The Alliance launches its 2026–2030 Strategy in Africa at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026

The Alliance launches its 2026–2030 Strategy in Africa at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 - Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT
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at Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali (Rwanda)

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is launching its 2026–2030 Strategy for Africa at a side event held on the margins of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2026 in Kigali. This regional launch is the African chapter of the global rollout of the Alliance’s 2026–2030 Strategy, “Resilient Future: Urgent Science for Food and Land Systems Transformation.”

The event will reinforce the Alliance as the go-to scientific partner for implementing the new Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and for Africa-led transformation of food and land systems. It brings our new Strategy to life through concrete impact stories, and rallies donors, the private sector and financial partners around the investment agenda at its heart.

Our focuses

  • Science and sustainability, mutually reinforcing – answering today’s crises with scientific solutions rooted in nature and biodiversity: what is good for the planet is good for us.
  • Equity and inclusive food systems – building inclusive food economies where smallholders, informal vendors and consumers have a voice, decent incomes and access to healthy food.
  • Partnership as a success factor – solutions designed and deployed hand in hand with local realities, from the most marginalized communities to the most influential actors.
  • Financing as the decisive lever – investment is the single most decisive lever for scaling adoption, and the Alliance delivers the evidence to make food and land systems an attractive destination for capital.

Our involvement

September 1, 2026

Side event: Launch of the Alliance’s 2026–2030 Strategy for Africa

1 September 2026 08:00–10:00
Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda – Room MH3
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This side event marks the African launch of “Resilient Future: Urgent Science for Food and Land Systems Transformation”. Through opening remarks, a presentation of the strategy’s five strategic Outcomes, targeted impact stories and a donor and private-sector panel, the event will show how the global strategy translates into results on the continent – and will rally partners around a shared investment agenda for Africa-led food and land systems transformation. A networking reception with partners will follow.

Other Speakers

  • Government of Rwanda – Minister, donors, AGRA and private-sector partners – donor & investment panel

Programme

TIME 

SESSION 

08:00 – 08:05 

Welcome  

Master of Ceremony: Mr Paul Newnham, CEO, SDG2 Advocacy Hub 

08 :05 – 08 :10 

Setting the scene 

To frame the discussion within the AFS Forum 2026 priorities: investment, resilience, biodiversity, and development impact. 

Moderator: Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Managing Director for Africa, Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT 

08:10 – 08 :30 

Opening Remarks 

To signal institutional relevance and introduce the Alliance's role in translating science into development outcomes across Africa. 

Speakers: 

  1. H.E. Dr. Solange Uwituze, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda  

  1. Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR. 

  1. Mr. Juan Lucas Restrepo, Director General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) 

08 :30 – 08:45 

Africa's Food Systems: Science as the Backbone of Transformation 

Presenting the Alliance Strategy 2026–2030 and its regional priorities for Africa. 

  1. Dr. Marcela Quintero, Associate Director General, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 

  1. Dr. Maria Fernanda Alvarez, Director of the Crops for Nutrition and Health Research Area, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 

  1. Dr. Eileen Bogweh Nchanji, Gender and Social Inclusion Expert, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 

08 :45 – 09:15 

Panel Discussion: From Science to Investment — Scaling Resilient Food Systems in Africa 

To demonstrate how science-based solutions reduce investment risk, enhance development returns, and can be embedded into national policies, financing pipelines, and programs. 

  1. H.E. Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security  for the Government of Sierra Leone (TBC) 

  1. Dr. Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry at the African Development Bank (TBC) 

  1. Mr. Juha Savolainen, Director General, Department for Development Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland 

  1. Dr. Daniel Mwendah M'Mailutha, President, World Farmer Organization (TBC) 

  1. Mehrdad Ehsani,Vice President, Food Initiative ,The Rockefeller Foundation 

9 :15 – 9 :25 

Closing Remarks and Call to Action 

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Managing Director for Africa, Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT 

09 :25 – 09 :30 

MoU Signing Ceremony — One Acre Fund 

Formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and One Acre Fund, reinforcing partnership commitments toward the Alliance Strategy 2026–2030. 

09 :30 – 09 :35 

MoU Signing Ceremony — World Farmer Organization 

Formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the World Farmer Organization (WFO), reinforcing partnership commitments toward the Alliance Strategy 2026–2030. 

09 :35– 09:40 

MoU Signing Ceremony — SNV 

Formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and SNV, strengthening collaboration on shared priorities and advancing joint efforts in support of the Alliance Strategy 2026–2030. 

09:40 – 10:00 

Networking Breakfast – Biodiversity Bites 

Hosted and moderated by Mr Paul Newnham, CEO, SDG2 Advocacy Hub 

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