Global Agriculture and Food Security Program Makes Second Funding Allocation From New Financing Window

Sep 08, 2026

The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) announced the second allocation from its new business investment financing tool, mobilizing $21 million in support for smallholder farmers across Rwanda.

GAFSP, a multilateral partnership and financing platform strengthening food security in low-income countries, announced the funding during a side event with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Rwanda. A $6 million allocation from GAFSP, through the Program’s second-generation private sector financing tool — the Business Investment Financing Track (BIFT) — will unlock a further $15 million in funding from IFAD, the Bank of Kigali and Aceli Africa.

Launched in 2024, the BIFT is a $75 million pilot designed to leverage GAFSP grants and concessional finance to secure matching funding from multilateral development banks and catalyze additional private sector financing for smallholder farmers, producer groups, agribusinesses, and start-ups. This $6 million from GAFSP leveraged an additional 2.5 times investment from IFAD and the private sector.

The funding will finance the Farmers' Organizations Financing Programme – Rwanda (FOFP-R) and is expected to strengthen approximately 215 farmers organizations, providing financing to approximately 172, and benefiting more than 35,000 smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth. The project will target key national agricultural value chains, including maize, rice, cassava, dairy, and horticulture.

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Video: Midwest Weather Shock: Flash Drought Turns Into Heavy Rain Threat This Week (2026 Forecast)

A rapidly changing Midwest weather pattern is unfolding in 2026 as areas that recently slipped into abnormal dryness and flash drought conditions are now facing the threat of heavy rain and repeated storm systems.

After a wet spring erased early drought conditions, regions across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern Missouri have quickly dried out again since mid-to-late May. Soil moisture is dropping fast, and crops like corn and soybeans are beginning to feel the stress of rising temperatures and lack of consistent rainfall. Now, weather models show a major shift.

A developing system moving in from the Northern Plains is expected to bring multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, with the potential for locally heavy rainfall across the Midwest. While some areas may miss out, others could finally see much-needed relief from the growing dryness. In this video, we break down:

Current drought conditions across the Midwest

Why a flash drought is developing quickly

Timing and path of incoming storm systems

Which states are most likely to see heavy rain

How long this wet pattern could last

Will this rain end the drought or create new flooding risks? Watch the full forecast to find out.