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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Ahmed Akhter

researcher spotlight

Akhter Ahmed

Akhter Ahmed is a Senior Research Fellow in the IFPRI’s Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit and Country Representative for IFPRI Bangladesh. He has worked on strategies for agricultural and rural development, social protection, and women’s empowerment to reduce poverty, food insecurity, and undernutrition in developing countries including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Malawi, the Philippines, and Turkey.

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

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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experts

Innovation Policy and Scaling

David Spielman

Director, Innovation Policy and Scaling (IPS)

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Bio

David J. Spielman is the director of IFPRI’s Innovation Policy and Scaling Unit and has been with the institute since 2004. His research agenda covers a range of topics including agriculture and rural development policy; agricultural science, technology, and innovation; plant genetic resources and seed systems; agricultural extension and advisory services; and community-driven rural development. David was most recently based in Kigali, Rwanda, where he led the Rwanda Strategy Support Program.  From 2016 to 2020, David managed IFPRI’s research theme on science, technology, and innovation policy from its headquarters in Washington, DC, and contributed to research projects in Asia and Africa. From 2004 to 2010, he was based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he was part of IFPRI’s work on strengthening agricultural innovation systems. Earlier in his career, David worked on agriculture and rural development issues for the World Bank (Washington, DC), the Aga Khan Development Network (Pakistan), and several other organizations. David received a PhD in Economics from American University in 2003, an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics in 1993, and a BA in International Relations from Tufts University in 1992.

Languages Spoken: English, Urdu

Publications

Google Scholar

RePEc Author Profile

CGIAR Seed Equal Initiative

CV

Publications

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Opinion Piece

How misinformation and mismatched expectations reduce adoption of improved seeds

2025Miehe, Caroline; Nabwire, Leocardia; Sparrow, Robert; Spielman, David J.; Van Campenhout, Bjorn
Details

How misinformation and mismatched expectations reduce adoption of improved seeds

Often presented as game-changing solutions, agricultural technologies like improved seeds or fertilisers can lead farmers to adopt one at the expense of others, only to disadopt when the expected gains, based on overly optimistic assumptions about reduced need for complementary inputs, fail to materialise.

Year published

2025

Authors

Miehe, Caroline; Nabwire, Leocardia; Sparrow, Robert; Spielman, David J.; Van Campenhout, Bjorn

Citation

Miehe, Caroline; Nabwire, Leocardia; Sparrow, Robert; Spielman, David; and Van Campenhout, Bjorn. 2025. How misinformation and mismatched expectations reduce adoption of improved seeds. VoxDev article published online May 21, 2025. https://voxdev.org/topic/agriculture/how-misinformation-and-mismatched-expectations-reduce-adoption-improved-seeds

Country/Region

Uganda

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Agricultural Technology; Farm Inputs; Farmers; Seeds

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Project

Seed Equal

Record type

Opinion Piece

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Journal Article

Inclusive and gender-transformative seed systems: Concepts and applications

2025Galiè, Alessandra; Kramer, Berber; Spielman, David J.; Kawarazuka, Nozomi; Rietveld, Anne M.; Aju, Stellamaris
Details

Inclusive and gender-transformative seed systems: Concepts and applications

CONTEXT Seed is vital to the nutrition and livelihoods of millions of women and men small-scale farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Seed systems interventions can significantly enhance food security and nutrition by accelerating the adoption of improved varieties and the use of quality seed, which in turn increase the rate of genetic gain, productivity, and household welfare. These interventions can be particularly effective when advancing gender equality by supporting women’s empowerment and addressing discriminatory gender norms. However, there is relatively little evidence on the ways in which seed systems can be an entry point for advancing gender equality by transforming discriminatory gender norms. OBJECTIVES We develop and illustrate a gender transformative approach applied to seed sector development. Our first objective is to provide a framework to better understand how seed systems interventions can contribute to gender equality by (1) integrating gender-accommodative and gender-transformative approaches; and (2) assessing their gendered impacts. Our second objective is to apply this framework to a particular innovation – gender messaging via information and communications technologies (ICTs) – and explore how seed system interventions can be made more gender-transformative. METHODS We first reviewed the existing literature to develop a framework that defines gender-transformative and accommodative seed system interventions and their impacts. We then synthesized lessons learned from the application of this framework to case studies from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda that used ICTs that contained gendered components. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION We discuss how a gender-accommodative approach aims for gender considerations to improve seed systems, while a gender-transformative approach flips the goal around by aiming at progress toward gender equality through seed systems. We find growing evidence on the potential of gender-transformative seed systems interventions to influence positively the empowerment of women and also men, and to create more conducive gender norms, as shown by three case studies on ICT enablers. These case studies also show that accommodative and transformative approaches are often complementary. SIGNIFICANCE We introduce research questions that research and development practitioners can ask to develop accommodative or transformative approaches in seed system interventions, and show the potential of both approaches to progress toward gender equality. The case studies indicate the feasibility of gender-transformative, ICT-enabled seed system interventions, with clear indications of the potential for low-cost adaptation at scale. However, the transformative potential of these interventions requires careful consideration of messaging content, format, and context, as well as strategic public investment and strong political will.

