Zambia added to African food fellowship as programme expands regionally

Zambia has been included in the African Food Fellowship’s regional initiative aimed at strengthening leadership within the continent’s food systems, the organisation said on Thursday.

The Fellowship, which operates in several African countries, will run a 10-month virtual training programme delivered by Wageningen University & Research in partnership with Wasafiri Consulting.

According to the organisation, the effort forms part of a wider push to improve coordination and resilience in food production, distribution and access.

The expansion is being financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented with support from GIZ.

GIZ said the initiative was intended to build leadership capacity needed to advance reforms across food systems in the region.

“We see Zambia as a critical part of efforts to strengthen food-system leadership across Africa,” African Food Fellowship Executive Director Pascal Murasira said.

“The challenges facing food systems require coordinated action, and we believe developing capable leaders is an essential part of that response,” Murasira said.

A representative from GIZ’s Global Programme Transformation of Food Systems said the expansion aimed to reinforce ongoing cooperation with Zambia.

“Investing in people is fundamental for long-term change in food systems. Supporting this programme in Zambia is part of our commitment to improving food security and market resilience in the region,” the official said.

According to the Fellowship, the Zambian stream will prioritise three areas: strengthening trade and market access, improving the availability of nutritious food and enhancing system resilience.

These areas correspond with ongoing national efforts to improve agricultural productivity and manage climate-related risks.

The Fellowship targets mid-career professionals working across sectors such as government, agriculture, business, research and civil society, and focuses on developing leadership skills relevant to food-system transformation.

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