Dr. Agnes M. Kalibata
President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
As President of AGRA, Dr. Kalibata leads the organization’s efforts with public and private partners to ensure a food secure and prosperous Africa through rapid, sustainable agricultural growth, improving the productivity and livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.
Prior to joining AGRA in September 2014, Dr. Kalibata was Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). In this role, she was widely considered to be one of the most successful Agriculture Ministers in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Kalibata has held several other leadership positions, including Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Rwanda. She also worked for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Uganda, and various other agricultural development organizations. She sits on various boards including the International Fertilizer Development Corporation (IFDC), Bioversity International, Africa Risk Capacity, the Malabo-Montpellier Panel, and is a member of the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Kalibata has a distinguished track record as an agricultural scientist, policy maker and thought leader. She holds a doctorate in Entomology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Chairman and Founder, Econet and Board Chair, AGRA
Chairman and Founder, Econet and Board Chair, AGRA
Strive Masiyiwa is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Group, a pan-African telecommunications, media and technology company with operations and investments in over 20 countries.
Masiyiwa serves on a number of international boards including Unilever Plc, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Advisory Board, the Africa Progress Group, and the Hilton Foundation’s Humanitarian Prize Jury. Masiyiwa also serves as Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a position he took over after Kofi Annan’s term.
As a philanthropist, Masiyiwa is a member of the Giving Pledge, and his contributions to education, health and development have been widely recognized. Masiyiwa and his wife finance the Higher Life Foundation, which has supported the education of over 250,000 African orphans in 20 years. Their family foundation provides scholarships to over 40,000 African orphans every year.
Masiyiwa has been selected twice, in 2014 and 2017, to Fortune Magazine’s list of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders”.
Over the last few years, Masiyiwa has devoted his time to mentoring the next generation of African entrepreneurs through his Facebook page, which has a growing followership of nearly 3-million young people from across the continent. Facebook has identified his platform as the most engaging of any business leader in the world.
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ghana
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ghana
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.
He furthered his education at the University of Cambridge, England, where he obtained a Master of Science in Agric Economics, and in 1985 obtained a Ph.D. in Agric Economics.
He worked as an Economist, Senior Economist, Principal Economist and Chief Economic Advisor over a period of 18 years at the International Coffee Organization (ICO), London, England.
He also worked as a consultant to the World Bank, United Nations on Soft Commodities (Cocoa, Coffee, and Sugar).From 1995 to 2008, he was the CEO of Goldcrest Commodities Limited, and the CEO of Plantation Resources Limited.He is a two-term Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, and, whilst in Parliament, from 2009 to 2013, was the Deputy Ranking Member for Committee on Food and Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs.
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Gilbert F. Houngbo became the sixth President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 1 April 2017. Born and raised in rural Togo, Houngbo has spent more than 30 years working to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people, and has extensive experience in political affairs, international development, diplomacy and financial management.
Prior to his appointment as IFAD President, Houngbo was the Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he led field operations in more than 100 countries and managed bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
From 2008 to 2012, he served as Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic, where he introduced economic reforms and enhanced the rule of law and civil liberties. From 1996 to 2008, he undertook a number of roles at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary-General and Africa Regional Director, and led poverty alleviation programmes in 45 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Before this, he spent a decade in the private sector, including at Price Waterhouse, Canada, where he worked in Audit and Financial Advisory Services.
Houngbo has a Matrîse en gestion des entreprises from the University of Lomé, Togo, and a Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées in Specialised Accounting from the University of Quebec, Canada. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants.
Regional Director-East and Southern Africa, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)
Regional Director-East and Southern Africa, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)
Sara Mbago-Bhunu is the Director of IFAD’s East and Southern Africa Division. Mbago-Bhunu brings to IFAD rich work experience spanning more than 20 years in the agriculture sector across Central, East and Southern Africa. She has worked on agriculture policy and sector reviews, value chain development, access to agricultural finance, social enterprise models and the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises in peri-urban and rural areas. She has also led and managed teams in other development organizations in the design of development projects and capacity-building programmes. Prior to joining IFAD, Mbago-Bhunu worked at the World Bank as a Senior Agricultural Economist for the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo, based in Kinshasa. From 2013 to 2016, she served as Country Director for SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mbago-Bhunu holds a Masters in Business Administration from Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands, and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
President & CEO - Yara International
President & CEO - Yara International
Svein Tore Holsether (b. 1972) is President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara, a global crop nutrition leader with more than 17,000 employees worldwide. Mr. Holsether is passionate about promoting the Sustainable Development Goals in the global business arena. To contribute to a thriving future and drive inclusive growth he is a member of the Executive Committee for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). He also serves on the Executive Committee and Board of the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) and International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI). Previously, Mr. Holsether has held a range of executive and senior position in large industrial companies, and he was a Commissioner of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC). Mr. Holsether has a BSc degree, specializing in Finance & Management, from the University of Utah, USA.
