About the event

The $60 million International Development Association grant to Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) reflects the World Bank’s commitment to the CGIAR—the world’s largest research partnership for agriculture and food security—reiterated by World Bank President David Malpass at the 2019 United Nations Climate Summit.

AICCRA builds on 50 years of CGIAR innovation, working to scale climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and climate information services (CIS) that reach millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. AICCRA works in six African countries—Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia—but also links up with regional initiatives in West Africa and East and Southern Africa to create positive spillover effects.

Among many regional and continental initiatives in Africa, AICCRA also aligns to and supports the ambitions of complementary initiatives like the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) and the Africa Food Security Leadership Dialogue (AFSLD).

Now halfway through its grant period (2021-2023) this Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) explored the impact AICCRA has achieved to date, the lessons learned and compelling opportunities for the World Bank that are emerging from AICCRA research, innovations, and partnerships.

As an example, the BBL focused on one of AICCRA’s catalytic programs in Zambia. Operating under AICCRA, the Zambia Accelerator Program is the first science-driven accelerator program for climate-smart agribusinesses in Zambia, and is helping to break down silos between the development and private finance sectors. The Accelerator Program operates similarly to a conventional start-up/business accelerator, with the added benefit of using scientific excellence to leverage the potential of Zambian agriculture, while increasing the investment readiness of its agribusiness portfolio for both public donors and impact investors.

Speakers

Chair
Boutheina Guermazi – Director, Africa and Middle East and North Africa, Integration Unit, World Bank

Speakers
Abdou Tenkouano - Executive Director, West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research (CORAF)

Ana Maria Loboguerrero – Director, AICCRA Project

Hauke Dahl – Integrated Expert on Sustainable Scaling, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Inga Jacobs-Mata – Country Representative, IWMI

Video messages
Ernest Afiesimama – Regional Program Manager, World Meteorological Organization Regional Office for Africa

Edson Nkonde – Director, Zambia Meteorological Department

Discussants
John Lynam – Chair, AICCRA Independent Steering Committee

Chakib Jenane – Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food, West and Central Africa, World Bank

Katie Kennedy Freeman – Senior Agriculture Economist, West and Central Africa, World Bank