Ivorian civil servants explore agricultural innovations to strengthen development partnerships
16 January 2026
Delegates from the Association of International Civil Servants of Côte d’Ivoire paid a study visit to IITA–CGIAR on 15 December, marking a significant step toward deepening collaboration in agricultural development, youth empowerment, and technology-driven solutions across West Africa.
The delegation was warmly received by Dr Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, who welcomed the team and encouraged them to fully explore IITA’s wide-ranging research, innovations, and partnerships aimed at transforming African agriculture. The visit provided an opportunity for the delegates to familiarize themselves with IITA’s mandate, crops, institutional structure, and scalable technologies that could complement existing agricultural systems in Côte d’Ivoire.
During an interactive session, Abdoulaye Tahirou, Acting Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, presented an overview of IITA’s organizational structure and its 2024–2030 Strategy, highlighting the Institute’s focus on impact at scale, partnerships, and sustainable food systems. He also shared insights into IITA’s work with young people through the IITA Youth in Agribusiness (IYA) program, which equips youth with agribusiness skills, market-ready technologies, and pathways to profitable enterprises.
The delegates were introduced to IITA’s innovations and digital tools, including the Seed Tracker, which enhances transparency and efficiency in seed systems, as well as ongoing solutions in banana research and other mandate crops critical to food security and livelihoods in Africa. These discussions sparked strong interest from the delegation, particularly around opportunities for joint partnerships in youth training, leveraging the reach and proven successes of the IYA model.
A guided tour of IITA’s facilities further enriched the visit. At the Cassava Semi-Autotrophic Screenhouse, the delegation learned about IITA’s rapidly growing community-based seed systems for cassava, designed to ensure the availability of high-quality planting materials for farmers. The team also visited the Cassava Processing Unit, where they gained insights into IITA’s innovations in cassava processing, utilization, and mechanization—key areas for value addition and agribusiness development.
The tour continued to the vegetable screenhouses managed by IITA Youth in Agribusiness, where the delegates explored practical, market-oriented agribusiness models that generate quick returns for young entrepreneurs. Overall, the tour showcased innovative, scalable investment options with strong potential for adoption in Côte d’Ivoire.
Expressing her appreciation, Ursule Tape, President of the Association of International Civil Servants of Côte d’Ivoire, commended IITA for the warm reception and the professionalism of the staff engaged throughout the visit. She noted that the experience offered valuable lessons and practical ideas that could support agricultural transformation initiatives back home.
In his closing remarks, Dr Ehui encouraged the delegation to take advantage of the full range of opportunities available during their visit, including an engagement with IITA’s Sage Ambassador and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as they continue to explore pathways for impactful collaboration.
Contributed by Folake Oduntan
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