Back

Who we are

With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Lilia Bliznashka

Lily Bliznashka is a Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit. Her research focuses on assessing the effectiveness of multi-input nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions and the mechanisms through which they work to improve maternal and child health and nutrition globally. She has worked in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Back

What we do

Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

Where we work

Back

Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 480 employees working in over 70 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

IFPRI @ 9th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference

Strengthening Value Chains for Inclusive Growth in Kenya

Mombasa

Kenya

May 20 to 22, 2026

  • 8:30 – 5:30 pm (Africa/Nairobi)
  • 1:30 – 10:30 am (US/Eastern)
  • 11:00 – 8:00 pm (Asia/Kolkata)

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the 9th edition of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) Annual Regional Conference, taking place May 20–22, 2026 in Mombasa, Kenya.

The 2026 conference theme is Strengthening Value Chains for Inclusive Growth in Kenya. The KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference is Kenya’s foremost platform for evidence-based policy dialogue. The 9th edition focuses on unlocking inclusive growth through strengthened value chains, specifically in Agricultural Value Chains, Industrial Value Chains, Emerging Sectors, Innovation and Investment, Policy Reform, and Inclusive Growth.

May 20, 2026


Sub Theme 1: Status of Kenya’s Priority Value Chains | Status of Kenya’s Priority Value Chains: Agricultural Value Chains | 11:10 – 12:40 (Africa/Nairobi)

  • Strengthening Country Level Evidence for Agricultural Transformation in Kenya: Sedi Boukaka, Research Coordinator, IFPRI

May 21, 2026


Sub Theme 2: Policy Reform and Implementation to Enhance Value Chain Development | High Level Policy Dialogue on Value Chains | 08:40 – 10:10 (Africa/Nairobi)

  • Systematic Risk Profiling: Assessing Compounding Economic Risks in Developing Countries: James Thurlow, Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling (FPM), IFPRI
  • Barriers and Opportunities for Youth in Kenya’s Agrifood Value Chains: Findings from Qualitative Research: Harriet Mawia, Research Officer, IFPRI

Sub Theme 3: Emerging and Future Value Chains | Artificial Intelligence and Digital Services to Enhance Value Chain Development (backward and forward linkages) | 15:30 – 17:00 (Africa/Nairobi)

  • Democratizing Economic Models: Launching RIAPA-AI for Kenya: James Thurlow, Director, Foresight and Policy Modeling (FPM), IFPRI

May 22, 2026


Sub Theme 5: Investment and Financing for Value Chains | The Role Financing in Enhancing the Development of Value Chains | 09:50 – 11:00 (Africa/Nairobi)

  • See it Grow: A Randomized Evaluation of a Digital Innovation to Improve Crop Insurance Contract Design: Berber Kramer, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Sub Theme 6: Inclusive and Sustainable Strategies | Inclusive and Sustainable Strategies to Enhance Participation of Women Youth PWDs and the Marginalized Along the Value Chains | 14:00 – 15:00 (Africa/Nairobi)

  • Avocados, Jobs, and Digitalization: Insights from Kenya: Michael Keenan, Research Fellow, IFPRI
  • Challenging the Narratives: Youth Participation in Agrifood Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Josphat Korir, Research Officer, IFPRI