Alice Ruhweza: A New Era for AGRA

Nairobi, Kenya – The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has announced Alice Ruhweza as its next president. Ruhweza, currently serving as the Senior Director for Global Policy Influence and Engagement at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF International), will assume her new role on March 1st, 2025. She succeeds Agnes Kalibata, who has led AGRA for the past decade. This appointment marks a significant transition for AGRA, bringing in a leader with a wealth of experience in conservation, sustainable development, and international cooperation.  

A Leader in Conservation and Sustainable Development

Alice Ruhweza is a recognized global thought leader and international development expert with over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of climate change, development, and the environment. Her career has spanned across multiple continents, including Africa, Europe, and North America, where she has held leadership positions in government, the private sector, the United Nations, and large international NGOs.  

Ruhweza’s passion for conservation stems from her childhood in Uganda. Her father, the Chief Game Warden in Uganda, instilled in her a deep appreciation for wildlife and the environment. This early exposure shaped her career path and fueled her commitment to balancing the needs of people and the environment.  

Ruhweza’s expertise lies in integrating environmental considerations into development strategies. She is a strong advocate for the critical role that inclusive agri-food systems play in combating climate change, reversing environmental degradation, and delivering nutrition security and improved livelihoods for millions of Africans. Furthermore, she recognizes the importance of community engagement in conservation efforts, particularly in the African context where people and ecosystems have evolved together. She believes that conservation in Africa must be people-centered, acknowledging the dependence of over 50% of the African population on nature for their livelihoods.  

Before joining WWF, Ruhweza served as Vice President of Programs and Partnerships with Conservation International. In this role, she led a science-policy interface that provided data and diagnostic tools to inform agricultural decisions and monitor outcomes around the world. She also served as the Team Leader and Technical Adviser for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Global Environmental Finance Unit, where she led a team of technical advisors supporting 44 countries in attracting and driving over US $1 billion in public and private finance towards their sustainable development priorities. In addition to these roles, Ruhweza served as co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Aquaculture 2030 Working Group and as a member of the European Commission’s High-Level Expert Group on Scaling up Sustainable Finance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICS). These experiences demonstrate her commitment to finding innovative solutions for sustainable development challenges.  

A Passion for Africa’s Growth

Ruhweza’s passion for Africa’s sustainable growth is evident throughout her career. As Regional Director for Africa at WWF, she led the organization’s work across the continent, overseeing a regional program comprising 14 countries and over 600 staff. She played a key role in shaping Africa’s sustainability agenda domestically and globally, ensuring that conservation efforts are aligned with the continent’s development goals. At WWF, she led the design of a new conservation framework that brings together work at national, transboundary, and global levels, emphasizing a strategic and interconnected approach to conservation.  

Ruhweza is a firm believer in data-driven decision-making. During her time at Conservation International, she championed data-driven policy-making as Executive Director of the Vital Signs Programme. She has consistently emphasized the importance of understanding the incentives that drive shifts towards integrated approaches to food and the environment, and the need for reliable data to support these shifts.  

This passion for Africa’s growth is supported by Ruhweza’s strong academic background and extensive experience in the field.

Education and Recognition

Ruhweza holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics. She has also pursued leadership certifications from prestigious institutions like the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Oxford University’s Said Business School. Furthermore, she has attained the United Nations System Mastermind in Sustainable Development Leadership. Her LinkedIn profile provides further details of her extensive professional journey.  

Her contributions to sustainable development and conservation have earned her recognition and accolades. She is a Senior Fellow of the Aspen Institute’s New Voices Program, a Henry Arnhold Conservation Fellow, a Forest Trends Fellow, and a fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar. She also serves on the Board of the CGIAR and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Nature and Security.  

Vision for AGRA

Ruhweza steps into her new role at a critical time for African agriculture. The continent faces challenges such as economic volatility, geopolitical tensions, and climate change, all of which threaten food security and sustainable development. Ruhweza recognizes the urgency and ambition required in the next five years to achieve sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in Africa. Her experience in bridging conservation and development agendas uniquely positions her to lead AGRA in tackling these complex and interconnected challenges.  

Ruhweza’s vision for AGRA is rooted in her belief that agri-food systems are Africa’s biggest lever for economic growth, job creation, livelihood improvement, and addressing climate change. She aims to build on the foundation laid by her predecessor, Agnes Kalibata, and drive AGRA’s mission to catalyze agricultural transformation and food security across Africa.  

Key elements of her vision include:

• Bold investments: Promoting investments in research and development, innovative technologies, and inclusive, climate-smart, and environmentally friendly farming practices.  
• Comprehensive extension services: Advocating for more comprehensive extension services to support farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.  
• Coherent policy frameworks: Working towards policy frameworks that are coherent and aligned to support agricultural transformation.  
• Leveraging technology and finance: Exploring emerging technologies and innovative financing mechanisms to address critical challenges in African agriculture.  

Ruhweza’s appointment comes at a time when African leaders are convening to adopt the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy and action plan for 2026-2035. Her leadership will be crucial in ensuring that AGRA plays a pivotal role in shaping this strategy and driving agricultural transformation across the continent.  

Building on a Strong Foundation

Agnes Kalibata, the outgoing president of AGRA, has led the organization for the past decade, overseeing significant progress in agricultural development across Africa. Kalibata, an agricultural scientist and policymaker from Rwanda, has a distinguished track record in driving agricultural transformation. During her tenure as Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources from 2008 to 2014, she spearheaded programs that transformed Rwanda from a food-insecure to a food-secure nation.  

Kalibata’s leadership at AGRA has focused on catalyzing and sustaining an inclusive agricultural transformation aimed at increasing incomes and enhancing food security in 12 countries. She has been a strong advocate for smallholder farmers and has played a key role in promoting innovative solutions to address the challenges facing African agriculture. From 2019-2021, Dr. Kalibata also served as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, further demonstrating her commitment to global food security.  

Beyond her professional achievements, Kalibata has a deep personal commitment to education and social development. Growing up as a refugee in Uganda, she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education, particularly for girls. This experience has shaped her dedication to empowering women and ensuring equal access to opportunities.  

Alice Ruhweza’s appointment as AGRA’s new president brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to the organization. Her leadership in conservation, sustainable development, and international cooperation will be instrumental in guiding AGRA’s efforts to transform African agriculture and ensure food security for millions. Her emphasis on data-driven decision-making and her experience with innovative financing mechanisms could bring a new approach to AGRA’s operations, potentially leading to more efficient and impactful programs.  

Ruhweza’s expertise in environmental sustainability is poised to significantly influence AGRA’s approach to agricultural development. By integrating conservation principles into AGRA’s programs, she can promote climate-resilient and environmentally friendly practices that benefit both farmers and the environment. This integrated approach, combined with her focus on inclusive agri-food systems, has the potential to create a more sustainable and equitable agricultural sector in Africa.  

As she takes on this new challenge, Ruhweza is poised to build on the strong foundation laid by Agnes Kalibata and steer AGRA towards a future of sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth in Africa. Sources and related content