The CGIAR has launched the Policy Innovation hub in Lilongwe, highlighting the pivotal role researchers play in informing policymakers through evidence-based research.
The country policy hub is expected to articulate future research needs to support Malawi’s food systems transformation to 2030 and to raise awareness of how existing evidence can inform national decision-making. The launch attracted the attendance of academicians, researchers, communication experts, government officials, and farmers, among other stakeholders.
Speaking during the launch, Clemens Breisinger, Director of the Policy Innovations Science Program at CGIAR, highlighted how CGIAR has transformed its research to be more partner-centric, demand-driven, and collaborative, with co-creation of research, innovation, and policy change at the center of its operations.
“It is a one-stop shop for donors and partners to work together with all CGIAR centers on policy in Malawi. It is a mechanism for our partners to work with the CGIAR centers. Malawi is an important partner for the CGIAR, including on agriculture and food policy research. The collaboration among IITA, IFPRI, and other CGIAR’s centers has yielded impressive results.
We look forward to more positive policy change in 2026 and beyond,” said Clemens.
Malawi, like many countries in Africa, faces significant and persistent food system challenges, including recurrent hunger, chronic undernutrition, widespread micronutrient deficiencies, food supply disruptions, and price volatility.
These constraints continue to hinder the country’s progress toward achieving its strategic development aspirations, including attaining lower-middle-income status and meeting most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
In her presentation, Sika Gbegbelegbe, representing CGIAR centers working in Malawi, highlighted the work CGIAR is doing in helping the government of Malawi to transform Agriculture through seed systems innovations, genetic improvements, cropping systems, plant and soil health improvements, Seed systems innovations and scaling models, nutrition, and evidence-based policy making.
“CGIAR research programs continue to deliver ground-breaking science and innovations that improve food and nutrition security for the world’s most vulnerable people, lifting millions out of poverty. We have reached out to over 2 million smallholder farmers through capacity development, improved planting materials, and sustainable agronomic practices. We are also pleased to have made genetic improvements through the development and release of varieties and innovations,” said Sika Gbegbelegbe.
Launching the hub was the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Thoko Tembo, who acknowledged that agri-food systems constitute a significant share of Malawi’s economic activities and remain the primary source of livelihood for most people, especially the vulnerable. He says national development strategies consistently place strong emphasis on the food sector as a pathway for accelerating economic growth, reducing poverty, improving food and nutrition security, and addressing the growing threats of climate change.
“Our Ministry, in collaboration with partners, has a robust vision for food systems. Central to delivering our food systems pathway is recognizing our policy space and adopting innovative, forward-looking approaches to address emerging challenges. We must craft policies that are responsive to the rapidly evolving political, economic, and social environment within which national development is implemented,” said Tembo.
Tembo adds that the government believes the policy innovation hub must be strengthened as a crucial platform for ensuring inclusiveness in addressing public challenges. He acknowledges the role CGIAR plays in strengthening Malawi’s food systems.
The policy innovation hub launch was attended by stakeholders, including academicians, researchers, civil society representatives, and various government agriculture departments.
Contributed by Emmanuel Mwale
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