Governance | MwAPATA Institute

MwAPATA Institute Governance

The Institute is guided by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Board. The Boards are made up of members from key stakeholders in the agricultural sector and balanced in terms of skills, knowledge and experience from the public sector, private sector, civil society and development partners in the agricultural/agrifood system.

Please learn more from the MwAPATA Institute organogram showing the technical interaction/guidance provided by the Advisory Board (dashed lines) as well as management levels and reporting hierarchy (solid lines).

Board of Directors

Prof. Richard Mkandawire - Chairperson, Board of Directors

Prof. Mkandawire has over 40 years’ experience in development policy and academia. Prof Mkandawire was recently appointed to the External Advisory Committee of the African Union – European Union International Research Consortium on Food and Nutritional Security for Sustainable Agriculture. Prof Mkandawire chaired Malawi’s National Planning Commission from 2017, overseeing the rollout of Malawi2063. Prof Mkandawire recently retired as the Africa Director of the Alliance for African Partnership. Prof Mkandawire also worked as Vice President of the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership where he led a team of experts in driving innovative interventions for efficient and effective delivery of fertilizers among smallholder famers in Africa.

Dr. Agnes Mwangwela - Member, Board of Directors

Dr. Mwangwela is a seasoned researcher and a food scientist with 26 years' experience in university teaching at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) with additional experience in domestic and international partnership engagements. Dr Mwangwela is currently serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor of LUANAR. She has previously served in several university leadership positions ranging from Head of Home Economics Department, Chairperson of Deans, College Director of LUANAR-Bunda Campus. Dr Mwangwela holds a Ph.D. in Food Science from University of Pretoria, an MSc. and BSc. from the University of Malawi. She is a recipient of The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship among other awards.

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Dr. Yanira Ntupanyama - Member, Board of Directors

Dr. Ntupanyama is currently serving as Chairperson of the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority. She recently retired from the public service, where her last position was Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change. Dr Ntupanyama has previously served as Chief Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. She also served as Director of Environmental Affairs. Dr Ntupanyama holds a PhD in Horticultural Sciences specialized in socioeconomic, fruit analysis, and propagation of indigenous fruit trees. She also has an Msc. in Forestry and Range Management; a Bsc. in Agriculture; and a Diploma in Environment Law Making and Negotiations of all Environmental Conventions. Her ambition is to address clean energy, waste management and phase out plastics and burnt bricks.

Prof. Thom Jayne - Member, Board of Directors

Prof Jayne is University Foundation Professor Emeritus of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University (MSU). Prof Jayne is a Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association and Distinguished Fellow of the African Association of Agricultural Economists. His work spans numerous topics, including food marketing and price policies, changes in land use patterns, sustainable intensification, employment, and rural transformation. Prof Jayne has played a major role in building MSU’s partnerships with African agricultural policy research institutes. Prof Jayne was a founding Co-Director of the Alliance for African Partnership at MSU. Prof Jayne previously served as the Principal Investigator of the MwAPATA Institute providing technical strategic direction by working closely with the Institute’s senior management.

Mr. Chancellor Kaferapanjira - Member, Board of Directors and Advisory Board Member

Mr. Kaferapanjira previously served as Chief Economic Advisor to the State President of the Republic of Malawi. Mr Kaferapanjira also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI). His job at MCCCI involved influencing change in the business environment landscape in Malawi through lobbying various levels of government and through advocacy. Before joining MCCCI, Mr Kaferapanjira served as Deputy General Manager of Malawi Investment Promotion Agency (current Malawi Investment and Trade Centre). Mr Kaferapanjira holds an MSc in Strategic Management; MSc in Economic Management and Policy; Bachelor of Commerce (Business Administration); Diploma in Business Studies; and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

Prof. Lewis Dzimbiri - Member, Board of Directors

Prof. Dzimbiri is a professor of public administration and management at the University of Malawi’s School of Law, Economics and Government. Prof Dzimbiri is currently serving as the Council Chairperson for the Malawi School of Government. Prof Dzimbiri is a seasoned academician, management educator, trainer, researcher, facilitator and consultant with three decades of experience in the public, private and non-governmental organizations in Malawi and beyond. His research areas include human resource management and development; organization and management; industrial relations; and performance management. Prof Dzimbiri previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Prof Dzimbiri holds a PhD in Industrial Relations, (Keele-UK); MSc HRD (Manchester-UK); and BA Public Administration (Chancellor College-MW).