Agnes Kalibata
At a glance
| Known for | President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) from 2014 |
|---|---|
| Earlier role | Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, 2008 to 2014 |
| UN role | Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems Summit |
| Studied | Makerere University; PhD in entomology, University of Massachusetts Amherst |
Source: Wikipedia: Agnes Kalibata; AGRA: Dr Agnes Kalibata; EAT Forum: Dr Agnes Kalibata1,2,3
Early life
Kalibata was born in Rwanda and grew up as a refugee in Uganda, the child of smallholder farmers. She studied entomology and biochemistry, then agriculture, at Makerere University, and earned a PhD in entomology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.1
Minister of Agriculture
As Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources from 2008 to 2014, Kalibata promoted science-based farming, cooperative farming and cow-sharing programmes. During her tenure the agriculture budget grew from under USD 10 million to over USD 150 million, and Rwanda became the first country to sign a compact under the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme. Some human rights groups criticised the link between support and land consolidation policies.1
AGRA and the UN
In September 2014 Kalibata became President of AGRA, an African-led organisation working on the food security and incomes of farming households. The UN Secretary-General named her Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit.1,2,3
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Agnes Kalibata?
A Rwandan agricultural scientist, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources from 2008 to 2014.
What is AGRA?
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Kalibata became its President in September 2014.
What UN role has she held?
UN Special Envoy for the Food Systems Summit in 2021.
Sources
Facts checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information.
