From 24th to 25th March 2025, the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI), in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), hosted a high-level delegation at the Nkuadi Agricultural Hub in Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation.
The delegation, traveling from Kinshasa, included representatives from the “Programme Volontariste Agricole (PVA),” the Ministry of Agriculture, and CICOAGRI. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to assess the current state of the Nkuadi base and identify mitigation solutions to strengthen stakeholder collaboration under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in DRC (ATA-DRC).
The core ambition of the visit was to accelerate the development of resilient, market-oriented agricultural systems that empower local producers and enhance national food security. Through constructive exchanges and field observations, participants explored strategies to better align efforts and scale impactful solutions. These initiatives leverage community-based outreach and outgrow models promoted by both institutions. AALI and IITA work closely with producer organizations to strengthen capacities, improve productivity, and facilitate market access. These models place farmers at the center of transformation, fostering ownership, inclusion, and long-term sustainability.
The visit also emphasized the importance of coordinated action among public institutions, private sector actors, and development partners. By reinforcing synergies, AALI and its partners aim to promote effective, field-tested approaches that can be replicated and scaled across regions. Such collaborations are crucial for addressing structural challenges in Congolese agriculture, including limited access to inputs and financing, as well as the need to strengthen value chains and market integration.