AFRICA – 78 emerging leaders in the field of agriculture graduated from the Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA) program hosted by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
This AGRA-led initiative, co-implemented by the African Management Institute (AMI) and Policy Link, has equipped leaders from diverse sectors with the skills and knowledge necessary to address critical challenges in Africa’s agricultural landscape.
The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of the 16-month CALA program, providing participants with a collaborative, hands-on, and tailored experience.
Drawing leaders from the public, private sector, and civil society, the program has bestowed certificates upon these individuals, signifying their elevated status as leaders contributing to Africa’s Food Security and Sustainability.
AGRA President, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, highlighted the pivotal issue of post-harvest losses in agriculture during the graduation ceremony.
Stressing the need for innovative solutions, she emphasized that addressing post-harvest losses is key to transforming the narrative around hunger in Africa. Dr. Kalibata’s call resonated with the graduates, 50% of whom are actively seeking solutions to minimize post-harvest losses.
“Fifty percent of CALA graduates are looking to solve post-harvest losses. Some of the food that we lose in the farms, if we save them, we won’t be saying that Africa has 300 million people who are hungry. If we work to solve post-harvest losses by 40%, we will be saving a lot on the production side and shift the narrative,” said Dr. Kalibata.
CALA program
Designed for leaders implementing country-level agriculture initiatives, the CALA program has equipped participants with practical leadership skills.
It emphasizes effective implementation of national flagship programs while fostering cross-collaborative leadership across the public, private sector, and civil society.
The 78 graduating leaders, carefully selected from over 1,000 applicants, represent a diverse spectrum of professionals with 45% from government agencies, 26% from the private sector, and 29% from civil society.
The graduating delegates, now part of the esteemed CALA alumni community, join the inaugural cohort of 80 delegates, continuing their journey of learning and collaboration.
Founded in 2006, AGRA, is an African-led African-based organization that seeks to catalyze agriculture transformation in Africa.
“AGRA is focused on putting smallholder farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives,” says AGRA.
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