Nteranya Sanginga

Nteranya Sanginga is Regional Director, West and Central Africa, CGIAR, and Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). He has more than 35 years of experience in agricultural research and development, research administration, institution building, and strategic alliance development. His expertise includes applied microbial ecology, plant nutrition and integrated natural resources management in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, through his work at the University of Zimbabwe, International Atomic Energy Agency (Austria), Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute (CIAT), and IITA. Before becoming IITA’s Director General in 2011, he served as executive director of CIAT-TSBF. He is a board member of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and a member of the UNEP Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel that advises the Global Environment Facility. 

As a research administrator and leader, he has developed strategic partnerships, built institutions and research and development portfolios, managed complex structures and systems, and promoted capacity development, especially among young scientists, youth, and marginalized groups, including women. He was honored with the International Foundation for Science Sven Brohult Award for his contribution to agricultural and agroforestry research. Under his leadership, IITA was recognized with the 2016 Al-Sumait Prize for Food Security for its groundbreaking research and development that impacts the lives of millions of Africans; 2018 Africa Food Prize for research leadership and innovation; and 2019 International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture for its IITA Youth Agripreneurs program achievements. He has a PhD in Agronomy/Soil Microbiology.