Director, CTA
Director, CTA
Michael Hailu has been Director of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) since May 2010. He has more than 30 years of experience in agricultural research, communications and development in Africa and Asia. Prior to joining CTA, he held senior leadership positions at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya and at the Center for International Forestry Research in Indonesia.
Mr Hailu has implemented major strategic realignment of the CTA refocusing the Centre’s work on promoting innovations and capacities to advance youth and women entrepreneurship, digitalization and climate resilience in agriculture. He has degrees from the Universities of Pittsburgh, USA and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and has been trained in strategic leadership at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in the United States.
CEO, The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
CEO, The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of the Republic of Niger is the Chief Executive Officer of The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). He was appointed to the position in January 2009. A former Prime Minister of Niger, from 1997 to 2000, Dr. Mayaki has a Master’ degree from the National School of Public Administration (Enap), Quebec, Canada and a PhD in Administrative Sciences from the University of Paris I, France. He worked as a Professor of Public Administration in Niger and Venezuela. From 1996 to 1997 he was appointed Minister in charge of African Integration and Cooperation and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger. In August 2000, he set up the Analysis Centre for Public Policy in Senegal. From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Mayaki was a guest Professor at the University of Paris XI, where he lectured on international relations. He also led research at the Research Centre on Europe and the Contemporary World within that university. In 2004, he served as Executive Director of the Platform in support of Rural Development in West and Central Africa, the Rural Hub, based in Dakar, Senegal.
Africa Director, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Africa Director, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Dr. Ousmane Badiane, recipient of the Africa Food Prize in 2015 and a Distinguished Fellow of the African Association of Agricultural Economists, is the Director for Africa at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). He oversees the institute’s programs and partnerships in Africa. As an Advisor to the NEPAD Secretariat from 2004 to 2007, he was instrumental in developing and guiding the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Before his current tenure at IFPRI, Dr. Badiane was Lead Specialist for Food and Agricultural Policy for the Africa Department at the World Bank and Adjunct Professor for Economics of Development in Africa at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. Dr. Badiane received a Masters Degree and PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Kiel in Germany. He is also recipient of a Doctoral Degree Honoris Causa from the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa
Established in 2013, initially as a special initiative of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) is a non-governmental organization with its headquarters in South Africa. AFAP works with private businesses to establish more competitive and sustainable fertilizer markets in Africa and to contribute to an African Green Revolution. Using an innovative partnership contract, AFAP joins industry and development interests to inspire productivity, food security and prosperity in Africa.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), AFAP Co-Chairs the Inputs Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the development of the inputs value chain(s) in Africa.
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is a multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries. The AfDB was founded in 1964 and comprises three entities: The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund. The AfDB’s mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and private companies investing in its regional member countries.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the AfDB Co-Chairs the Agricultural Infrastructure, Technology and Mechanization Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the improvement of agriculture infrastructure in Africa, and the acceleration of technology use and mechanization on the continent.
Established in 2006 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) was founded through a partnership between the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Today however, AGRA’s donor base has since expanded to include governments as well as other international organizations. AGRA works across the continent to help millions of smallholder farmers to boost their farm productivity and incomes. To date, AGRA has supported hundreds of projects, including efforts to develop and deliver better seeds, increase farm yields, improve soil fertility, upgrade storage facilities, improve market information systems, strengthen farmers’ associations, expand access to credit for farmers and small suppliers, and advocate for national policies that benefit smallholder farmers. AGRA aims to play a central role in transforming the agricultural sector in Africa and its food system.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), AGRA hosts the Secretariat and takes a lead role in facilitating the development of the annual theme of the conference and coordinating the work of the Thematic Working Groups.
