Our Leadership

AGRA’s Board of Directors is a governing body with legal duties and responsibilities. As the governing body for AGRA, the Board is legally accountable for the organization and is required to act in the interests of AGRA’s stakeholders, employees and the public good. In support of these goals, the Board provides strategic guidance to the organization, maintains independent oversight of its financial and programmatic performance, and ensures effective management and governance. In carrying out its mandate, the Board is supported by several internal committees. These include:

Audit Committee

Provides AGRA’s Board of Directors, donors and stakeholders with assurance that AGRA’s financial reporting, internal controls and risk management meet the highest standards, and that AGRA is in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Finance and HR Committee

Responsible for safeguarding AGRA’s financial assets and ensuring the effective and transparent use of AGRA’s financial and human resources.

Nominations and Governance Committee

Responsible for maintaining the quality and effectiveness of AGRA’s Board of Directors, and ensuring that the Board fulfils its legal responsibilities and adheres to guidelines and standards of practice in corporate governance.

Program Committee

Advises the AGRA Board and program leaders on AGRA’s strategic direction, recommends program investments and monitors results.

H.E Hailemariam Dessalegn Board Chair

Board Chair

Thembalihle Hixonia Nyasulu

Co-Chair, Nominations & Governance Committee

Dr. Agnes Kalibata

President

Nick Austin

Board Member

Frank N. J. Braeken

Co-Chair, Finance & Human Resources Committee

Prof. Joachim von Braun

Co-Chair, Programs Committee

H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete

Board Member

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

Board Member

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah

Board Member

Dr. Usha Barwale Zehr

Chair, Audit Committee

Rodger Voorhies

Co-Chair, Nominations & Governance Committee

Josette Sheeran

Co-Chair, Finance & Human Resources Committee

Lionel Zinsou

Board Member

Cristina Duarte

Board Member

Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze

Co-Chair, Program Committee

Ms. Linah Mohohlo

Fred Swaniker

Board Member

In memory of our board member Ms. Linah Mohohlo

The late Ms. Linah Mohohlo from Botswana served as a Member of the AGRA Board of Directors from October 2012 to the time of her passing on 2 June 2021 and she was additionally Chancellor of the University of Botswana, the first woman to be appointed to this role in July 2017.

Linah previously served as the Governor of the Bank of Botswana from 1999 to 2016 and was tireless in her efforts to ensure financial inclusion across Africa during her remarkable tenure. She also previously served as Special Appointee to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and was a member of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC: 2000-02), representing the Africa Group 1 Constituency comprising 21 sub- Saharan African countries.

In his condolence message, the AGRA Board chair H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn remembered Linah for her brilliance, passion and commitment to the improvement of women’s livelihoods in Africa which was encapsulated in her unwavering service on the AGRA Board of Directors for over nine years.