{"id":18245,"date":"2026-06-20T13:03:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/iita-and-jica-strengthen-partnership-to-drive-agricultural-transformation-in-africa\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:51:11","slug":"iita-and-jica-strengthen-partnership-to-drive-agricultural-transformation-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/iita-and-jica-strengthen-partnership-to-drive-agricultural-transformation-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"IITA and JICA strengthen partnership to drive agricultural transformation in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

IITA<\/a>\u2013CGIAR<\/a> has reaffirmed its commitment to global partnerships that support its mission of alleviating poverty and ensuring food security for millions of farm families across sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"JICA<\/a>
JICA delegates in a private meeting with IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 26 August, IITA welcomed the Chief Representative of the Agence japonaise de coop\u00e9ration internationale (JICA)<\/a> Nigeria Office, Yuzurio Susumu, to its headquarters in Ibadan. Danbaba Dogara, JICA Technical Staff for the CD Seed Project; Stephen Nwanya, JICA Program Coordinator for Education and Long-Term Training; Hikaru Kusakabe, JICA Basic Education Advisor at the Universal Basic Education Commission, accompanied him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/a>
The visiting team in an introductory meeting with IITA management staff.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visit aimed to strengthen the long-standing partnership between the two organizations and explore future areas of collaboration. In his remarks, the IITA Director General, Dr Sim\u00e9on Ehui<\/a>, emphasized Japan\u2019s role as a trusted partner of Africa, highlighting that strong partnerships are central to advancing food security and agricultural transformation on the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The visiting team on a tour of the IITA Cassava processing center.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Director of IITA\u2019s West Africa Hub, Professor Michael Abberton<\/a>, gave an overview of the institute\u2019s hubs, stations, value chains, and projects. This was complemented by an IITA documentary that showcased the institute\u2019s diverse initiatives, including its work in value chains, youth in agribusiness, gender integration, and ongoing research and development projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impressed by the presentation, JICA\u2019s Country Coordinator noted that IITA and JICA share similar goals in agriculture, food security, youth engagement, and support for smallholder farmers. He outlined JICA\u2019s three key pillars of collaboration: economic development (with agriculture as a major focus), social development (including education), and peace, stability, and governance. \u201cWe would like to observe IITA\u2019s facilities and discuss future collaboration,\u201d he stated, adding that agriculture remains JICA\u2019s largest intervention area and requires strong partnerships with organizations like IITA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"JICA<\/a>
JICA delegates on a visit to the AfricaRice trial field.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The delegation toured IITA\u2019s facilities, including the Cassava Processing Unit and the AfricaRice trial field. They expressed admiration for the diversification of cassava products and praised IITA\u2019s collaboration with the private sector, describing it as an effective pathway for driving innovation and development to the public. \u201cThis has opened our eyes to what we can do in collaboration with IITA in the future,\u201d said JICA\u2019s Country Representative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting potential areas for collaboration, the JICA President emphasized capacity development and partnering with AfricaRice<\/a> through IITA for rice production, which is a core part of their operation. He also revealed plans to integrate lessons from IITA\u2019s private sector partnerships into JICA\u2019s upcoming project on two-step loans for farmers, implemented in collaboration with financial institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrapping up the meeting, Dr Ehui emphasized the importance of continued dialogue to ensure the success of future collaboration. He reiterated IITA\u2019s commitment to partnerships that promote sustainable food systems, improve livelihoods, and transform agriculture across Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contribu\u00e9 par Ochuwa Favour Daramola<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IITA-CGIAR has reaffirmed its commitment to global partnerships that support its mission of alleviating poverty and ensuring food security for millions of farm families across sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":18246,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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