New members appointed to World Vegetable Center Board of Directors
“Their scope of experience in shaping Africa’s agricultural strategy and policy will strengthen the Center’s ability to deliver research with impact,” says Marco Wopereis, WorldVeg Director General,
The World Vegetable Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda and Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli to the Center’s Board of Directors. The announcement was made during the 54th meeting of the board, held from 26-29 November 2018 in Arusha, Tanzania.
“Their scope of experience in shaping Africa’s agricultural strategy and policy will strengthen the Center’s ability to deliver research with impact,” said Marco Wopereis, WorldVeg Director General. “We are fortunate to have these dynamic and forward-thinking women to advise us on our strategy and activities.”
Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda joined the World Vegetable Center Board of Directors on 30 November 2018 for a three-year term. Globally, Dr. Sibanda is a recognized leader in agriculture, climate change, and nutrition, and adviser to numerous international food security-related initiatives. She has served as Vice President for Country Support, Policy, and Delivery of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and as the CEO and Head of Mission of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), responsible for coordinating food security policy research and advocacy programs across 17 countries for a food- and nutrition-secure Africa.
She is a member of the Australian Center for Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Policy Advisory Council, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target by 2030 Champions 12.3, a commissioner for the EAT-Lancet Commission on Sustainable Healthy Food Systems, the United Nations (UN) Committee for Policy Development (CDP), and the African Union Commission (AUC) Leadership Council.
She has served as a university professor in agriculture, animal and veterinary sciences and she is a regular guest lecturer at several universities.
Dr. Sibanda has received numerous awards for her contributions to agriculture and food security in Africa, including the Science Diplomacy Award from the Government of South Africa (2015), ARA Award for Exemplary leadership (2014), and Yara 2013 Prize Laureate (2013). She is a trained animal scientist, and holds a BSc from the University of Alexandria, Egypt, and an MSc and PhD from the University of Reading, UK.
Ms. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli is a co-founder of Sahel Consulting and serves as its managing partner. She has 22 years of experience in international development, and through her work with Sahel, she has shaped agriculture strategy and policy in West Africa for private sector, public sector, and development agency clients in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.
She is also the co-founder of AACE Foods, a social enterprise which processes nutritious food made from the best of West Africa’s cereals, herbs, pulses and spices. AACE Foods sources products from smallholder farmers across Nigeria. AACE’s work in promoting nutrition, supporting smallholder farmers, and replacing imports have been recognized by the Africa Diaspora Marketplace, Innovations Against Poverty, and the African Enterprise Challenge Fund. Both firms have served as catalysts in the Nigerian and West African agribusiness landscape.
Ms. Nwuneli is the founder of LEAP Africa, which aims to inspire, empower and equip the next generation of dynamic, principled and innovative young African leaders. Her work has been featured on CNN, BBC and other local and international media outlets and she is a TED Global speaker.
She was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and received a National Honor – Member of the Federal Republic from the Nigerian Government. She was listed as one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa by Forbes and is a 2018 Aspen New Voices Fellow. She serves on numerous international and local boards including Nestle Nigeria Plc., Nigerian Breweries Plc., Globethics.net Switzerland, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. India, Fairfax Africa Holdings Canada, Royal DSM Sustainability Board, Netherlands and the African Philanthropy Forum. She holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
