World Bank to Finance 19 Centers of Excellence in Africa
Last week, the World Bank approved US$150 million to finance 19 university-based Centers of Excellence in seven countries in West and Central Africa. The centers will receive funding for advanced specialized studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines, as well as in agriculture and health. The centers are:
Center for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment at Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria;
Center for training Planet Breeders, Seed Scientists and Technologies at University of Ghana, Ghana;
Center for the Poultry Sciences at University of Lome, Togo;
Center for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University, Nigeria;
Center for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Redeemers University, Nigeria;
Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens at University of Ghana, Ghana;
Center for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria;
Center for Phytomedicine Research and Development at University of Jos, Nigeria;
Center for Reproductive Health and Innovation at University of Benin, Nigeria;
Center for Maternal and Infant Health at University Cheikh Anita Diop, Senegal;
Center for Materials at African University of Science and Technology, Nigeria;
Center for Applied Mathematics at University d'Abomey, Benin;
Center for Information and Communication Technologies at University de Yaounde, Cameroon;
Center for Water, Energy, and Environment Science and Technologies at Institute International d'Ingenierie de l'Eau et de l'Environment;
Center for Oil Field Chemicals at University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria;
Center for Water and Environmental Sanitation at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana;
Center for Science, Technology, and Knowledge at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; and
Center for Mathematics, Informatics, and ICT at University of Gaston Berger, Senegal
About
The Global Food and Agriculture Program aims to inform the development of US policy on global agricultural development and food security by raising awareness and providing resources, information, and policy analysis to the US Administration, Congress, and interested experts and organizations.
The Global Food and Agriculture Program is housed within the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs convenes leading global voices and conducts independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.
Support for the Global Food and Agriculture Program is generously provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Arlene Mitchell, Executive Director of the Global Child Nutrition Foundation, explains that food safety requires vigilance and good practice throughout the value chain– from farm to fork– all around the world.
The Chicago Council’s recent report, Grow Markets, Fight Hunger: a Food Security Framework for US-Africa Trade Relations, is currently featured on Republic 3.0 and Ideas Lab.
Marc Albertsen, ABS Research Lead and Research Director at DuPont Pioneer, explains how the African Biofortified Sorghum public-private collaboration is working to help improve nutrition.
The next installment in the Healthy Food for a Healthy World series explores how climate change puts global nutrition at risk- and how smallholder farmers' climate resilience will be crucial.
In this guest post, Frieder Haenisch and Anna Gould discuss how a new generation of dynamic, well-connected leaders can build a better, food-secure future.
Frank Rijsberman, Jeremy Bird, and Andrew Noble discussion the innovations in water use, particularly in agriculture, that will help sustainably provide healthy and nutritious food to a global community.
Clayton Yeutter, former US Secretary of Agriculture, former US Trade Representative, and lifelong advocate of global food security and international trade issues, has been recognized and heralded for his extensive contributions to the field.
Farm Journal Foundation's Stephanie Mercier discusses the ways that farmers can use innovative practices to improve water use efficiency in the face of growing competition for water.
In the latest installment in the Healthy Food for a Healthy World series, Senior Fellow Roger Thurow highlights the importance of clean water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene for improving global nutrition.
In The Hill, former Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.), Peter McPherson and Dan Glickman discuss the essential role of US and foreign universities for global food security.
For World Water Day, Food Tank's Sarah Small and Danielle Nierenberg honor the projects, people, and programs working tirelessly to achieve more with less water and creating innovative systems for the future.
