On the sidelines of the just-concluded 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and the 10th FARA General Assembly in Abuja, CGIAR presented the draft Strategy for Africa to partners and stakeholders, aimed at shaping the future of African agriculture.
From scientists to representatives of farmers’ organizations, the discussions converged on a single question during the draft strategy presentation: What would it take for Africa to truly lead its own agricultural transformation? During the side event jointly convened by CGIAR and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), discussions focused on the future of agricultural research on the continent and the role African institutions should play in driving it.
With the CGIAR’s draft Strategy for Africa, the continent now has a roadmap that seeks to reposition one of the world’s largest agricultural research partnerships from being primarily a project implementer to becoming a catalyst for stronger African institutions.
Opening the session, Dr Namukolo Covic, Head of CGIAR’s Liaison Office for Africa, made it clear that the document was still evolving. The discussions at the event, she said, were designed to gather feedback from stakeholders whose perspectives would help refine the strategy before the next presentation at the Africa Food Systems Forum.
That invitation set the tone for the conversations that followed.
Joining virtually from Washington, CGIAR Regional Director for Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, challenged participants to rethink how success in agricultural development should be measured. Rather than counting projects implemented or completed, or innovations launched, Dr Ehui said the real legacy of CGIAR should be reflected in the strength of Africa’s own research institutions, universities, and innovation systems.
The strategy envisions that by 2045, the CGIAR will have a smaller operational footprint but greater influence and be more closely aligned with continental priorities.
Presenting the draft Strategy, Dr Steve Omamo of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in his presentation, identified six proposed Strategic Priorities: reducing food import dependence, strengthening resilient trade corridors, transforming national research and delivery systems, advancing digital transformation, delivering healthy and affordable diets, and restoring natural resources and climate resilience. Targets include upgrading 10 to 15 national agricultural research institutes to capacities comparable to those of globally respected institutions such as Brazil’s EMBRAPA or India’s ICAR. It also proposes establishing an Africa-wide agricultural data commons to improve collaboration, evidence generation, and decision-making across countries.
For FARA’s Executive Director, Dr Aggrey Agumya, the importance of the strategy lies not only in its ambition but also in its execution.
Placing the strategy in context, he noted that it builds on earlier efforts, citing the 2012 CAADP Science Agenda and the 2022 Abidjan consultations. According to Dr Agumya, while both generated important commitments, implementation failed to match ambition. The current process, he suggested, would be judged by the same standard, not by the quality of its language but by the impact it creates.
That reality shaped the breakout discussions, where participants examined the Strategy’s overall direction and the practicality of its proposed priorities.
Participants welcomed the emphasis on strengthening African institutions but argued that capacity development should extend beyond researchers to include farmers and local innovation actors who are essential for translating science into impact.
Reporting for one of the breakout groups, Vivian Atakos observed that women remain concentrated in lower-value, highly perishable crop production while continuing to face limited opportunities in more profitable agricultural value chains. Participants called for stronger scientific support for women’s income generation and nutrition-sensitive agriculture, arguing that inclusive growth must be deliberately designed.
Discussions also raised concerns that have accompanied agricultural research in Africa. Participants said organizations like CGIAR should broaden their attention to indigenous and underutilized crops with significant potential for nutrition, climate resilience, and diversified livelihoods. Also recommending deeper co-creation with the private sector and continued value delivery beyond individual project lifespans.
Others argued that Africa’s digital transformation should not create new forms of dependency. Digital solutions, they said, should be built on local skills, ownership, and capacity to remain sustainable long after donor-funded projects have ended.
Several participants challenged the Strategy to pay greater attention to the parts of the agricultural value chain that frequently receive less investment—post-harvest handling, processing, storage, and market access—where substantial losses continue to erode farmers’ incomes and national food security.
Financing emerged as another recurring area of discussion, with participants noting that the shift to African-led implementation is not yet clear on how it will be financed, even as much of the current investment in agricultural research continues to originate from outside the continent. They called for clearer pathways that encourage stronger domestic resource mobilization.
As the discussions drew to a close, Dr Ehui acknowledged that the consultation had generated valuable recommendations on partnerships, financing mechanisms, and measurable targets for women and youth. Contributions that would shape the next version of the Strategy will be presented at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), alongside early discussions on CGIAR’s broader 2040 strategy process.
In his closing remarks, Dr Agumya, having spent six years within the CGIAR system before leading FARA, described the proposed shift as a bold departure from convention. He emphasized that a system choosing to become less central, in service of strengthening African institutions, is embracing a fundamentally different understanding of partnership.
Whether that vision ultimately succeeds will depend not only on the strategy itself but also on the willingness of governments, research institutions, universities, the private sector, and development partners to turn its aspirations into lasting change. Judging by the candor of the discussions in Abuja, stakeholders appear determined to ensure that this strategy becomes more than another well-written document but a roadmap that genuinely places Africa at the center of its own agricultural future.
Contributed by
Anu Oyeleye and ‘Timilehin Osunde