Transforming food systems from the ground up

Lessons from GAFSP projects

22 October 2026

Smallholder farmers grow a third of the world’s food, rising to 80% in Africa and Asia. How best can governments and donors ensure agricultural projects most effectively reach and serve those who need them the most?

Findings from reviews of projects supported by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) offer critical insights into what works.

Between November 2025 and March 2026, the Civil Society Partnership for GAFSP conducted participatory reviews of ongoing projects across seven countries: Burundi, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Lao PDR, Liberia and Tanzania.

The results provide lessons, for both GAFSP and other donors, on how to design projects that support a just transition in food systems, while contributing to climate resilience, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and improved nutrition.

The Civil Society Partnership for GAFSP is a consortium commissioned by GAFSP, consisting of ActionAid International, the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), the Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (AsiaDHRRA), and Coordination pour des Actions en Santé et en Développement d'Haïti (COSADH).

Key findings

Local, farmer-led approaches deliver more sustainable and inclusive results
Adoption of agroecological practices, supported by inclusive extension services, improves income, food security and climate resilience.
Strengthening national and local seed systems promotes productivity, while also supporting farmers’ autonomy and climate resilience.
Yield increases contribute to household food security, but require reliable market linkages to improve incomes.
Reliable and accessible infrastructure (irrigation, storage, transport, processing) reduces post-harvest losses, creates value and improves climate resilience.
Gender transformative approaches deliver stronger, sustainable outcomes.
Inclusion of youth requires investment in youth-led and focused activities, including enterprise development and their involvement in producer organisations.
Financial inclusion for rural and marginalised communities strengthens their resilience and cohesion.
Community participation and inclusive governance strengthen social cohesion and resilience.
Nutrition improves when approaches ensure institutional, community and household participation.

Recommendations

Based on these findings, GAFSP – and other donors – are urged to

Prioritise long‑term, flexible investment in strengthening producer organisations.
Elevate agroecology as a core strategic pathway for achieving productivity, climate resilience, nutrition and livelihood goals – rather than treating it as an optional approach.
Strengthen sustainable local seed and knowledge systems by investing in farmer‑managed seed multiplication, national research institutions, and farmer‑centred extension and learning platforms.
Integrate market access and nutrition outcomes into project design from the outset
Embed inclusive governance as a delivery requirement – recognise gender‑transformative, youth‑inclusive, and community‑led approaches as essential to long-term sustainability.