Year published

2025

Authors

Galiè, Alessandra; Kramer, Berber; Spielman, David J.; Kawarazuka, Nozomi; Rietveld, Anne M.; Aju, Stellamaris

Citation

Galiè A., Kramer, B., Spielman, D.J., Kawarazuka, N., Rietveld, A. and Aju, S. 2025. Inclusive and gender-transformative seed systems: Concepts and applications. Agricultural Systems 226: 104320

Country/Region

Ethiopia; Kenya; Uganda

Keywords

Tanzania; Africa; Eastern Africa; Southern Africa; Gender; Crops; Research

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104320 Source record

Project

Market Intelligence

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Fertilizer policy reforms in the midst of crisis: Evidence from Rwanda

2025Spielman, David J.; Mugabo, Serge; Rosenbach, Gracie; Ndikumana, Sosthene; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Ingabire, Chantal
Details

Fertilizer policy reforms in the midst of crisis: Evidence from Rwanda

Fertilizer subsidies are a prominent feature of many agricultural development strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, but few countries have the necessary data to make rapid decisions about their management in the face of exogenous shocks. This was the case in Rwanda following the rapid increase in international fertilizer prices in 2021–22. Working within a constrained fiscal space that followed the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Rwanda aimed to revise its fertilizer subsidy system to accommodate higher fertilizer import prices without compromising progress against its agricultural growth targets. This paper explores both the economic analysis and policy process that shaped decision-making around Rwanda’s fertilizer subsidy system during the period 2020–23. The paper centers on the design and application of a microsimulation model that estimated—almost in real time—the impact of increased fertilizer prices on crop production during this period. It then explores the policy outcomes that followed, emphasizing the scope for subsidy reductions even in the midst of crisis, the critical importance of strengthening agricultural data systems, and lessons for countries facing similar challenges.

Year published

2025

Authors

Spielman, David J.; Mugabo, Serge; Rosenbach, Gracie; Ndikumana, Sosthene; Benimana, Gilberthe Uwera; Ingabire, Chantal

Citation

Spielman, David J.; Mugabo, Serge; Rosenbach, Gracie; Ndikumana, Sosthene; Benimana, Gilberthe; and Ingabire, Chantal. 2025. Fertilizer policy reforms in the midst of crisis: Evidence from Rwanda. Food Policy 133(May 2025): 102823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102823

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Fertilizers; Reforms; Subsidies; Data; Shock; Agricultural Development

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102823 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

Agrifood science in transition: Building a sustainable architecture in the face of declining development aid
IFPRI Blog
 | 
May 16, 2025

Agrifood science in transition: Building a sustainable architecture in the face of declining development aid

By Steven Were Omamo and David Spielman

Navigating a challenging new environment.

‘Miracle seeds,’ informational curses? The risk of high expectations for new agricultural technologies
IFPRI Blog
 | 
June 22, 2023

‘Miracle seeds,’ informational curses? The risk of high expectations for new agricultural technologies

By Caroline Miehe, Leocardia Nabwire, Robert Sparrow, David Spielman, and Bjorn Van Campenhout

Using videos to test skewed perceptions of improved crop varieties.

What changed when Ugandan farmers rated input quality and local vendor services
IFPRI Blog
 | 
April 08, 2022

What changed when Ugandan farmers rated input quality and local vendor services

By Bjorn Van Campenhout, Caroline Miehe, David Spielman, and Robert Sparrow

The power of consumer opinion.

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Events

Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

June 11, 2025, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Fertilizer, soil health, and economic shocks: Policy lessons learned from recent events

Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the days following the event. Join us for a discussion of key findings from a recent special issue of Food Policy exploring the complex interactions between fertilizer use, soil health management, […]

2025 Global Food Policy Report | Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

May 28, 2025, 9:00 – 12:30 pm

2025 Global Food Policy Report | Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World

Also streaming on Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event video, presenter slides, and podcast will be available in the days following the event. Over the last 50 years, the world’s food systems have evolved tremendously amid major economic, environmental, and social changes. Throughout this period, policy […]

IFPRI @ UNCCD 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16)
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

December 2 to 13, 2024

IFPRI @ UNCCD 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16)

The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from December 2 to 13, 2024. IFPRI is pleased to participate in UNCCD COP16, where leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, and global stakeholders will unite to […]

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News

January 27, 2021 | Press Release

European Union gives €1 million to support the Agriculture pillar of the National Economic Recovery Plan for COVID-19 in Rwanda

The European Commission has provided EUR 1 million to IFPRI to support the Ministry of Agriculture in Rwanda to enhance skills in the analysis of public investment priorities & policy options for the COVID-19 recovery period.

December 19, 2019 | In the News

Rwanda government partners with IFPRI programme to accelerate agricultural productivity (Africa Business Communities)

Africa Business Communities published an article on the new IFPRI program, the Rwanda Agricultural Policy Analysis and Capacity Development Program. Rwanda is accelerating its agenda for sustainable development and inclusive growth by reinforcing its emphasis on agriculture, nutrition, and rural transformation. Senior Research Fellow and Head of the new Program, David Spielman said, “The Rwanda […]

December 07, 2019 | In the News

Government launches new plan to stave off malnutrition (The New Times)

The New Times (Rwanda) reported on the new Rwanda Strategy Support Program (RSSP). Developed by IFPRI in collaboration with the government of Rwanda, the program seeks to leverage on evidence and policy analysis to accelerate agricultural transformation in Rwanda. Republished in Africa Business Communities.

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