FINAS 2026: Funding Food Loss & Waste Management: Finance for Cold Chains

This session looks at one of the most persistent barriers to resilient food systems in Africa: the lack of investment in cold chain infrastructure. An estimated 30–40% of food produced in many African countries is lost before it reaches consumers, with perishables such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish and meat affected most due to inadequate cooling and storage.

The session draws on practical experience from DCA's Loss2Value (L2V) project in Nakuru and Nyandarua counties, as well as insights from the Cool Move Initiative — a consortium including Rabobank, Enviu, Wageningen University & Research, the World Bank and WRI, among others — working to strengthen cold chain ecosystems across the region. It brings together financial institutions, investors, off-takers, cold chain technology providers and development partners to discuss what it actually takes to scale investment in cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure — from blended finance and guarantee mechanisms to the practical risks that keep capital on the sidelines.

If you are attending FINAS and interested in food loss, cold chain investment, or de-risking finance for agri-infrastructure, this session is for you.

Find more information on FINAS, the program and registration