IITA research and delivery leadership team convenes in Zambia for strategic planning and alignment

The IITA’s Research and Delivery leadership team held a quarterly meeting from 24 to 26 June 2025 at the IITA Southern Africa Research and Administration Hub in Lusaka, Zambia. This strategic gathering provided a critical platform for reflection, realignment, and planning around the institute’s research and delivery agenda, especially in light of CGIAR‘s evolving agenda.

The meeting brought together Directors and Program Leaders from across Africa, fostering deep dialogue and collaboration around key strategic areas.

Discussions focused on critical issues with focus on:

• Ensuring that IITA’s research and delivery programs align strategically with CGIAR’s emerging priorities.
• Initiating a dialogue on how IITA can best position itself to strengthen collaboration, enhance synergies, and maximize impact within the broader CGIAR framework over the next five years.
• Program effectiveness in delivering relevant research solutions and contributing to IITA’s strategic objectives.
• Identifying practical and actionable ways to embed climate resilience and nutrition sensitivity across all programs.
• Exploring concrete strategies to integrate Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion (GYSI) into every program, making inclusion a central part of planning, implementation, and success measurement.

Read more