Letter from the director general

Dear all,

It is with great pleasure that I update you on my first month as the director general of ILRI and senior director of CGIAR Livestock-Based Systems. This has been a busy month, full of engagements and activities that will set the foundation for our success and impact in the coming years.

My top priorities have been listening to and learning from ILRI staff and colleagues from other institutions hosted at our Addis Ababa and Nairobi campuses. It has been an absolute pleasure to exchange ideas with such passionate and committed professionals, and I look forward to getting to know the staff whom I have yet to meet. I was impressed by the diversity of our community and ILRI’s commitment to agricultural development and the food systems transformation programs of the countries and the regions in which we operate. A special learning moment came through my interactions with the leaders of our three livestock-led CGIAR initiatives – One Health, SAPLING, and Livestock and Climate – and the other initiatives and platforms ILRI contributes to. We are making significant progress, leveraging our partnerships with national research institutions and collaborating with donors and investors.

During this first month, I had the honour of hosting former ILRI director general Jimmy Smith. Together, we paid courtesy calls to country leaders, government officials, heads of missions and other stakeholders in Ethiopia and Kenya. These meetings were crucial in ensuring continuity and reaffirming ILRI’s commitment to continually align its actions to the priorities of the communities, countries and regions that we serve. 

I also had the privilege of participating in key conferences, such as the Kenya Food Systems and the Advanced Reproductive Technologies Centre for Excellence launch at AU-IBAR, which was handed over to the government of Kenya through the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.

Finally, I initiated conversations with ILRI staff, other CGIAR colleagues and our board to start the process of developing ILRI’s new strategy. Strategy development  is a critical task for this year and I am committed to ensuring that ILRI remains at the forefront of innovative partnerships, research and development. I firmly believe that CGIAR livestock development and animal-source foods are central to our collective efforts, and I look forward to working with you all to develop this strategy. 

I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for ILRI, the One CGIAR, and I look forward to working with all of you to build a brighter future for our organization and the communities we serve.