Over the past year, the IRC Secretariat has been activated, hosted by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) with contributions from European and African partners. It will support coordination, knowledge management, monitoring and learning, and policy dialogue functions, in line with the IRC Statutes and Strategy adopted in late 2025. The IRC governance bodies, including the General Assembly (GA), Council, External Advisory Committee (EAC), Functional Working Groups (FWGs), and Anchor Institutions, have now been nominated. This Kick-Off Meeting marks their initial collective engagement and the beginning of the collaborative governance phase of the IRC. At the same time, the renewal of the FNSSA Roadmap (2027–2036) is in its final drafting stage and expected to be concluded by May 2026. The IRC is positioned to serve as the institutional bridge between this renewed Roadmap and its implementation, particularly in the lead-up to the anticipated AU–EU Ministerial endorsement moment in November. Objectives of the Kick-Off Meeting This meeting will formally launch the IRC governance phase and position the IRC as a key implementation mechanism for the emerging FNSSA Roadmap 2027-2036. The agenda for the meeting includes: Introduce and orient newly nominated members of the Council, EAC, FWGs, and Anchor Institutions […]