CIRAD - French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development, France

CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) is a public establishment (EPIC) under the joint authority of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It's mandate is to contribute to the sustainable development of rural areas in tropical and sub-tropical regions through development-oriented research in environment, agriculture, forestry, livestock and agribusiness. It works with its partners in southern countries to generate and pass on new knowledge to support agricultural development and puts its scientific and institutional expertise at the disposal of policymakers in those countries and in global debates on the main issues concerning agriculture. It also supports French scientific diplomacy operations. CIRAD has a network of partners on three continents, with regional offices, from which it works with more than 100 countries. Its long-term partnership strategy centres on platforms in partnership for research and training (dPs), associating 200 organizations in southern countries, to which 200 of its researchers are assigned (50% in Africa, 25% in Asia and 25% in South America).

In Western Africa, CIRAD is deployed in Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Chad and Togo. Its hosting five partnership poles where collaborative research and development are conducted with local institutions:

Agro-silvo-pastoral systems in Western Africa (ASAP)
Pastoralism and dry lands (PPZS)
Innovation and breeding in Western Africa (IAVAO)
Design of agro-ecological systems for the management of bio-aggressors and the use of organic residues (DIVECOSYS)
Information for food security (ISA)

Role in the project

CIRADs contribution to SustainSahel will be concentrated in WP4.

Key persons involved

Dr. Olivier Roupsard: WP4
Dr. Alain Audebert: WP4
Dr. Christophe Jourdan: WP4
Dr. Louise Leroux: WPs 4 and 7