Transforming Agri-food Systems Newsletter: Issue 1

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the first edition of the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems (TAFS) newsletter by GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS. Across Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS region, agri-food systems are at a turning point. Farmers, processors, and agribusinesses are navigating a changing climate, shifting markets, and growing demand for food that is not only more abundant, but also nutritious, sustainably produced, and equitably shared. Meeting this challenge requires more than isolated projects, it calls for coordinated action across policy, finance, private sector engagement, and community-level initiatives, all pulling in the same direction.

That is precisely what TAFS was designed to do. By bringing together projects under a shared strategic framework, spanning value chains from rice and cocoa to dairy and cashew, and working from Nigerian states to the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, we can link lessons learned in one context to challenges in another, turning individual project successes into system-wide change.

This quarterly newsletter brings that work together for you. In each edition, we will share stories of change from the field, spotlight project milestones and innovations, reflect on lessons learned, and highlight opportunities to connect, collaborate, and get involved, whether you are a partner, a colleague, or simply someone who cares about the future of agri-food systems in the West Africa region.

Transformation is not achieved alone. It requires all of us, public institutions, private sector actors, farming communities, and development partners working toward a common goal. We are glad to have you with us on this journey, and we hope this newsletter becomes a space not only to inform, but also to learn from and with one another. Together, we are transforming agri-food systems for a more sustainable future. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and stay connected with us.

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