For more information, contact:

                                    Stella Kihara in Nairobi: +254 735 380 199

skihara@agra-alliance.org

For Immediate Release

Akin Adesina named as Vice President (Policy and Partnerships) of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Nairobi, Kenya, October 30, 2008 – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Rockefeller Foundation today announced that Akin Adesina will transition to AGRA as Vice President, Policy and Partnerships. Adesina, a Rockefeller Foundation Associate Director, has been instrumental in spearheading the establishment of AGRA. In 2007 he was seconded to AGRA from the Rockefeller Foundation. In this critical leadership position, Adesina will continue to oversee the efforts of AGRA to assist African governments to develop appropriate policies for transforming agriculture and lifting millions of farmers out of poverty. He will also provide leadership for building strategic partnerships with African governments, donors, private sector and the civil society organizations globally and mobilize resources for the achievement of the green revolution at country levels.

Adesina transitions to AGRA following an illustrious career in the Rockefeller Foundation, where over the past ten years he helped to spearhead major programs in support of African agriculture. Adesina expanded the globally respected agricultural sciences program of the Foundation to include market development for smallholder farmers. Adesina, who holds a PhD in agricultural economics from Purdue University, USA, is a well-respected leader in African agricultural development. Prior to joining the Rockefeller Foundation, he worked for over ten years in scientific leadership positions with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, West Africa Rice Development Association and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics. He is President of the African Association of Agricultural Economists. He has published extensively on agricultural development and policy issues in Africa and won numerous scholarly awards, including the Yara Prize for the Africa Green Revolution, Distinguished Agricultural Alumni of Purdue University and Outstanding Agricultural Economist Award from the American Association of Agricultural Economics.

“AGRA is delighted to announce this transition from Rockefeller Foundation to AGRA. Akin is an outstanding economist, with a great passion for transformative policy changes that will benefit farmers all across Africa”, said Dr. Namanga Ngongi, President of AGRA. “His solid understanding of the challenges facing farmers, ability to build alliances and coalitions and palpable drive to work for the benefit of African farmers will continue to help AGRA as we push forward a transformative agenda in support of the African green revolution”.

“I am deeply honored to fully join AGRA and its visionary team in this historic drive to help Africa feed itself and become a net exporter of food. The Rockefeller Foundation has always been a great inspiration for me. The inspiring commitments of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are crucial for the success of the work of AGRA in Africa”, said Adesina. “This is a natural and exciting transition for me. I am delighted with the opportunity to continue to work under the astute leadership of Dr. Ngongi to ensure that this innovative and bold effort succeeds for the benefit of millions of farmers in Africa”.

About the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

AGRA is a dynamic partnership working across the African continent to help millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. AGRA programmes develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes for the poor while safeguarding the environment. AGRA advocates for policies that support its work across all key aspects of the African agricultural value chain–from seeds, soil health and water to markets and agricultural education.
 

AGRA's Board of Directors is chaired by Kofi A Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dr Namanga Ngongi, former Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, is AGRA's president. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK's Department for International Development and other donors, AGRA works across sub-Saharan Africa and maintains offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana. For more information, go to www.agra-alliance.org.