Recap of the Webinar "Fintech Startups Shaping the Future of Inclusive Agrifood Systems

The recent webinar "Innovation Talks: Fintech Startups Shaping the Future of Inclusive Agrifood Systems" held on May 20th, brought together over 100 participants, actively engaging in discussions about the transformative role of Fintech in agrifood systems. The event, organized by the FAO's Office of Innovation and the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, aligned perfectly with the FAO's strategic framework that envisions a world free from hunger and malnutrition. This vision is to be achieved through the full use of science and innovation to tackle the intricate challenges within agrifood systems.

The webinar started with welcoming remarks from Vincent Martin, Director of the Office of Innovation at FAO, setting the stage for a series of interesting presentations and discussions. Niclas Benni, Rural Finance Specialist at FAO, presented key findings from a recent Fintech case study, highlighting the potential and challenges of Fintech innovations in agrifood financing.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation by Nael H.Mariam, Co-founder and CEO of Chapa, a local Fintech company. Nael discussed how Chapa serves as a payment gateway system designed to empower small agribusinesses and farmers, showcasing real-world applications of Fintech solutions in improving financial accessibility and inclusion.

Huda Alsahi, Social Policy Officer at FAO, talked about strategies for promoting inclusive Fintech development based on findings from the Digital Inclusion report launched recently by FAO. This segment emphasized the importance of developing Fintech solutions that are not only profitable but also sustainable and inclusive, particularly for marginalized groups such as rural populations, women, and youth.

Daniele Tricarico, Senior Director at the Central Insights Unit & MEL-GSMA, provided a comprehensive overview of lessons from GSMA on how scaling impactful fintech services for farmers play pivotal role in advancing sustainable development. The role of mobile operators and Agri-fintech ecosystem future prospects highlighted in this presentation.The interactive Q&A sessions allowed participants to engage directly with the speakers, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and solutions.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Lauren Philips, Deputy Director of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division at FAO, who reiterated the significance of leveraging Fintech to achieve inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.The "Innovation Talks" webinar successfully highlighted the vital role of Fintech startups in shaping the future of inclusive agrifood systems. As we venture further into the digital frontier, Digital Financial Services (DFS) emerge as key players in empowering smallholder farmers by enhancing financial inclusion and access to credit.

Join us in celebrating these advancements and stay tuned for future Innovation Talks that continue to explore groundbreaking solutions in agrifood systems.

Watch the webinar here.