the reverse mentoring methodology. Flipping the traditional model, by creating space for meaningful exchange and fresh perspectives across generations. In the session, participants were asked to pair with someone in a different phase of their career and discuss provocative statements on the roles of youth in food systems.

Marjan also joined a panel discussion about the Food Systems Accelerator. This initiative by GAIN and partners will assist 50 countries to accelerate food system transformation up to 2030. Many more interesting sessions happened, read for example the recommended posts below.

About the shared booth

In addition, NFP took the initiative for a booth, hosting our partners AgriGRADE, Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, Delphy, INCLUDE, SNV, Wageningen University & Research, WUR Student Challenges, Youth Food Lab and Young Expert Programmes. Each partner brought their expo materials and videos to attract and inform visitors

NFP itself also used the booth to playtest a serious game on the informal food economy. This game resembles monopoly, but it requires players to collaborate towards the joint goal of food security. The game includes scenarios that aim to trigger discussion on working with informality. A few dozen visitors enjoyed playing the game and discussed eyeopeners on informality afterwards.

All in all, the booth was a vibrant and interactive space to meet our partners, to learn about their offer of services and programmes. A few hundred visitors from Senegal, Africa and the rest of the world visited the booth during the 4 days of the forum.

Do you want to read more? Here are a few recommended posts from Linkedin

LinkedIn post Key takeaways from Aminata Diouf and Geja Roosjen (Challenge Fund for Youth Employment)
LinkedIn article An amazing week in Dakar, Senegal. Siobhan Kelly (FAO)
Event recap Building Partnerships and Advancing Dialogue on Soil Health [..] IFDC
LinkedIn post Thematic Session on Sustainable Production at the AFS Forum. YPARD
LinkedIn post Launch of the Power for Food partnership. IKEA foundation