Kofi Annan steps down as Chair of AGRA but reaffirms commitment to food and nutrition security in Africa

Since its establishment in 2006, AGRA has become a dynamic and effective advocate for Africa’s smallholder farmers and agricultural needs. “AGRA is in a good position to consolidate its achievements and make further progress in catalysing Africa’s agricultural transformation during the African Union’s Year of Agriculture in 2014 and beyond. Through the Kofi Annan Foundation, I will continue to support AGRA’s mission and to promote sustainable development by encouraging African governments and their partners to transform the agricultural sector, tackle climate change, and encourage private sector engagement on the continent.”

Mr. Annan welcomed the decision by the Board to appoint Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, current Vice-Chair of AGRA, as his successor as of January 1, 2014. Mr. Annan said: “I am confident that Strive, who is one of AGRA’s founding Board members, will lead the organisation with renewed vigour and passion. Under Strive’s leadership and with his skills and expertise, AGRA will continue to make solid progress towards its vision of a food-secure and prosperous Africa.”

Following his appointment, Mr. Masiyiwa said: “I am honoured by this appointment. Due to the commitment and professionalism of our staff, the trust of our donors, and not least the achievements of Mr. Annan, I will be assuming the leadership of a healthy and thriving organisation.” The AGRA Board expressed its profound gratitude to Mr. Annan for leading AGRA since its creation and for championing support to smallholder farmers – the primary drivers of African agricultural development. ####

Notes to Editors – AGRA is an Africa based organisation working in partnership with governments, agricultural research organisations, farmers, private sector, civil society and other rural development stakeholders to significantly and sustainably improve the productivity and incomes of resource poor farmers in Africa. AGRA’s programmes in the areas of seeds, soil health, market viability, supportive policies and innovative finance work to bring about transformational change across the agricultural value chain.

AGRA was founded in 2006 through a partnership between the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Since its establishment in 2006, AGRA has facilitated the training of over 400 PhD and MSc students in crop sciences and soil health improvement; the establishment of 14,000 agrodealers and 80 seed companies; the training of 920,000 farmers to adopt integrated soil fertility management and 500,000 in improved marketing systems and value addition; and the support to 450 farmers organisations with a total membership of 46,000.

Some 450 new and improved crop varieties have been developed with the support of AGRA and participating farmers have improved their prices by 10-15%. The Kofi Annan Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organisation founded in 2007 by Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The Kofi Annan Foundation works to promote Peace and Security, Sustainable Development, and Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

For more information, please contact:
Sylvia Mudasia-Mwichuli, smwichuli@agra-alliance.org
Or visit our website: www.agra-alliance.org

Bijan Farnoudi, Farnoudi@kofiannanfoundation.org
Or visit our website: www.kofiannanfoundation.org