Adam Gerstenmier

I’m delighted to share several appointments that strengthen the @gatesfoundation efforts to improve lives. Dr. Sri Mulyani Indrawati joins our Governing Board, bringing experience from the World Bank, IMF, and as Indonesia’s longest-serving Minister of Finance. Internally, @MHariMenon is elevated to President of our Global Growth and Opportunity Division and our CSO @AnkurVora1 also takes on the role of President of our newly-created Africa & India Offices Division. At a moment of both urgency and opportunity across global health and development, these leaders strengthen our connection to local work and bring critical international perspectives. I’m grateful to Sri, Hari, and Ankur for stepping into these roles, and I look forward to working together as we continue advancing the foundation’s mission. gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-ce…

"We don’t need any more tools, frameworks or paper. We need to implement it. We have institutions. Fix them. They are ours. Own them. Don’t look to the outside. Look to the inside." - H.E. @AminaJMohammed #ASG #AfricaRenaissanceGroup

Congratulations to our ASG MPA Pioneer Cohort! You are officially matriculated as our inaugural class and we could not be happier to start this journey with you. Yesterday was a moment that will forever be part of our ASG story and legacy. Thank you to our extraordinary first class, the MPA Pioneers, and our ASG heroes: the visionary founders, faculty, and staff. In their pledge, our pioneers committed to “serve Africa with integrity whilst sharpening their skills to turn ideas into meaningful impact in the years ahead at ASG.” With this vow, their journey to transforming Leadership on the continent begins. Congratulations to the Pioneering Cohort, Faculty, and Staff on this milestone! #ASGMatriculation #MPAPioneers #ASGPioneers #AfricanGovernance #ASG

“Why does a school like this matter? The answer is simple: Africa deserves focus and deep study, and that should be done by you, our youth and our future. Unlike anywhere else, your education here will challenge you to think critically and practically about how to move our continent forward. Do not be a spectator. Be prepared to go out and lead, because you are exactly who Africa needs. Make the most of your time here. Our hope is that soon, when your countries look to you for answers, you will be ready.” President Kagame | ASG Matriculation Ceremony for Pioneer Cohort of MPA Program

Today at #UNFSS+4 in Addis Ababa, I will share how #SierraLeone—under the leadership of H.E President @julius_maadabio—has succeeded in making #FeedSalone a national food systems transformation agenda. Honoured to open the session with my counterpart from the Solomon Islands. #UNFSS #FoodSystemsTransformation @FAO @FAOSierraLeone

This afternoon, H.E. President @julius_maadabio’s cabinet approved a major boost to the poultry sector. Among its measures: one locally produced egg per child (ages 3–6) will be provided daily through the MBSSE school feeding program. This is a game-changer. It will drive up local egg production, stimulate jobs and investment across the poultry value chain, and provide thousands of children with a rich daily source of protein, vitamins, and key micronutrients. It’s better nutrition. It’s improved learning outcomes for our children. #FeedSalone is truly an “all-of-government” agenda. We will feed and nourish Salone—together.

Africa has 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land yet imports $45B in food annually. 🌱 This contradiction represents our greatest challenge & most significant opportunity. My vision: scaling agribusiness, financing infrastructure & implementing climate-smart practices. 🌍

Great opportunity with ⁦@_AfricanFood⁩ ⬇️ Check it out today if interested in developing the best network, knowledge, & skills for #foodsystems transformation. ⁦@ryaf_agribiz⁩ ⁦@TheAGRF⁩ ⁦@AGRA_Africa⁩ ⁦@GoGettazAfrica⁩ ⁦@RDBrwanda⁩ ⁦

Revolutionizing food systems means reducing poverty and improving millions of lives. Through inclusive agricultural transformation, AGRA is driving sustainable food systems across Africa. Ahead of #UNFSS+4, its mission will inspire greater action.

Amazing opportunity to be part of the inaugural MPA class @ASG_Africa! For anyone looking for a world class applied degree program to help take on some of the continent’s greatest challenges & opportunities. #ApplyNow @africaprogress @AcetforAfrica @africaceoforum @ECA_OFFICIAL

“The first step for Africa to reclaim its greatness is to build an understanding and appreciation of its history, political economy and empowered mindsets in its leaders. Basing on this solid foundation, leaders can then shape Africa’s trajectory,” asserted H.E. @HMDessalegn.

And that's a wrap on an unforgettable day!🎊 A special thank you to our partners, attendees, and leaders who made the #ASGLaunch a success. Your passion and commitment are the driving force of this transformative journey to redefine #GovernanceInAfrica! #ASG4Africa

African Ministers of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs convene in Kampala to shape the next ten-year strategy for agriculture and food systems in Africa, in preparation for an African Union extraordinary summit of Heads of State. Despite the various challenges, the CAADP agenda has proven to be, one of the African Union's most impactful policy frameworks in transforming food systems in Africa. With a much stronger foundation than when the Maputo Declaration was made 20 years ago, I am confident that this 10-year strategy will drive significant progress by adopting a food systems perspective and all-of-government approach for its implementation. Thank you @FrankTumwebazek for leading the process to draft the strategy and @josefaSacko for organising this well timed event.

