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Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy
Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

  • Publication | 2025
External development financial flows to food systems: Deep dive on international financial institutions (2018-2023)
Global Food and Nutrition Security

The Framework for Tracking Financial Flows to Food Systems (3FS) equips decision-makers and stakeholders with actionable financial intelligence on public domestic spending and external development finance to food systems.

As countries and partners strive to balance immediate food needs with long-term investments, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) play a distinctive role in shaping sustainable financing pathways. This Deep Dive Report explores their contributions to food systems financing. In 2023 alone, IFIs disbursed $17.8 billion to low- and middle-income countries and committed an additional $29.3 billion, exceeding the UNFSS+2 target of US$ 15 billion.

This report explores:

  • How much are IFIs investing in food systems?
  • What areas and interventions are being financed?
  • What instruments are used and are they fit for country contexts?
  • What lies ahead in a rapidly evolving food finance ecosystem?