CALA Inaugural Cohort

CALA’s inaugural cohort for the Advanced Leadership programme began in late August 2021 and consists of nearly 80 participants from 8 countries – Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The cohort boasts a wide representation across the three sectors with 44% government, 31% private sector and 25% civil society. The participation of women leaders is also of note, accounting for nearly half of the cohort.

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Ghana Cohort

Yakubu Abukari

District Director of Agriculture/Head of Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development//Tolon District Assembly/Department of Agriculture

Victoria Amoafi Antwi

CEO, Success For People Microfinance

Stephen Debre

Agribusiness and Value Chain Manager, Ghana Agriculture Sector Investment Programme (GASIP)

Seidu Mubarak

Chief Operating Officer, Antika Company Limited

Kwasi Ofori-Kwasi

Principal Industrial Promotion Officer, Ministry of Trade and Industry

Mark Kebo Akparibo

Executive Secretary, TELE-BERE – Forest and Farm Producer Organisation

Hajaratu Wumbei Issahaka

Sustainability Operations Manager, Barry Callebaut

Francis Dogbese

Municipal Director of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Kwahu West Municipal Assembly

Edna Baffoe Bonnie

Principal Economic Officer, Ministry of Finance

Anthony Morrison

Chief Executive Officer, Chamber of Agribusiness, Ghana

Rwanda Cohort

Peter Ntaganda

Advisor to the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI)

Mutako Vedasto Alphonsine

Operations Manager, Rwanda Grain and Cereals Corporation ltd

Jean Bosco Gatanazi

Strategic Investment Analyst, National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB)

Jean De Dieu Umutoni

Business, Market and Finance development (Componed) Lead, CNFA-RWANDA

Francois Nsengiyumva

Managing Director, Kilimo General Business Ltd

Salomon Mbarushimana

Managing Director, Seed Potato Fund Joint Ventures (SPF-IKIGEGA)

Alice Mukamugema

Crop Product Supply Chain and Market Analyst, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources

Belinda Bwiza

Deputy Country Director. One Acre Fund

Malawi Cohort

Tayani Vincent Banda

Senior Development Planning Specialist ( Macro & Real Sector), National Planning Commission (NPC)

Sarah Tione

Principal Economist, Ministry of Agriculture

Readwell Musopole

Deputy Director of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture

Pamela Kuwali

National Director, Civil Society Agriculture Network

Ngabaghila Chatata

Managing Director, Thanthwe Enterprises

Jacob Nyirongo

Chief Executive Officer, Farmers Union of Malawi

Harriet Jenala Gausi

Chief Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer, Ministry of Agriculture

Gertrude Kambauwa

Director of Land Resources Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture - Department of Land Resources Conservation

Fannie Gondwe

Executive Director, Perisha Agro and Packaging Enterprise

Beatrice Makwenda

Head of Policy & Communication, National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM)

Tanzania Cohort

Raymond Nsiande

Senior Economist, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries

Joseph Kizito Mhagama

Executive Director, RUCODIA, The Parliament of Tanzania

Honest Mseri

Head of Operations, Agricultural Non State Actors Forum-ANSAF

Gaudensia Bakilile

General Manager, G2L Company Limited

Emmanuel Nyanda Enock

Director Of Sector Coordination Department, President'S Office of Regional Administration and Local Government

Ellykedo Ngonyani

Principal Economist, Ministry of Finance and Planning

Elizabeth Swai

Managing Director, AKM Glitters Company Limited

Editrudith Lukanga

Executive Director, Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization (EMEDO)

Kenya Cohort

Thule Lenneiye

Coordinator, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Cooperatives

Tei Mukunya

CEO, NatureLock

Peter Lugendo

President & COO, KICKSTART INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Jacqueline Odundo

Head Legal & Compliance, Warehouse Receipt System Council

Hellen Omondi

Head of Food and Nutrition security, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives

Annah Mukunya Mutinda

Deputy Commissioner for Cooperative Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives

Alex Nene

Senior Associate, Advocacy, East Africa, Rainforest Alliance

Uganda Cohort

Ronald Wabwire

Ag. Head of Portfolio, Agricultural Business Initiative (aBi) Development Limited

Rachel Ajambo

Country Team Leader, Kilimo Trust

Rachel Ciconco Mbabazi

Chairperson, Rice Association of Uganda

Paul Waluube

Managing Director, Pomised Land Educational & Agricultural Development

Narcis Tumushabe

Managing Director, Farm Inputs Care Centre (FICA) Limited

Moses Kasigwa

Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries

Martha Byanyima

Director/owner, Venture37

Lawrence Tusimomuhangi

Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries

Daisy Olyel Aciro

Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

Charles Emongo

Programs Manager, Young Farmers and Entrepreneurs Network YOFENET

Ethiopia Cohort

Semira Mohammed Beyan

Managing Directress, Gate for Opportunity

Rahel Moges Beyene

Founder Managing Director, Ethiogreen Production and Industry PLC

Girma Bekele

Director General, Ministry of Agriculture

Fentahun Mengistu Tiruneh

Country Director, Sasakawa Africa Association

Efa Muleta

Advisory State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture

Esayas Lemma Hayi

Director, Ministry of Agriculture

Anteneh Girma

Senior Technical Expert, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency

Amleset Haile Abreha

Researcher, IWMI

Abrhame Endrias Butta

Founder and Managing Director, Green Agro Solution PLC