On April 7-12, 2025, the BKMC joined the inaugural CGIAR Science Week to build partnerships for a food-secure future to elevate agricultural adaptation.
The inaugural CGIAR Science Week 2025 opened on April 7, 2025, at Nairobi’s United Nations Campus with a vibrant Opening Ceremony led by H.E. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General of UNON and Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR. Subsequent plenaries set a transformative tone and unveiled the revamped CGIAR 2025-2030 research portfolio – a roadmap to tackle food security, nutrition and climate adaptation. Through inclusive, science-driven solutions and South-South cooperation. For the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens (BKMC), the CGIAR Science Week was a pivotal moment to advance its mission to elevate agricultural adaptation through strategic partnerships.
The BKMC delegation conducted several bilaterals, shaping the future of agricultural innovation. Notable among these were meetings with Rachel Lambert from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, explore potential synergies and sparked ideas for scalable funding priorities, emphasizing fragility and resilience. Deepening our relationship with our valued partners from CGIAR, the BKMC had discussions with CGIAR’s resource mobilization team to align strategies, and cementing the BKMC’s role in advocacy and youth engagement to ensure innovations reach smallholder farmers.
A Gates Foundation-run COP30 alignment session with Embrapa, CGIAR, UAE, among others helped brainstorm a joint COP30 event in Belém focused on showcasing tested, scalable and impactful nutrition-sensitive agricultural innovations for food security.
On the sidelines of the CGIAR Science Week, the BKMC hosted two significant partnership events: a networking dinner hosted together with the Youth AgriChampions and a field visit to a youth-led organic farm in Githunguri, Kiambu.
Networking Dinner hosted by the BKMC’s Youth AgriChampions
On April 8, the BKMC hosted an invite-only networking dinner. Reflecting the dinner’s theme of “Youth-led Agri-Innovations for a Resilient Future”, the Youth AgriChampions Irene Kagera, Caroline Catherine Wanjiru Moko, Eliseus Bamporineza, and Sumeiya Juma took center stage to lead discussions with key partners over dinner.
Guided by a series of innovative case-study questions, conversations touched upon accessing climate finance, engaging youth in farming, and importantly scaling up agroecological initiatives. As the 2025 Youth AgriChampions theme, guests explored facets of agroecology, exploring challenges and learning from success stories.
The BKMC was grateful that many key partners attended the dinner, including those from CGIAR, the Gates Foundation, Alliance Biodiversity- CIAT, and SDG2 Advocacy Hub. Intended to complement the technical, high-level discussions at CGIAR Science Week, the networking dinner showcased young voices on the ground and connected them to influential stakeholders. Impressing everyone with their stories, knowledge and passion, the Youth AgriChampions were the highlight of the dinner.
Field Visit to youth-led organic farm
On April 9, the BKMC and Youth AgriChampion Felix Atamba hosted a visit to Wing Farm, a youth-led organic farm in Githunguri, Kiambu. Bringing together Youth AgriChampions alumni, donors, scientists, and civil society, the visit showed how young agri-preneurs are pioneering climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices.
Wing Farm is a model of agroecology in action—featuring vertical farming, fruit and tree cultivation, and a circular system where cows provide both natural fertilizer and biogas. The visit offered a powerful glimpse into how young people are leading innovation in food systems and scaling solutions that are both nutritious and climate-smart.
Accompanied by a film crew, the BKMC is looking forward to sharing the footage to amplify the voices of young smallholder farmers on the ground to highlight local perspectives and advocacy efforts for agricultural adaptation in the international fora. In addition, this year, the BKMC’s Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper will focus on the theme of agroecology. Stay tuned for the release of the demand paper at the beginning of September 2025.
Connecting Science and Agricultural Adaptation
On April 10, 2025, BKMC CEO Monika Froehler spoke at CGIAR’s Plenary “Connecting Science”, advocating for resilient, equitable agri-food systems alongside experts like Dr. Paulin Basinga (Gates Foundation). She amplified the BKMC’s global presence and inspired action for food security, starting with smallholder farmers, who produce 80 percent of food in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia but receive only 0.8% of global climate finance. That day, the BMZ-backed CGIAR Flagship Report, Insight to Impact, launched, offering a decision-maker’s guide to food system science and highlighting Germany’s leadership in sustainable agriculture, echoing BKMC’s evidence-based ethos.
The same evening BKMC CEO Monika Froehler, and COO Katre Olmez attended a high-level dinner hosted by the SDG2 Advocacy Hub and AGRA. The dinner was curated and served by Chef Kiran Jethwa involved with the Chefs’ Manifesto, with a menu inspired by CGIAR’s agricultural research. The evening brought together leaders across agriculture sectors to discuss urgent pathways toward ending hunger and transforming food systems. Speakers emphasized the importance of inclusive partnerships, innovation, and putting farmers – especially smallholders, at the center of the agenda.
A highlight on the last day of the CGIAR Science Week was when Youth AgriChampion Eliud Rugut took the stage at a press conference together with CGIAR Executive Managing Director Ismahane Elouafi and Dr Eliud Kiplimo Kireger, the Director General of KALRO. He passionately argued for making farming more attractive to young people, calling for investment in visibility, modern tools, and opportunities. His remarks, captured in an IPS article, reinforced the need to shift perceptions and empower youth as leaders in sustainable agriculture.
Overall, BKMC’s engagement at the Science Week forged powerful partnerships, positioning it as a catalyst for a food-secure, climate-resilient future.
Read more about the BKMC’s agricultural adaptation portfolio here.
See the pictures from CGIAR Science Week here.
