Nairobi, July 13 -- As the Financing Agri-food Systems Sustainably in Africa (FINAS) Summit concluded in Nairobi early this month, one recurring theme stood out: Africa's agricultural challenge is often framed as a financing problem.

Yet the real question may be whether we are asking the wrong question. Africa does not simply need more capital flowing into agriculture. It needs stronger systems that allow capital to perform optimally. The continent's financing gap is real.

Estimates place Africa's annual agricultural financing shortfall at more than $100 billion, while the sector receives less than five percent of commercial bank lending despite underpinning livelihoods, food security and economic growth across the continent.

Encouragi...