Central Africa Hub
IITA’s Central Africa Hub (CAH) covers the Congo basin region comprising: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The dominant agroecological zones in CAH are the humid forest and semi-arid tropics. The most prominent farming systems are forest-based, root crop systems, cereal–root crop systems, and tree crop systems. The region hosts some of the last remaining primary forests in Africa.
Countries covered
FOCUS AREAS
Advancing crop varieties and developing sustainable seed systems
Strengthening agriculture extension and advisory services
Youth in Agribusiness
Youth engagement is central to IITA’s strategy for transforming agriculture in Central Africa. Through agribusiness training, incubation programs, and mentorship, young people are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to participate in agricultural value chains. These initiatives support youth-led enterprises in production, processing, and service delivery, helping create employment opportunities and drive innovation across the region’s agri-food systems.
Supporting informed agricultural policy development and implementation
Digitalizing the dissemination of agriculture technologies and innovations
Featured Projects
- Location: Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi
- Location: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda
- Location: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mali, Niger
- Location: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mali, Niger
IMPACT Highlights
These highlights showcase IITA’s CAH impact through improved crop varieties,
safer food systems, and scalable digital innovations that strengthen resilience, productivity, and livelihoods.
5,000+
farmers engaged in participatory crop testing
Farmers across 18 districts participated in the 1000Farms citizen-science initiative, helping test and identify climate-resilient crop varieties.
$10.9M
mobilized for research partnerships
Investments supported 12 PhD and 17 MSc students and produced 110+ scientific publications.
8,000
diet-quality responses collected monthly
The Live Food System Monitor gathers real-time data from households and markets to track food and nutrition trends.
200+
stakeholders trained in circular agriculture
Farmers, entrepreneurs, and local authorities gained skills in sustainable waste management and circular food systems.
8
circular-economy enterprises supported
Agribusinesses convert cassava waste and organic materials into animal feed and organic fertilizers, creating new income streams.
72,621
cassava seeds introduced for disease-resistant varieties
Improved cassava germplasm and 17 elite clones were introduced to strengthen breeding efforts against CBSD and CMD.
6
high-yielding soybean varieties released
New soybean varieties were introduced and tested, increasing adoption among participating farmers from 27% to 61%.
5,750
soil samples analyzed
Soil diagnostics and 839 field trials informed site-specific fertilizer recommendations for Rwanda’s priority crops.
266,000+
farmers reached with digital advisory
Mobile platforms, SMS alerts, and chatbots provide farmers with real-time guidance on banana production and disease management.
1,000+
farmers engaged in agroecology living labs
Farmers collaborate with researchers to test and scale sustainable and climate-smart farming practices.
Facilities
IITA Kalambo Station (DRC)
Located in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the IITA Kalambo Station serves as a key research and innovation hub supporting agricultural development across Central Africa. The station focuses on adaptive research, improved seed systems, and sustainable farming practices for major staple crops such as cassava, banana, maize, and legumes.
Kalambo provides field testing sites for climate-smart agricultural technologies, supports farmer training and capacity development, and strengthens partnerships with national agricultural research systems and development partners. Through these activities, the station helps improve crop productivity, enhance food security, and build resilient farming systems in the region.
Hub Address
IITA Central Africa Hub
4163, Avenue Haut-Congo
Quartier Revolution, Commune de la Gombe
Kinshasa, Republique Democratique du Congo
Tel: +243 990212603
E-mail: N.Kwazi@cgiar.org
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scale innovations that deliver measurable impact.