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Climate resilience and food security are central to Australia’s Regional Development Program for Africa. In October 2024, the Australian Government announced the African-Australian partnership for climate-responsive agriculture, pledging a $76.4 million investment over the next six years to support the African continent.
In line with this initiative, delegates from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), accompanied by Calum Walker, Second Secretary of the Australian High Commission, and Tristan O’Brien, Officer at the Australian High Commission Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, visited IITA-CGIAR on 21 January.
The delegates toured IITA to observe ongoing research, scaling efforts, partnerships, and the delivery of innovative food solutions to African communities. Their primary objective was to gather insights and experiences to inform the development of a framework for delivering climate-smart and sustainable food systems in North and West Africa. O’Brien remarked, “The next phase of African-Australian investment will mainly extend ACIAR’s decade-long expertise and work in East and Southern Africa to North and West Africa – particularly Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and Ghana.”