Continental Africa
About
Across the African continent, accelerated transformation is needed to ensure resilience against shocks to food, land and water systems. CGIAR is committed to resourcing and building capacity into African institutions, strengthening African agricultural research and innovation systems, and equipping African farmers with the science and technologies they need to survive and to thrive.
In 2022, CGIAR will appoint a Regional Director for Continental Africa* — to serve as CGIAR’s counterpart to key continent-wide institutions, support resource mobilization and advocacy across the African continent, coordinate the work of the other three Regional Directors in Africa, and further strengthen the representation and voice of Africa-based and Africa-facing leaders.
The role provides a clear, single entry-point and a fully dedicated counterpart for Africa’s continental institutions, and complements three existing Regional Director positions covering Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA), West and Central Africa (WCA) and East and Southern Africa (ESA).
* The successor for Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, the respected Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) who completes his tenure later this year, will be recruited as both Director General, IITA, and Regional Director, Continental Africa, CGIAR.
Initiatives
Explore CGIAR Initiatives in Africa
Innovations
Explore 50 years of CGIAR Innovations
Partners
The position of Regional Director for Continental Africa was created as a consequence of recent high-level consultations hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB), in partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and CGIAR. Participating organizations included the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), AUDA-NEPAD, and sub-regional research organizations, CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA, NASRO, and the Africa Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS).
Publications
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Scaling sand dams in Southern Africa: policy guidance for optimizing rollout within an integrated water storage framework
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)17.11.25-
Adaptation
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Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Accelerating Climate Resilience through National Frameworks for Weather and Climate Information Services: Progress, Partnerships, and Pathways Forward in Six African Countries
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)15.11.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Multidrug antibiotic resistance index and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Escherichia coli in intensive pig farms in Kenya
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)13.11.25-
Health
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Making digitalisation work for African smallholders
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)11.11.25-
Nutrition, health & food security
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Rapport sur l’analyse des cadres politiques pertinents pour l’Afrique qui peuvent être exploités pour promouvoir les NUS dans la lutte contre l’insécurité alimentaire/nutritionnelle, la vulnérabilité climatique et la pauvreté, avec des…
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)11.11.25 -
CLEANED vs. Life cycle assessment: Methodological comparison in livestock systems
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)11.11.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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News
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Scaling for Impact: Integrating WEFE Nexus Innovations Across Borders and Sectors
Scaling for Impact Program17.11.25Bridging science, policy, and practice to accelerate climate-resilient solutions in Central Asia By …
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Validating, exploring adoption and scaling pathways for NEXAR System: A water intelligence solution for Kashkadarya, Uzbekistan
Scaling for Impact Program13.11.25By Muhammad Khalifa , Maha Al-Zu'bi , Zafar Gafurov , Shavkat Kenjabaev Water-scarce regions…
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Eight innovation teams win CGIAR’s 2025 Scaling Fund support
Scaling for Impact Program13.11.25Engaging the real-world elements of scaling agrifood solutions Written by Esther Kihoro ‘Scaling 
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Australia partners with International Livestock Research Institute to upskill researchers from Africa and Asia
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)13.11.25-
Food security
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Australia has joined forces with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to support th…
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Next-gen rice lines top check varieties at 7.5 t/ha in ESA
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)11.11.25-
Food security
MOROGORO, Tanzania (8 October 2025) — Elite rice lines are outperforming the current popular varie…
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Unlocking the Potential of Carob in Tunisia through Vegetative Propagation
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)10.11.25-
Gender equality, youth & social inclusion
A breakthrough in carob propagation is empowering Tunisia’s forestry sector to restore degraded la…
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