The AFS Forum secretariat is composed of several functions that support the delivery of its mandate:
Our Steering Committee/AFS Forum Partners Group
H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn
Chair, AFS Forum Partners Group
Aline Ruhweza
President, AGRA
Svein Tore Holsether
President and Chief Executive Officer, YARA International
Dr. Beth Dunford
Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, African Development Bank (AfDB)
Prof. Afeikhena JeromeÂ
Special Advisor to the Commissioner, Rural Economy and Agriculture , African Union Commission (AUC)
Juan Lucas Restrepo
Global Director of Partnerships and Advocacy, CGIAR System Organization (CGIAR)
Adesuwa Ifedi
Senior Vice President Africa, Heifer International
Santiago Alba CorralÂ
Director Climate-Resilient Food Systems program, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Dr. Alvaro Lario
President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Nico Janssen
Program Manager Agricultural Livelihoods , IKEA Foundation (IKEA)
Mehdi Filali
Senior Vice President West Africa , OCP Africa (OCP)
William AsikoÂ
Managing Director , The Rockefeller Foundation (RF)
Ishmael Sunga
Chief Executive Officer, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU)
Lauren Good
Manager, Agriculture Livelihood, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Dr. Cyubahiro Marc Bagabe
Minister of Agriculture, Rwanda - Host of the AFS Secretariat
Season 5 Episode 4: Farmer-led food systems transformation with Heifer International CEO Surita Sandosham
byAFS
This episode explores farmer-led food systems transformation with Heifer International CEO Surita Sandosham. We unpack bottom-up innovation, market-driven ecosystems, and gender-responsive approaches that empower women and youth. From AYuTe’s tech innovators to global farmer-centered models, we show why true agricultural resilience begins with farmers designing their own future.