March 28 — The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) is proud to announce the appointment of two distinguished professionals to its Board of Directors: Dr. Oumou Camara and Dr. Kristin Davis. These appointments come as part of SAA's ongoing commitment to strengthen its leadership and further its mission of building resilient and sustainable food system in Africa.

Dr. Oumou M. Camara, currently the Vice President of Programs at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), is recognized for her extensive expertise in agricultural economics and her impactful work across the African continent. With a career spanning over 17 years in 15 African counties. Dr. Camara has played pivotal roles in strategic planning, resource mobilization, and partnership development, contributing to the advancement of poverty reduction and food security initiatives. Her involvement with several key international organizations, including the African Union Commission and the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), has been crucial in fostering agricultural development.

Dr. Kristin Davis, a Senior Research Fellow with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), brings to the board a wealth of experience in agricultural extension and policy research. Her leadership in the socioeconomics, capacity, and policy work package of the Nature-positive Solutions under One CGIAR has been instrumental in promoting gender equality and youth inclusion in agricultural initiatives. Furthermore, Dr. Davis has made significant contributions to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research, Capacity, & Influence, and her foundational work in establishing the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) underlines her commitment to agricultural innovation.

Their appointments come at a pivotal time as SAA works towards its vision of supporting Africa in building resilient and sustainable food systems. The expertise and perspectives of Dr. Davis and Dr. Camara will undoubtedly enrich our collective efforts, guiding SAA's strategic direction and helping to amplify our impact on the ground. We warmly welcome them and anticipate their contributions to our mission of creating a more food-secure Africa.