Honored to be appointed President of @AGRA_Africa ; agra.org/news/agra-appo…

CAADP SUMMIT is here ! Republic of Uganda is set & ready to host @_AfricanUnion CAADP Kampala Summit from 9-11 Jan 2025. AU Heads of State & Government, Ministers, high level dignitaries and over 2000 delegates will be in attendance Join the conversation #CAADPKampala25

We’re thrilled to welcome @MarkNkurunziza as VP of Finance & Operations! With 25+ years’ of leadership at @MTNRwanda , @RDBrwanda & @FlyRwandAir, Mark will enhance ASG’s mission to develop transformative African leaders. #GovernanceinAfrica #ASG4Africa

As a leader of any important and strategic institution with legacy implications, your first job is to make a strategic choice: to succeed! The next is to answer the question: what does success look like? Then you ask yourself: are you here to lead with a vision and drive the organization for success, or is this “a job” you want to cling on to with its salary and so “play safe”, succumbing to bureaucratic-inertia thinking, business-as-usual or low-level ambition, or instead inspiring your team and infusing a bold vision in them that is shared by all? The next step is to define the initial conditions for success. MAKE SURE YOU ESTABLISH THESE CONDITIONS! Fight (with wisdom but courage) ANYTHING that threatens these initial conditions being put on the ground, for this is the key to the success or failure of the mission. I believe the most important initial condition is, first, the space to lead effectively and execute your job description but with accountability, and then , second, building THE RIGHT TEAM ( for no one succeeds alone). Once these initial conditions are in place, the likelihood of mission success is 90%. Go ahead and execute the rest of the leadership and governance strategy for your mission, whatever that mission may be. #LeadershipMatters #Strategy

I joined our partners @IFAD, @WorldBank, @EUinSierraLeone, @WFPS_Leone, @FAOSierraLeone & others at the Agricultural Sector Donor Working Group on #FeedSalone progress & scaling our initiatives together. Partners have answered @PresidentBio's call to #FeedSalone, and they are doing it through resources and technical support. Our goal in 2025 is to work harder together to coordinate the sector better for bigger and lasting impact our #SierraLeone’s #foodsystems.

During the weekend I was received by H. E. @HMDessalegn , former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Co-Founder ( with H.E. @PaulKagame ) of the African School of Governance @ASG_Africa , at his office in Kigali. I briefed PM Dessalegn on progress with full operationalization of the ASG in the year ahead. He gave me wise counsel and reiterated his support for my leadership of ASG. After his time in office as PM of Ethiopia (2012-2018), the senior statesman and former Chairman of @_AfricanUnion has remained active in providing leadership to several international initiatives and organizations including @AGRA_Africa whose board he also chairs. The vision of the ASG Co-Founders for the university, its role and future impact is a powerful one that I fully share, and one we intend to achieve. I was earlier received by @PaulKagame @UrugwiroVillage on 26 November. #TransformingGovernance #InspiringChange @Diop_IFC @DonaldKaberuka @mahbubani_k @HajerGueldich @Francis_Gatare @DrSenait @LopesInsights @reetaroymcf @MastercardFdn @LKYSch

I have had the God-given, rare privilege to have had a multidimensional professional career. I’ve been a lawyer, journalist, UN diplomat, strategy, risk management and investment consultant, political economist, central bank governor, professor, politician, philanthropist, author, traditional title holder (cultural governance), international keynote speaker, corporate board chairman and director, leader of men and women. But I consider my current role as President (Vice-Chancellor) @ASG_Africa as perhaps the most important role I have had, possibly as a result of all the previous roles. That’s because the vision and mission of ASG is truly profound: a prosperous, stable Africa governed by men and women with the MINDSET (of purpose-driven leadership), knowledge and skills to tackle Africa’s challenges, seize its opportunities, and change our continent’s narrative. As H.E. @PaulKagame , President of Rwanda and Co-Founder of ASG put it when he received me @UrugwiroVillage earlier this week, the African School of Governance was founded to answer the question: “How do we change Africa’s reality?”. This is a profound vision and task. As I embark on my new role, along with the brilliant colleagues working with me and who we are assembling from all corners of the world to build a world-class university that will train leaders who can actually govern our continent’s public, private sector and social spaces, I have a sense of mission and faith in God. This assignment matters because leadership and GOVERNANCE are and have been Africa’s biggest challenge. We fix it now and in the coming generation , we fix all the other problems we treat as silos and have thus far not succeeded to the extent we should have - security, wealth creation that lifts the hundreds of millions of our poor from poverty into the middle class, jobs, physical and social infrastructure (healthcare, education, potable water supply, and life expectancy), macroeconomic management, and a successful blending of business, the state, and society. #Worldview #Legacy