ACIAR launches new Africa office

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in Kenya launched their new offices at Eaton Place, Gigiri, on Monday 10 March 2014.

Dr Simon Carter, IDRC’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa welcomed officials including Dr. Willy Mutunga, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.  Also present was His Excellency David Angell, Canadian High Commissioner, Jean Lebel, IDRC’s President, and His Excellency Geoffrey Tooth, Australian High Commissioner. 

During his speech, Geoff Tooth remarked, “..ACIAR works with national agricultural systems to build capacity and innovation by African scientists and further support to African agricultural research is channelled through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).  In 2012, the AIFSRC went into partnership with the Canadian IDRC to establish and run a CA$ 15 million competitive food security research fund called Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF). We have therefore co-located the regional ACIAR office with IDRC at the Eaton Place in Gigiri for better linkage and management of our programs”.  Geoff Tooth also acknowledged that ACIAR was established using the IDRC models, and that the two organizations have much in common.

Dr Simon Carter, IDRC’s Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, His Excellency Geoffrey Tooth, Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Jean Lebel,  IDRC’s President, Dr. Willy Mutunga,  Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, His Excellency David Angell, Canadian High Commissioner. Credit: Liz Ogutu ACIAR

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