Food systems in Africa face many complex and connected challenges, such as malnutrition, climate change, inequality and the overuse of natural resources. These are not just challenges for the government and private sector. They require effective leadership at every level, from every perspective, to understand the systemic causes and make the difficult decisions needed for system-wide change. Our vision is of a continent-wide fellowship of African food systems leaders who actively contribute to food systems transformation up to and beyond the SDGs.
Food system leaders will be empowered by a world-class systems leadership programme. More than this, they will be enabled in their actions through an incubation support programme while also sharing knowledge and passion for change through a professional food systems leaders movement.
The African Food Fellowship
Empowering food systems leaders to meet the scale
of the challenges requires equipping aspiring
leaders to act individually and collectively in
their ecosystems, based on knowledge of food systems,
responsible leadership and how to advance actions
for systemic impact. Together they can shape
agendas and set priorities for investments, policy
and action. This Fellowship is an initiative of
Wageningen University & Research and
Wasafiri Consulting, with support from
IKEA Foundation.
News
More than 300 Food Experts Apply to Join First Cohort in Rwanda
More than 300 food systems leaders in Rwanda have applied to join the first class of the Food Systems Leadership Programme that closed applications on September 19.
read moreabout the fellows
The Fellowship brings together passionate food systems leaders who make up the inaugural cohort of the African Food Systems Leadership Programme.
first of its kind
This 10-month Fellowship is the first of its kind in Africa and focuses initially on three impact areas of aquaculture, horticulture and agri-finance.
our vision
A continent-wide Fellowship of African leaders actively contributing to food systems transformation agendas up to and beyond the SDGs.
Our programmes
Food systems face complex challenges
creating opportunities for
Cross-sector collaboration and innovation in food systems
Starting in Kenya and Rwanda, the African Food Fellowship brings aspiring leaders from different backgrounds together. It will provide leadership development, incubation of initiatives and network opportunities and establish a critical mass of fellows who understand and are committed to the practice of cross-sector collaboration and innovation in food systems.
We need a leadership programme that is focused on creating change within food systems and operating on a wide scale across Africa, moving the boundaries for decision-making. Each cohort of leaders will collaborate over four months in a world-leading systems leadership programme that will be followed by dedicated coaching support.”
Joost Guijt, Director, African Food Fellowship
We believe the systems’ leadership skills and experiences provided through the African Food Fellowship are important to help transform food systems throughout Africa.”
Alex Rees, Head of Food Systems and Inclusive Growth, Wasafiri Consulting
The aim of the fellowship is to foster partnerships, innovation and resources to shift African food systems towards more regenerative and inclusive outcomes. ”
Eunice Khaguli, Dean, African Food Fellowship
