
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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Reusable plastic crates vs. wooden crates: Comparing microbial contamination and costs during long-distance transportation of tomatoes in Ethiopia
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)09.10.25-
Health
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Enhancing farmers' agency is a more effective extension paradigm: The case of soil health management in Africa
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)05.10.25 -
Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates of body weight and egg production traits of Tilili chicken in Ethiopia
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)23.09.25-
Food security
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Replication Data for: Haplotypes at the Phg-2 locus are determining pathotype-specificity of angular leaf spot resistance in common bean
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)29.08.25 -
Fostering farmers’ innovativeness through training and extension approaches: A systematic literature review
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)29.08.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Connecting economic impact of cassava diseases: CBSD as a major threat from Sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)28.08.25-
Nutrition, health & food security
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
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News
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Open access model and data on blue and green water consumption of crops to help close water data gap
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)06.10.25-
Food security
IWMI researchers found a 9% increase of global crop blue and green water consumption between…
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From Door-to-Door Sales to Aquaculture Leader in Zambia.
WorldFish30.09.25-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
In 2003, with just 1,250 kwacha in hand, Cosmas Chachi began walking from house to…
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Mentorship Capital: Fixing the Missing Middle in Research Careers
Ibukun Taiwo24.09.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
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Youth
When Said Skounti, a young researcher from Morocco, walked into the Africa Climate Mobility Academy…
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Strengthening Inclusive Scaling in Eastern and Southern Africa: Insights from a Regional Workshop in Uganda
Scaling for Impact Program24.09.25By Moureen Awori, Communication and Visibility Expert (IITA), with contributions from Ngowenani Noha…
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ILRI and Kenya Dairy Board sign agreement to transform the dairy sector ‘from farm to glass’
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)23.09.25-
Health
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Nutrition, health & food security
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) signed a five-…
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The Missing Link in Development: Scaling Science for Sustainable Development in the Global South
Scaling for Impact Program18.09.25By Ravi Nandi, Innovation Systems Scientist and project lead at CIMMYT, Bangladesh; Nora Hanke-Louw,…
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