The African Union is a continental union consisting of all 55 countries on the African continent. It was established in 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and launched in July 2002 in South Africa, with the aim of replacing the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of the African Union (AU) are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the Heads of State and Government of its member states. The AU’s executive/administrative branch or secretariat, the African Union Commission (AUC), is based in Addis Ababa and is made up of portfolios named Departments and consist of; Peace and Security; Political Affairs; Trade and Industry; Infrastructure and Energy; Social Affairs; Rural Economy and Agriculture; Human Resources, Science and Technology; and Economic Affairs. The Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), in collaboration with NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States, is mandated to work with African institutions, civil society, private sector and development partners to support the implementation of AU decisions related to the development of the agricultural sector, rural economies and the environment in order to improve the livelihoods of African people and ensure food security and sound environmental management. It was established with the objective of promoting agricultural and rural development; and, strives to boost AU Member states’ rural economy development and agricultural productivity by supporting the adoption of measures, strategies, policies and programmes on agriculture.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
Corteva Agriscience™, the agriculture division of DowDuPont™, is the only major agriscience company completely dedicated to agriculture. By combining the strengths of DuPont Pioneer, DuPont Crop Protection and Dow AgroSciences, we’ve harnessed agriculture’s brightest minds and expertise gained over two centuries of scientific achievement.
CTA is a joint international institution of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union (EU). CTA operates under the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and is funded by the EU.
CTA’s activities contribute directly toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with specific focus on:
Founded in 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is an intergovernmental organization comprised of 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, FAO is present in over 130 countries. FAO’s three main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the FAO participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to value chain development.
The Grow Africa Partnership was founded jointly by the African Union (AU), The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the World Economic Forum in 2011. Grow Africa works to increase private sector investment in agriculture, and accelerate the execution and impact of investment commitments. The aim is to enable countries to realize the potential of the agriculture sector for economic growth and job creation, particularly among farmers, women and youth. Grow Africa brokers collaboration between governments, international and domestic agriculture companies, and smallholder farmers in order to lower the risk and cost of investing in agriculture, and improve the speed of return to all stakeholders.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), GROW Africa Co-Chairs the Finance Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF related sessions, workshops, programs related to the improvement of access to finance and investment capital in Africa by small holder farmers and African agribusiness actors.
Established by an act of Canada’s parliament in 1970 with a mandate “to initiate, encourage, support, and conduct research into the problems of the developing regions of the world and into the means for applying and adapting scientific, technical, and other knowledge to the economic and social advancement of those regions”, the International Development Research Center (IDRC) is a “Crown” corporation that supports leading thinkers who advance knowledge and solve practical development problems. IDRC provides the resources, advice, and training needed to implement and share their solutions with those who need them most. In short, IDRC increases opportunities — and makes a real difference in people’s lives.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the IDRC Co-Chairs the Capacity Development, Women and Youth in Agriculture Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to improving the capacity of farmer’s organizations, and women and youth owned agricultural enterprises.
Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. It was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), through its nominee AFRACA – The African Rural and Agriculture Credit Association, IFAD Co-Chairs the Finance Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF related sessions, workshops, programs related to the improvement of access to finance in Africa by small holder farmers.
Established in 1913, the Rockefeller Foundation is a private foundation started by Standard Oil owner John D. Rockefeller. The Foundation’s mission is “promoting the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, the Foundation pursues that mission with dual goals of building greater resilience and advancing more inclusive economies. Through its portfolio of initiatives, Rockefeller Foundation strives to catalyze and scale transformative innovations, convene sector-spanning partnerships, and create systemic change to benefit poor and vulnerable people around the world.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), AFAP Co-Chairs the Markets, Trade and Domestic Private Sector Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the promotion of intra-African trade, expanded market access for small holder markets in Africa and the development of the continent’s domestic private sector that is active in agriculture and agribusiness.
The MasterCard Foundation is an independent global foundation that works to “advance youth learning and promote financial inclusion to catalyze prosperity in developing countries. Since its inception in 2006, it has collaborated with partners in developing countries, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. It is based at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Canada and operates independently of MasterCard Worldwide.
