About the BecA-ILRI Hub

The Biosciences eastern and central Africa-International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub is a shared agricultural research and biosciences platform located at and managed by ILRI in Nairobi, Kenya. The platform increases access to world class laboratories for African and international scientists conducting research on African agricultural challenges.

The BecA-ILRI Hub was established as part of the African Union/ New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AU/NEPAD) African Biosciences Initiative (ABI). It was developed within the framework of NEPAD’s Centers of Excellence for Science and Technology and the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), and in alignment with regional priorities set by Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA).

All research projects implemented at the BecA-ILRI Hub are directed towards delivering products to help improve food and nutritional security in Africa.

Mission

The BecA-ILRI Hub’s mission is mobilizing bioscience for Africa’s development, by providing a centre for excellence in agricultural biosciences. This enables research, capacity building and product incubation, conducted by scientists in Africa and for Africa, and empowers African institutions to harness innovations for regional impacts in improved agricultural productivity, income, and food and nutritional security.

BecA Countries

The countries include Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

BecA Regional Nodes

A number of regional institutes have offered their facilities for regional use. The Hub will continue to work with each node to build relevant resources and capacity for the implementation of research projects:

• University of Buea, Cameroon
• Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia
• National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda
• Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Rwanda
• University of Nairobi
• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology