In sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly 30% of the population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies, fruit consumption remains well below the recommended levels. Although fruits are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and energy, multiple challenges impede their production and consumption. These include limited public awareness of nutritional benefits, erosion of agro-biodiversity, underdeveloped nursery and processing infrastructure, and weak market systems. Indigenous fruit trees (IFTs) hold significant potential for enhancing food security, nutrition, and rural livelihoods. However, unlocking this potential requires domestication strategies such as identifying superior mother trees, propagating elite materials, and promoting sustainable on-farm cultivation. ICRAF’s participatory tree domestication approach engages local communities in selecting, propagating, and cultivating priority species based on both scientific guidance and local preferences. Two case studies illustrate the participatory domestication process. In Kenya’s drylands, 57 IFT species were consumed, though the average daily intake was only 19 grams per person. Consumption correlated positively with fruit availability, and local farmers identified eight key species for further focus, though broader stakeholder engagement remains necessary. In Cameroon’s humid zone, a long-term domestication program demonstrated successful outcomes. Communities selected and propagated priority fruit and nut species through low-tech methods and were supported by Rural Resource Centres (RRCs). These RRCs facilitated nursery development, training, marketing, and varietal registration. By 2008, over 120,000 improved trees were distributed, increasing fruit consumption in half of participating households and generating notable income from nursery sales. This model is now being considered for expansion into dryland regions such as Mali and Eastern Africa.