Dr Namukolo Covic leads CGIAR’s Liaison Office for Africa
10 January 2026, Africa: The CGIAR is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Namukolo Covic as Head of the CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa, effective 1 January 2026.
In this strategic role, Dr Covic will support the CGIAR Continental Champion for Africa — a rotational role currently held by Dr Simeon Ehui, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) — in advancing CGIAR’s mission to deliver science and innovation that transform food, land, and water systems across Africa.
Strengthening CGIAR’s engagement in Africa
The CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa has been established to strengthen coordination and coherence across CGIAR Centers, regional partners, and continental institutions. Based in Addis Ababa, the Office will deepen CGIAR’s engagement with the African Union (AU), FARA, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Sub-Regional Research Organizations (SROs), and national governments, ensuring that CGIAR’s science responds directly to Africa’s priorities and policy agendas, including AU Agenda 2063, the CAADP framework, and the CAADP Kampala Declaration.
Role and responsibilities
As Head of the CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa, Dr Covic will:
- Support the CGIAR Continental Champion in representing and advancing CGIAR’s mission across Africa;
- Coordinate CGIAR’s engagement with continental and regional institutions to ensure coherent, timely, and strategic interaction;
- Facilitate the development of a demand-driven continental research and innovation portfolio aligned with African priorities;
- Strengthen partnerships with national governments, regional bodies, and development partners;
- Enhance the visibility and communication of CGIAR’s contributions to transforming Africa’s food, land, and water systems.
A seasoned leader for Africa’s food systems
Dr Covic brings a distinguished record of leadership in nutrition, food systems innovation, and policy engagement across Africa. She has previously served as CGIAR Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, held senior scientific and leadership positions at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and played leading roles in shaping African food and nutrition policy dialogues with the African Union and other continental institutions, linking science, policy, and implementation.
Transitional arrangements
In addition to her System-level responsibilities, Dr Covic will, during the transition period (January-June 2026), continue to serve as the ILRI Director General’s representative in Ethiopia, to ensure continuity while ILRI completes the recruitment of her successor.
Looking ahead
This appointment reflects CGIAR’s renewed commitment to strong partnerships, African leadership, and transformative impact, in line with its evolving System-wide integration and partnership model. Working closely with African institutions and partners, CGIAR will continue to strengthen its collaborative approach to advancing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems across the continent.
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