The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has officially launched the Regional East and Southern African Scaling Hub in Kenya.
The initiative marks a strategic step in CGIAR’s mission to ensure that scientific solutions reach farmers and other stakeholders effectively, fostering a food-secure future.
The hub is designed to strengthen agricultural innovation by providing a collaborative space where CGIAR and its partners can co-locate and develop tailored solutions for Africa. It focuses on ‘science for the last mile,’ aiming to deliver innovations efficiently, inclusively, and sustainably.
Inga Jacobs-Mata, a key visionary behind the hub, emphasized its role in advancing scientific frontiers.
“The hub offers a dynamic environment where experts can collaborate across disciplines, driving creative problem-solving and synergistic thinking. Our goal is to ensure innovations are scaled cheaper, better, and faster, reaching marginalized groups and enhancing livelihoods,” she stated.
As part of CGIAR’s 2025-2030 portfolio, the hub is integral to the Scaling for Impact Program. By 2030, this program aims to benefit over 62 million people, with a focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups.
It targets the creation or enhancement of 250,000 jobs and improved access to healthier diets for 480,000 people, half of whom will be women.
The hub will leverage multi-stakeholder partnerships, bringing together farmers, cooperatives, governments, financial institutions, research systems, universities, civil society, and the private sector. This collaborative approach ensures that solutions are co-designed and deployed effectively.
Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute, highlighted the importance of appropriate solutions for small-scale farmers. “Our focus is on ensuring our solutions are scalable and adaptable, enabling partners to work together to achieve real impact,” he noted.
