February 2018 - Page 2 of 3

Picture of Tonny Omwansa, Director, Research Support, giving the opening remarks at the Intranet launch.

IITA launches new Intranet on SharePoint

IITA officially launched its new Intranet platform on Sharepoint on 5 February as part of efforts to streamline workflows and enhance operations throughout the Institute.

Picture of Group discussions at the FAO Nigeria program framework workshop

IITA participates in formulating FAO Nigeria Country program Framework

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Nigeria has commenced the formulation of their Country Program Framework (CPF).

Picture of Moses Nyine explaining his research in a banana field in Uganda.

R4D Special: Researchers use DNA prediction models to speed up banana breeding

An international team of scientists have for the first time demonstrated that it is possible to speed up banana breeding using genomic prediction models that accurately select banana hybrids with desired traits.

Picture of CIALCA staff share expertise on digital data collection, analysis and reporting. Photo by Marc Schut.

CIALCA organizes Open Data Kit training

Twenty four researchers from across different countries, research and development projects, and organizations attended a workshop on Open Data Kit (ODK) in January.

Picture of The Hon. Olatunbosun being briefed on some of IITA’s activities.

Nigerian lawmaker visits IITA; explores areas of collaboration

A delegation from Atisbo/Saki-West of East Federal Constituency, Oyo, visited IITA on 9 February to seek collaboration and technical support.

Picture of Charlotte Sanginga (left) with Her Excellency, Minister Chantal Safou.

IITA Women’s Group meets with DR Congo Minister of Gender, Child and Family

IITA Women’s Group representative Charlotte Sanginga, accompanied by Valérie Tembo, President of IITA Women’s Group Kinshasa Station and member Michèle Kimpwene Sanginga, paid a courtesy visit to Her Excellency, Minister Chantal Safou and members of her cabinet in the ministerial office, Kinshasa on 5 February.

Picture of Dr Jonas Chianu gives an overview of the TAAT Program

Program coordinator leads stakeholders through TAAT framework in support of the program

During the 3-day (22–24 January) inauguration meeting of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) that brought together different stakeholders, Dr Jonas Chianu, TAAT Coordinator and Principal Agricultural Economist, African Development Bank (AfDB), provided a framework to support this complex, multi-partner program.

Picture of Joe DeVries, Vice President, AGRA

TAAT to leverage lessons learned from AGRA

Partners working on the newly launched Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program have been urged not to reinvent the wheel of innovation but to take advantage of the progress already made in similar endeavors.

Picture of meeting participants at the African Union

IITA participates in special session of AUC on achieving zero hunger in Africa

On 27 January, the African Union Commission (AUC) organized a high-level dialogue session titled “Achieving Zero Hunger in Africa by 2025” at the AU headquarters, Addis Ababa.

Picture of Donors and partners look at country alignment strategies

Agricultural Donor Working Group welcomes IITA’s Country Integration and Alignment initiative

The Agricultural Donor Working Group (ADWG) in Abuja has commended IITA for developing a framework for action to enhance integration and collaboration across various institutions and programs towards achieving national strategic goals, and in line with the goals of CAADP and SDG2.