
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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Tracking the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated and non-vaccinated Kenyan patients
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)19.05.25-
Health
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Matching of Investment Opportunities with Potential Investors/Financial Models in AICCRA Countries
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)15.05.25 -
Gender-Smart Accelerator Challenge results and recommendations for improving access to finance as well as improving resilience for women-led small and medium entreprises in agri-food systems
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)15.05.25 -
Scaling Up Climate-Smart Funding in East and West Africa
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)15.05.25 -
Climate-smart investments in the African Agrifood Sector: Risk and impact assessment of eight agrifood businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)15.05.25 -
Gender roles in livestock farming and their impact on children's health in pastoral communities
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)13.05.25-
Health
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News
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Empowering dryland communities through drought early warnings to enhance resilience
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)14.05.25-
Adaptation
Amidst the challenges of drought, climate change, conflicts, and other shocks that significantly imp…
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New project launched to tackle mastitis in smallholder dairy farms in Kenya
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)14.05.25-
Health
A new three-year project has been launched to reduce mastitis cases in dairy cattle and curb…
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Outlining the framework from livestock to nutrition pathways
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)14.05.25-
Nutrition
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Animal-source foods provide important nutrients in the diet and contribute to nutrition, growth and …
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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
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Nutrition, health & food security
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Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Event summary On 9 April 2025, during the CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, the Sustainable…
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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…
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Accelerating bean breeding to respond to market demands in East Africa: ACIAR’s Rapid Cooking Bean Project for health, nutrition and fuel efficiency
The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)02.05.25-
Nutrition, health & food security
In East Africa, where beans are a dietary staple, a transformative initiative by the Australian…
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