At least 400 delegates are expected to attend a three-day livelihoods improvement and food security meeting that opens in Kigali today. The conference, dubbed "Cracking the nut conference,” brings together stakeholders involved in improvement of livelihoods and food security, including financial institutions and development partners, to deliberate on ways to support positive progress in rural and agricultural market development. The conference will discuss themes such as reducing costs and risks of serving rural clients, preparing for sustainability of future livelihoods and enticing investors to agricultural value chain are some of the themes the delegates will explore. "Given the importance of food security to Rwanda and the African Union, the conference will offer a unique opportunity to discuss on how governments, donors, investor and private sector can support positive progress in rural and agriculture market development,” Victor Mugarura, of Global communities, said. Mike de Klerk, advisor to the agricultural finance stakeholders working group for Making Finance Work For Africa, is expected to address the conference as the key note speaker. De Klerk’s address will feature the success and challenges experienced by various countries in their efforts to improve livelihoods and food security.Others expected to attend the opening ceremony are Usaid Rwanda Mission director Peter Malnak, Rwanda Development Board chief executive Valentine Rugwabiza, and Dr Agnes Kabalita, the minister for agriculture. The event is jointly organised by Ministry of Agriculture, Rwanda Development Board, Usaid and Global communities. This is the third global "Cracking the nut conference,” but the first one solely focusing on Africa.