The subprogramme aimed to strengthen agrifood systems in East and Southern Africa, focusing on enhancing resilience, sustainability and inclusivity. Designed in response to the challenges facing agrifood systems in the region, including economic, social, environmental and health pressures, the subprogramme sought to address these issues through improved policymaking, stakeholder engagement and capacity building. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the need for resilient agrifood systems, reinforcing the importance of this initiative.

Systemic solutions based on science and innovations are critical for advancing more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. This is relevant in the context of promoting sustainable supply and use of forest ecosystem services through innovations; FAO promotes all key innovations (e.g. technological, social, policy, institutional, and financial). It is crucial for advancing a sustainable bioeconomy.

The project emerged as a practical example of how digital innovation can be an effective tool to tackle poverty and hunger in rural areas. Governments in the region have adopted digital solutions that directly contribute to advancing SDGs 1 and 2. For example, they have created a digital innovations catalogue to identify replicable and scalable solutions that can significantly impact poverty and hunger reduction in the region.