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IFPRI Launches Africa Strategy to Advance Evidence-Based Agrifood Systems Transformation

Press release

IFPRI Launches Africa Strategy to Advance Evidence-Based Agrifood Systems Transformation

New strategy deepens partnerships with African institutions to strengthen implementation, policy capability, and impact across agrifood systems.

Dakar, Senegal, 23 June 2026 – The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) today launches its Africa Strategy, Partnering for Evidence-Based Transformation. The strategy sets out IFPRI’s renewed approach to supporting Africa’s agrifood systems transformation through evidence generation, policy engagement, and strengthened implementation capacity.

The Africa Strategy builds on IFPRI’s Strategy for 2026–2030 and responds to the need for more targeted, implementation-focused support to address Africa’s evolving agrifood systems challenges. It complements ongoing continental and national efforts to accelerate transformation in a context shaped by rapid demographic change, climate pressures, market integration, and technological innovation.

Grounded in a partnership-first approach, the Strategy reflects IFPRI’s commitment to working closely with African institutions to generate high-quality evidence that informs policy and investment decisions, strengthens institutional capability, and supports resilience and inclusive growth. It is aligned with Africa’s long-term development frameworks, including Agenda 2063, the CAADP Kampala Declaration and 2026–2035 Strategy and Action Plan, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional economic community strategies, and national priorities.

“Africa’s transformation is already underway, driven by a dynamic youth population, rapid urbanization, technological innovation, and entrepreneurship,” said Steven Were Omamo, IFPRI Director for Africa. “What we are launching today is not just a strategy document; it is a statement about how we see Africa’s transformation and the role that evidence must play in making that transformation real.”

Rooted in more than five decades of engagement across the continent, IFPRI’s Africa Strategy combines research excellence with policy foresight, capacity development, and practical tools for implementation. With offices in ten African countries and work in more than thirty, IFPRI continues to build on long-standing partnerships with governments, regional organizations, research institutions, and other stakeholders.

The Strategy is organized around four interconnected pillars:

  • Partnering for Impact
  • Cutting-Edge Research and Analysis for Policy and Investment Decisions
  • Enhancing Policy and Institutional Capability
  • Innovation in Communications, Data, and Digital Delivery

Together, these pillars aim to support African institutions in moving from policy design to implementation and from ambition to measurable results.

The central focus of the Strategy is to address the persistent gap between policy ambition and implementation. Through evidence, analytical tools, and institutional capacity strengthening, IFPRI will support partners in improving policy delivery systems and scaling effective solutions.

By strengthening evidence systems and implementation capacity, IFPRI aims to support African partners in achieving key priorities such as accelerating agrifood systems transformation, expanding trade opportunities under AfCFTA, improving public investment efficiency, building climate resilience, and creating opportunities for youth, women, and small and medium enterprises.

About IFPRI: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. IFPRI’s strategic research aims to identify and analyze alternative international and country-led strategies and policies for meeting food and nutrition needs in low- and middle-income countries, with particular emphasis on poor and vulnerable groups in those countries, inclusive development, and sustainability. It is a research center of CGIAR; a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development. http://www.ifpri.org

IFPRI in Africa provides on-the-ground support for local research, capacity building, and partnerships to reduce poverty and end malnutrition across the continent. We conduct evidence-based research on agriculture, food security, nutrition, gender, markets, and climate resilience—tailored to African contexts. https://africa.ifpri.info/

Media inquiries: 

IFPRI Africa : Sokhna Sall Seck s.s.seck@cgiar.org

IFPRI HQ (Washington D.C., USA) : Evgeniya Anisimova e.anisimova@cgiar.org