
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
-
Insights on farm-level livestock losses in Ethiopian production systems
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)09.06.25-
Food security
-
-
Comparative genomics reveals common diversity and adaptation to harsh environments in the Arabian Peninsula indigenous chickens
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)09.06.25-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
-
-
Bridging scales and borders on water availability and use in the transboundary Volta River Basin: a water accounting approach
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)02.06.25-
Adaptation
-
Mitigation
-
-
Closing yield gap for sustainable food security in Sub-Saharan Africa – progress, challenges, and opportunities
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)30.05.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Food security
-
-
Genomic insights into the indigenous African cereal tef
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)28.05.25-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
-
-
Tracking the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated and non-vaccinated Kenyan patients
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)19.05.25-
Health
-
News
-
Toward a Greener Future: AfricaRice eco-innovations for sustainable rice self-sufficiency in Africa
AfricaRice05.06.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Environmental health & biodiversity
-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
As Africa strives to nourish its growing population, the challenge extends beyond simply producing m…
Read more -
-
Mapping national livestock routes in Ethiopia
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)28.05.25-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
In a collaborative effort to enhance pastoral livelihoods and regional economic stability, the Suppo…
Read more -
-
Outlining the framework from livestock to nutrition pathways
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)28.05.25-
Nutrition
-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Animal-source foods provide important nutrients in the diet and contribute to nutrition, growth and …
Read more -
-
New project launched to tackle mastitis in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)28.05.25-
Health
A new three-year project has been launched to reduce mastitis cases in dairy cattle and curb…
Read more -
-
SAAF session at CGIAR Science Week reimagines the transformation of animal and aquatic food systems for a sustainable future
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program05.05.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Nutrition, health & food security
-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Event summary On 9 April 2025, during the CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, the Sustainable…
Read more -
-
PABRA and APNI Partner to Strengthen Bean Value Chain Workforce through PABRA Academy
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)02.05.25-
Nutrition, health & food security
At a high-level event in Nairobi on April 8, 2025, the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance…
Read more -