IFPRI’s Africa Strategy reaffirms the Institute’s commitment to supporting evidence-based policymaking and implementation across the continent. Building on decades of engagement with African partners, the strategy focuses on generating high-quality evidence, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting the effective delivery of Africa’s development priorities.

IFPRI works in partnership with continental, regional, national, and subnational institutions to help translate policy commitments into tangible outcomes in food security, nutrition, economic growth, and resilience. The strategy aligns closely with Africa-led frameworks, including the CAADP Kampala Declaration, Agenda 2063, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Africa is undergoing rapid economic, demographic, and structural transformation. While opportunities are significant, challenges remain in ensuring that policies are effectively implemented and deliver results at scale. IFPRI’s Africa Strategy responds to this context by emphasizing the role of evidence, partnerships, and implementation support in advancing inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems transformation.

Our Strategic Framework: Four Pillars for Impact

IFPRI’s work in Africa is structured around four mutually reinforcing pillars that guide research, engagement, and capacity strengthening:

1. Partnering for Impact: IFPRI works with African institutions to co-develop and apply evidence that informs policy processes and investment decisions, ensuring alignment with regional and national priorities.

2. Cutting-Edge Research and Analysis for Policy and Investment Decisions: The strategy prioritizes rigorous, policy-relevant research across key areas, including agrifood systems transformation, trade and markets, climate resilience, nutrition, and employment.

3. Strengthening Policy and Institutional Capability: IFPRI supports governments and regional organizations in building the systems, skills, and tools needed to design, implement, and monitor effective policies.

4. Innovation in Communications, Data, and Digital Delivery: The strategy promotes the use of digital tools, data systems, and targeted communication approaches to ensure that evidence is accessible and actionable for decision-makers.

From Policy Design to Policy Implementation

A central focus of the Africa Strategy is addressing the gap between policy intent and policy outcomes. While many African countries have strong policy frameworks, implementation challenges persist.

IFPRI strengthens its engagement on:

• Policy execution and delivery systems
• Institutional diagnostics and governance
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning

This approach supports African partners in moving from commitments to results, with a focus on scalability and long-term impact.

IFPRI’s Contribution in Africa

IFPRI brings a combination of:

• Rigorous economic and policy analysis
• Long-term partnerships with African institutions
• Capacity strengthening and knowledge sharing
• Practical tools to support decision-making and implementation

Between 2015 and 2025, IFPRI worked with partners in 29 African countries, contributing to more than 6,500 research outputs supporting policy and investment decisions.

Explore the Strategy

Explore the IFPRI Africa Strategy [Permanent Link] or download the full document to learn more about its priorities, approaches, and partnerships.

For a quick overview, see the summary brief.