Dr. Enock Warinda appointed substantive ASARECA Executive Director
“His top priority is to crowd-in strategic partnerships and raise the visibility of ASARECA to attract more resources, especially financial resources to enable the Association implement its mandate.”
By Ben Moses Ilakut
ENTEBBE: The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Enock Warinda as the substantive Executive Director of the Association.
Following deliberations during their 31st Ordinary Board of Directors meeting in Entebbe, Uganda on December 13, 14, 2021, the Board unanimously agreed that Dr. Warinda was the best qualified and experienced candidate from a stiff competition that saw over 50 candidates across Africa apply for the position.
Announcing the appointment, the Board of Directors Chairman, Dr. Geoffrey Mkamilo said Dr. Warinda’s job is well cut. “His top priority is to crowd-in strategic partnerships and raise the visibility of ASARECA to attract more resources, especially financial resources to enable the Association implement its mandate,” Dr. Mkamilo highlighted.
Until his appointment, Dr. Warinda has been working as the Interim Executive Director of ASARECA, a portfolio he took over on April 20, 2021 after his predecessor; Prof. Jean Jacques Mbonigaba Muhinda left the Institution.
Serving a mandate defined by the NARS
The new appointment places Dr. Warinda at the helm of the 14-member country institution, with a mandate defined by the National Agricultural Research Systems incorporating Agriculture line ministries; National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs); NGOs with a bias for agricultural research for development; Agricultural Extension Agencies; Associated Agricultural Research Universities; the Private Sector and Agriculture related policy influencers.
Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Warinda said, “The trust that the Board of Directors has given me to steer the Association is simply humbling. In return, I pledge to work with the Board and all stakeholders to take ASARECA to the highest level it has ever reached. I have a good team of staff who shall be a great asset to me on this journey.”
Before elevation as the Interim and finally substantive Executive Director, Dr. Warinda had been serving as Deputy Executive Director, ASARECA since November 1, 2019.
Well suited for the job
He has a PhD in Agricultural Economics and a Master of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation (among other qualifications), and substantial experience in ASARECA, the Eastern and Central Africa sub-region as well as within the Continental AR4D sphere.
He has worked in the AR4D arena for the last 24years. He served the Association from February 2010 to August 2015 before leaving ASARECA briefly to join the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) in South Africa as the Work Package Manager.
Thereafter, he joined the Continental AR4D apex body, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) as the Lead Specialist – Monitoring and Evaluation, before rejoining ASARECA in November 2017 to continue serving the Eastern and Central Africa sub-region as the Head of Programs as well as Theme Leader—Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management in ASARECA.
Harnessing resources for joint action
The appointment comes at the time when ASARECA is aggressively making a case for unflinching commitments by the African Governments to finance regionally facilitated AR4D agenda to enhance food and nutrition security as well as boost the livelihoods of smallholder farming households.
ASARECA is also making a case to the Development Partners to complement Government efforts to address trans-boundary issues such as pests and diseases, trade policies, access to markets, and generation and transfer of priority regional and national technologies and innovations, among others. Dr. Warinda shall focus on achieving the ASARECA mandate, alongside its vision, mission and strategic objectives.