Strategic Investment Planning and Policy
Transforming the world’s agrifood systems calls for greater public and private investment shaped by strategic and innovative thinking. It calls for good analysis, a shared vision and sound policies.
Linking conducive policies with sizeable investments is one of the best ways to achieve impact at scale. The FAO Investment Centre works with countries and partners to develop agricultural investment strategies and plans, including through FAO’s flagship Hand-in-Hand initiative.
The Centre leads and contributes to policy, analytical and sector studies to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investments. And it brings together public and private sector stakeholders – including producer organizations, governments, financing partners and others – to discuss policy issues and resolve bottlenecks along supply chains.
In 2023 alone, the Centre contributed to 40 agricultural strategies, 49 sector studies, 15 policy studies and 16 policy dialogues in 67 countries.
Initiatives
Latest stories
New book traces the FAO Investment Centre’s evolution over its first 60 years
19/12/2025
For over six decades, the FAO Investment Centre has helped countries invest in agrifood systems to reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition and advance...
How Investment in the Lobito Corridor Could Boost Zambia’s Agrifood Value Chains and Inclusive Prosperity
18/12/2025
An analysis of key value chains along the Lobito Corridor in Zambia showed that soybeans, cassava and horticulture are among the most promising value...
A look at financing opportunities for primary cocoa processing in Côte d’Ivoire
11/12/2025
The European Union, Côte d'Ivoire's leading trading partner, asked the FAO Investment Centre for assistance in estimating the country’s current and...
Cocoa mapping in Cameroon: EU Sustainable Cocoa Programme advances sustainable production and forest protection
26/11/2025
The Government of Cameroon with the support of the FAO Investment Centre, in collaboration with the European Union and the European Forest Institute...
Latest publications
FAO Investment Centre 60 years young 1964–2024
12/2025
The 60-year journey of the FAO Investment Centre tells a remarkable story of technical excellence and trusted partnerships. It also reflects the vision and effort of those who laid its foundations, the dedication of those who worked hard to sustain the Centre over the years, and its ability to adapt and innovate in a rapidly changing world.
The European Union's Sustainable Cocoa Initiative and Programme
10/2025
The European Union’s Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, implemented by FAO Investment Centre together with partners (JRC, EFI, GIZ), helps governments to build a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable global cocoa value chain in support of the Global Gateway initiative. This effort brings together producing and consuming countries, as well as key stakeholders — including European consumers.
Harnessing Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean September 2025
10/2025
The European Union has prioritized sargassum within its Global Gateway Strategy for the Caribbean, supporting countries to turn this environmental challenge into an economic opportunity. In 2024, with FAO’s technical support under the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Intelligence (SASI/SASI+) initiative, the EU Delegation in Barbados, together with the Government of Grenada, launched a process to support development of a sustainable sargassum value chain.
Market structure and efficiency in agricultural value chains: Deep dives in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic
10/2025
This report represents a context-specific approach to analyzing market structures and dynamics that may contribute to price distortions in two country-commodity pairs in Central America: white maize in El Salvador, and bananas in the Dominican Republic.
Advancing agrifood systems transformation in Colombia: A participatory bottom-up approach
07/2025
Agrifood systems (AFS) play a key role in Colombia’s economy, employing around 35 percent of the workforce. Colombia has been at the forefront of efforts to transition towards sustainable AFS though participatory processes and evidence-based approaches.