A new partner within the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the MasterCard Foundation supports AGRF related sessions, workshops, programs related to financial inclusiveness in the African agriculture sector.
The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) was established in 2010 as an outcome of the integration of NEPAD into AU structures and processes. The NEPAD Agency is the implementing agency of the African Union that advocates for NEPAD, facilitates and coordinates the development of NEPAD continent-wide programs and projects, mobilizes resources and engages the global community, regional economic communities and member states in the implementation of these programs and projects. The NEPAD Agency replaced the NEPAD Secretariat which had coordinated the implementation of NEPAD programs and projects since 2001.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the NEPAD Agency regularly participates in AGRF related sessions, workshops, programs related to the development of AGRF as an accountability platform toward the achievement of the Malabo Commitments and the CAADP results framework.
Founded in 1920 in Morocco, the OCP Group is the world’s leading producer and exporter of phosphates in all forms and an essential player on the global fertilizers market. Established in 2016, OCP AFRICA, is a subsidiary of OCP dedicated specifically to the African continent. OCP Africa aims to contribute to meeting the challenge of creating structured, efficient and sustainable agriculture on the continent of Africa, by providing agricultural producers with all the resources they need in order to succeed: suitable, affordable products, services and partnerships, logistics and financial solutions. To support the local development, OCP AFRICA plans to open about fifteen national subsidiaries in Africa over the coming months.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), OCP participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the development of the inputs value chain(s) in Africa.
Headquartered in South Africa, the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) is a not-for-profitfarmer organization representing national agricultural unions in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. SACAU was formed in 1992, initially by six farmer organizations but has since expanded its membership to include 17 farmer organizations in 12 countries. In addition, there are associate members, including regional commodity organizations and private companies associated with agricultural value chains on a regional basis.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), the SACAU Co-Chairs the Capacity Development, Women and Youth in Agriculture Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to improving the capacity of farmer’s organizations, and women and youth owned agricultural enterprises.
is committed to a transformative agenda to agricultural development which is growth oriented and enterprise development focused. Core to its mission is promoting, advancing, protecting, defending the common interests of farmers in the region.
Formed in 2000 by the merger of Novartis Agribusiness and Zeneca Agrochemicals, Syngenta AG is a global Swiss agribusiness that produces agrochemicals and seeds. As a biotechnology company, it conducts genomic research. Syngenta is one of the world’s largest crop chemical producer and the strongest in Europe.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), Syngenta participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the development of the inputs value chain(s) in Africa – and is also a supporter of youth in agriculture initiatives.
A Norwegian chemical company, YARA was established in 1905 as Norsk Hydro, the world’s first producer of mineral nitrogen fertilizers and de-merged as Yara International ASA in 2004. While the Norwegian government is its largest shareholder, Yara is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Oslo. The company has more than 12,000 employees, production sites on six continents, operations in more than 50 countries and sales to about 150 countries. Its largest business area is the production of nitrogen fertilizer, however it also encompasses the production of dry ice, nitrates, ammonia, urea and other nitrogen-based chemicals.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), YARA Co-Chairs the Inputs Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the development of the inputs value chain(s) in Africa.
The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty. We are tackling the global challenges of our time including poverty and disease, mass migration, insecurity and conflict. Our work is building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people in developing countries and in the UK too.
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience.
A Norwegian chemical company, YARA was established in 1905 as Norsk Hydro, the world’s first producer of mineral nitrogen fertilizers and de-merged as Yara International ASA in 2004. While the Norwegian government is its largest shareholder, Yara is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and has its headquarters in Oslo. The company has more than 12,000 employees, production sites on six continents, operations in more than 50 countries and sales to about 150 countries. Its largest business area is the production of nitrogen fertilizer, however it also encompasses the production of dry ice, nitrates, ammonia, urea and other nitrogen-based chemicals.
In support of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), YARA Co-Chairs the Inputs Thematic Working Group and regularly participates in AGRF sessions, workshops, programs related to the development of the inputs value chain(s) in Africa.
As the world’s leading irrigation company, we will drive mass adoption of smart irrigation solutions to fight scarcity of food, water and land. Together with our partners, we will revolutionize irrigation globally for a sustainable future.
