23 May 2026, Ethiopia: The conference opened with a warm welcoming remarks from Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse (DPhil), Senior Research Fellow and Program Leader of IFPRI–Ethiopia. This was followed by an address from Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of ILRI. he noted: “Going from a project to an initiative takes vision—and a responsibility to continue that vision. By working together, we can support sustainable development, reduce poverty, and strengthen food and water security”.
Additional opening remarks were delivered virtually by Professor Joachim Swinnen, Director General of IFPRI. Dr. Swinnen highlighted how IFPRI is helping to launch five hubs under the CGIAR Science Program in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria. He discussed how the hubs will connect CGIAR’s global research with national systems to strengthen collaboration, build local analytical capacity, and advance pro-poor evidence-based policies, helping to advance the whole 2025-30 Research Portfolio.
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Dr. Mandefro Nigussie, CEO of the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), represented by Mr. Reta Wegary to give the last opening remarks. Mr. Reta congratulated the organizers and highlighted the long-standing collaboration between ATI and the CGIAR since 2010. He emphasized that ATI–CGIAR partnerships, particularly with IFPRI, have played an important role in generating evidence to guide agrifood system transformation with minimal environmental impact. He expressed hope that the Policy Innovation Hub will further strengthen joint research, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing efforts with national partners.
Evidence Gaps
In the panel discussion during the event panelists identified three critical policy-relevant evidence gaps that constrain the implementation of Ethiopia’s food system transformation and nutrition agenda for 2026–28. Panelists included:
Dr. Getachew Diriba, MoA
Mrs. Sentayehu Demissie, MoA
Dr. Sisay Sinamo, MoH
Ato Tsadkan Alemayehu, MoPD
Mr. Reta Wagari, ATI
Participants ranked the evidence gaps using a color-coded system aligned with their institutional roles. The ranking result is represented in the pie chart.
The above pie chart illustrates the distribution of evidence gaps grouped into six broad categories derived from expert assessments. Initially, individual gaps were identified and ranked by experts on a scale from 1 (highest priority) to 15 (lowest priority). These gaps were subsequently organized into thematic categories as follows:
Data gaps: limitations in household-level data, time series data, timely/recent data, and disaggregated data
Data and knowledge gaps: insufficient evidence on beneficiaries and limited understanding of available resources
Data, knowledge, and skill gaps: challenges related to scaling interventions and identifying what works effectively and cost-efficiently
Institutional gaps: weaknesses in targeting systems, governance, land use planning, and agricultural systems
Data and institutional gaps: constraints related to digitalization
Implementation capacity gaps: issues related to coordination and implementation capacity
To enable aggregation, the ranking scores were reversed and then summed within each category to produce total scores. Higher total scores reflect greater overall importance, capturing both the frequency with which gaps were identified and their relative priority as assigned by experts.
The ranking results show that institutional gaps account for the largest share, indicating that challenges related to governance, coordination, and system-level implementation are the most critical constraints. This is followed by data gaps, highlighting the continued importance of improving the availability, quality, and timeliness of data. Data, knowledge, and skill gaps also represent a substantial portion, suggesting that beyond data availability, there are significant challenges in translating evidence into scalable and cost-effective interventions. In contrast, data and knowledge gaps, implementation capacity, and data and institutional gaps contribute to smaller shares, though they remain important components of the overall evidence gap landscape. Overall, the ranking suggests that while strengthening data systems is essential, addressing institutional and implementation challenges is key to improving policy effectiveness.
CGIAR and National Partners: Joint Strategies for Evidence-Based Policymaking
The afternoon panel discussion, titled “How can the CGIAR and its Ethiopia Country Policy Innovation Hub contribute towards addressing evidence gaps and strengthening evidence-informed policymaking?”, brought together senior experts from research institutions, government, and development organizations to reflect on priority areas for 2026–2028.
Moderated by Dr. Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, the session focused on identifying three key activities and/or modalities that could strengthen collaboration between local and international researchers while improving evidence-based policymaking in Ethiopia.
Each Panelist spoke on how the CGIAR and the Ethiopia Country Policy Innovation Hub can work together:
Professor Negussie Dachassa, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR):
Strengthen institutional alignment and joint research coordination: Align closely with Ethiopia’s national research system through joint priority setting, integrated programming, and coordinated planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Fragmented project-based approaches should be replaced with more coherent system-wide collaboration that strengthens national ownership.
Enhance the research–policy interface through evidence-based policy support: Translating evidence into actionable inputs for agricultural transformation. This includes conducting policy impact evaluations and facilitating structured dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and development partners.
Invest in capacity building and institutional strengthening: Invest in both human and institutional capacity through training, mentorship, staff exchanges, and joint research programs. Modernizing infrastructure, strengthening innovation platforms, and improving staff retention through better incentives and greater institutional autonomy.
W/ro Tsigereda Fekadu, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
Support evidence-based livestock productivity improvement through breed improvement, animal health services, and forage development. Productivity gains are essential for achieving broader livestock sector transformation.
Strengthen livestock value chains, technology transfer, and market linkages: Promoting cold chain systems, processing, and value addition to reduce losses and extend shelf life. Improving market linkages and supporting technology transfer and capacity building for producers.
Improve livestock data systems and digitalization: through improved collection, verification, reporting, and digitalization. Reliable and timely data systems are essential for evidence-based decision-making and sector monitoring.
Dr. Namukolo Covic, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Align research engagement with ongoing policy processes: Identifying entry points and timing evidence to match decision cycles; Work jointly with national institutions such as EIAR rather than independently.
Leverage existing research evidence and knowledge products: Utilize existing research by identifying “shelved” evidence and repackaging it into usable policy outputs. Relevant knowledge already exists but is not sufficiently mobilized for policy influence.
Promote long-term, continuous collaboration and joint national strategies: This includes joint national research strategies where CGIAR and national partners share priorities and leadership based on comparative advantage.
Dr. Dawit Alemu, Wageningen Research
Strengthen high-level policy buy-in and formal coordination mechanisms: Secure strong high-level policy buy-in and establish formal coordination platforms for joint agenda setting and collaboration. Structured engagement between ministries, CGIAR centers, EIAR, and other stakeholders through regular dialogue forums.
Enhance evidence communication and policy outreach: Strengthen evidence communication by improving science-to-policy translation and engaging mainstream media more effectively. Stronger policy outreach mechanisms that make research more visible and influential.
Promote stronger integration, capacity building, and researcher exchange within the National Agricultural Research System (NARS): Aligning CGIAR activities with national priorities and strengthening collaboration with universities and national researchers.
Dr. Tewodros Mekonnen, International Growth Centre (IGC)
Strengthen understanding of policy processes and improve evidence engagement: Mapping decision-makers, institutional roles, and policy timelines. Producing timely outputs such as policy notes and rapid evidence rather than relying solely on long academic studies.
Build the capacity and policy engagement of local researchers: through mentorship, placements in ministries, and continuous engagement with policymakers. Help researchers better align their work with real-time policy needs and priorities.
Promote sustained partnerships between local and international researchers: Combining local contextual knowledge with international expertise improves relevance and strengthens evidence-based policymaking over time.
Professor Abebe Shimeles, Ministry of Finance (MoF)
Generate high-quality, public-good research aligned with national macroeconomic and structural reforms: Research should serve a broad audience, including students, investors, and development partners.
Improve knowledge dissemination through media and rapid, accessible communication products: Clear, high-impact messaging that reaches both policymakers and the wider public quickly.
Shorten research-to-policy timelines and prioritize timely, high-impact outputs: Faster evidence delivery is essential in fast-moving policy environments where delays reduce policy relevance.
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