On 4 June, AgriCord brings together farmers' organisations, agri-agencies, researchers, development actors, financial institutions, investors and government representatives for its annual Partners' Forum in Nairobi. This year's edition turns the spotlight on one of the most pressing questions in global agriculture today: how do we scale Nature-Based Solutions in a way that truly works for farmers?
Why Nature-Based Solutions, and why now?
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), including agroecology, regenerative agriculture and soil health practices, are reshaping the way the world thinks about food systems, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. They offer a powerful triple win: healthier ecosystems, more resilient farming systems, and stronger farm-level economics.
Yet their potential remains largely untapped. Despite growing investment and policy attention, many farmers still face systemic barriers. Access to appropriate finance and markets remains limited and unequal, particularly for small-scale farmers, women and youth. Market incentives too often fail to deliver the extension services and technical assistance farmers need precisely when risks are highest: during the preparation and transition phases.
Transitioning into and scaling NbS calls for farmer-centred approaches that connect enabling policies and regulatory certainty, finance that works for farmers, markets and ecosystem service payments that reward sustainable practices, innovation rooted in farmers' realities, fair risk- and profit-sharing mechanisms, and credible monitoring systems.
At the heart of these transitions stand farmers' organisations (FOs). Uniquely positioned to aggregate demand, reduce risks, enable innovation and build viable economic pathways, FOs are not bystanders in this shift. They are its catalysts.
What the Forum will explore
The Forum is designed as an interactive working session built around three key themes:
- Scaling soil health and NbS in practice: what works on the ground, how adoption can be accelerated sustainably, and which monitoring systems are credible, affordable and scalable.
- Finance and market innovations: which market arrangements and blended finance mechanisms can sustainably reward farmers and their organisations for adopting and scaling NbS.
- Farmers' organisations as catalysts of change: the risk management, demand aggregation and innovation strategies that put FOs in the driver's seat.
In recognition of 2026 as the International Year of Rural Women, the Forum will also shine a light on the leadership, entrepreneurship and transformative role of women within farmers' organisations, markets and innovation systems.
A day built for exchange
Rather than a series of one-way presentations, the day is structured for participation, exchange and co-creation. The morning opens with scene-setting plenary discussions, live polling and a keynote from regional farmers' organisations, followed by panels on inclusive financing mechanisms and on scaling NbS. The afternoon shifts into hands-on working sessions, where participants dig into real case studies, from soil carbon sequestration to public procurement for school meals, innovative finance and investments for value addition. The day closes with a synthesis of insights and the identification of priorities for action and new partnerships.
Part of AgriCord's Annual Event Week
The Partners' Forum sits at the centre of AgriCord's Annual Event Week in Nairobi, which gathers the alliance, regional farmers' organisations and partners from across the globe for five days of meetings, field visits and the General Assembly.
We look forward to a day of honest exchange, concrete ideas and new connections, all in service of a future where strong farmer organisations lead the way on sustainable, resilient food systems.
Follow #WeAreAgriCord for highlights throughout the week.