The Technology Validation Committee

This is the TAAT Technology Validation Committee, which has responsibility for vetting and validating the technologies we offer in our e-catalogs.

An automated pre-validation step, based on Scaling Readiness, is used to confer the status of "Pre-validation" for technologies that are ready to scale: both in terms of maturity of the idea, and maturity of the level of use. But for a technology to be fully validated it will need to be reviewed by the Validation Committee which will decide, case-by-case whether technologies can be validated and promoted by TAAT.

To offer validated technologies in the e-catalogs, we recognize the need for flexibility in some cases, and in all cases the need for fairness and impartiality.

This is why the automated vetting needs to be validated by a committee of highly experienced specialists with in-depth knowledge of agricultural technologies and innovations, but neutral in terms of technology production.

The remit of the committee is to ensure that the information submitted in the database is trustworthy and to confirm (or question) the results of the Scaling Readiness score.

Members of the Committee

Dr. David Bergvinson

Dr. Bergvinson is the Senior Advisor to Dev.Global and Founder of BeSustainable.io to deliver science-based solutions to empower farmers. David’s knowledge of Dryland Agriculture (DG of ICRISAT), Digital Agriculture (initiated at BMGF in 2012) and weather insights (Chief Scientist for aWhere) enables him to work with diverse partners to deliver resilient and nutritious food systems across Africa. David's diverse experience in crop improvement, agronomy, pest and disease management, and policy formulation is now being leveraged to scale Regenerative Agriculture in Africa and North America to empower farmers to adapt to climate change and market variability while preserving soils and biodiversity in farming systems.

Dr. Stephen Mugo

Dr. Stephen Mugo is an expert in seed systems and sustainable agriculture with over 40 years of experience across Africa. Since 2020, he has been an independent consultant and Director at the Center for Resilient Agriculture for Africa (CRA-Africa), supporting projects in multiple African countries.

He previously served as CIMMYT Africa Regional Representative and Kenya Country Representative (2014–2020) and was a Principal Scientist and Maize Breeder at CIMMYT (1998-2020). Dr. Mugo has led major maize breeding projects focused on drought tolerance, insect resistance, and high yield, contributing to the release of over 30 improved varieties.

He holds a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from Cornell University and degrees from the University of Missouri, USA and the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Mugo is committed to advancing resilient agriculture and empowering smallholder farmers across Africa.

Dr. Chiji Ojukwu

Dr. Ojukwu is Managing Director, Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC) Abuja, a youth-run organization for youth and women empowerment through training and incubation in agribusiness and creative arts. He is skilled in policy analysis, strategic planning, international development finance, and programme management.

He served at the African Development Bank (AfDB) for 21 years rising to the position of Regional Director for seven Southern African and Indian Ocean Island Countries before retiring in 2018 as the Director, Agriculture & Agroindustry Department. Dr. Chiji led the approval of the AfDB Feed Africa Strategy and spearheaded the establishment of key flagship programmes, including the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), the ENABLE Youth Programme, the Leadership for African Agriculture (L4Ag) Initiative, among others, which have fostered agricultural transformation and brought many African youths and women into agriculture as a career choice. Since retiring from the AfDB, Dr. Chiji established the APDC in Abuja, where the Centre has empowered over 3,000 youths and women in agribusiness and the agro-food sector and over 100 women in the Fashion and Creative Arts industry (Fashionistas) and employs close to 60 youths.

Dr. Chiji Ojukwu has a BSc. in Agriculture from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and MSc. and PhD. in Development Economics & Project Planning from the University of Bradford, UK.

 H.E. Rhoda Tumusiime

H.E. Rhoda Tumusiime is a distinguished leader with over 30 years of expertise driving transformative development across Africa, with a focus on rural advancement, agricultural innovation, gender equity, and sustainable economic growth. She holds a Master’s Degree in Economics, Planning, and Managing Rural Development and served as Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture at the African Union from 2008 to 2017. In this role, she oversaw critical sectors, including crop agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, land, water, environmental conservation, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and rural development. Her strategic vision and commitment to addressing Africa’s food and nutrition security challenges have been instrumental in shaping policies that enhance resilience and self-sufficiency across the continent.

With a proven track record of securing multi-million-dollar funding for impactful development projects, she has driven high-level policy initiatives and fostered powerful international partnerships, advocating for systemic change at global forums such as the G8 and G20. Known for her dedication to youth and women’s empowerment in agribusiness, she champions the establishment of incubation and innovation centers to foster inclusive growth. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of HOPE (Household Opportunities for Poverty Eradication), an organization that supports environmentally sustainable and agriculture-based innovations in Ugandan communities. She also holds board positions in several international organizations, bringing her deep strategic insight, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to the sustainable transformation of global food systems.

Dr. Oumou Modibo Camara

Oumou is driven by impact: impact on farmers' lives, and impact on food insecurity and malnutrition. For almost three decades, that drive has guided her work toward a future where no child goes to bed hungry. An agricultural economist rooted in Mali, she led participatory rural appraisals in 20 villages in Niger with ICRISAT to learn why farmers embrace or reject new technologies, a lesson that shaped her career.

At IFDC, she rose to Vice President of Global Programs and Projects, leading over $232 million in programs across 20+ countries, and at the African Union Commission she helped shape continental fertilizer policy. Today, as Founder and CEO of AbbeLabs, she leads GROW (Gardens for Resilience, Opportunity and Wellbeing), helping children's homes and schools grow their own food. She serves on the Board of the Sasakawa Africa Association and holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University.