Page 13 - CGIAR AR 2023 - Printable Med Res

AfricaRice breeding station in Cote Divoire
Photo: Adam Hunt, CGIAR-GI

Regions

West and Central Africa (WCA)

CGIAR’s Regional Director-WCA conducted several high-profile external engagements, among which
he met with the President of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) in Nigeria. They made a firm commitment to strengthen the partnership with CGIAR and
contribute to CGIAR’s visibility and influence on regional food policy decisions.

Formalized partnerships with sub-regional organizations, NARIs, governments, the private sector,
and development agencies have been the conduit through which CGIAR innovations and
technologies were introduced into countries to contribute to food security, health, and nutrition
outcomes. For example, in partnership with the Healthy Diets Initiative and through the Healthy
Diets Living Laboratory in Côte d’Ivoire, supported by the European Union (EU) and the African

Development Bank-funded Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), superior
GEM parboiling technology has been introduced to Côte d’Ivoire to produce nutritionally enhanced
ultra-low glycemic index rice. High vitamin content and very low glycemic index rice are being
showcased and marketed by rice distributors to people with diabetes.

Other CGIAR partnerships in West Africa include integrated rice-fish farming, which is being actively
implemented by CGIAR and partners and expanded across five countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Mali,
Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire) through training farmers. This validated system presents an eco-friendly
approach for enhancing food and nutrition security while combating malaria.

CGIAR Annual Report 2023 13