Agathe Diama

Head Communications and Smart Food Projects Coordinator – West and Central Africa

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arids Tropics (ICRISAT), Mali

We believe that all people have a right to nutritious food and a better livelihoods. Our mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and environmental degradation in the drylands tropics of Sub-saharan Africa and Asia. Our approach is through partnerships and with an inclusive market-oriented development. Partnerships are critical as ICRISAT takes a catalyst role to help rural communities develop their own solutions and engage the actors needed to bring their vision to reality.

As Smart Food Initiatives Coordinator, I work with stakeholders (farmers, women farmers, scientists, media, academic institutions, governments, donors etc…) to ensure that nutrition technologies based on local assets are accessible to individuals and communities. This includes studies and publications, and advocating for better investment into climate-smart and nutritious local crops such as millet and sorghum to improve school feeding programs, support health community centers, and income-generating activities – especially for women and youth.