Inga Jacobs-Mata
South Africa | Agri-business Acceleration
Inga Jacobs-Mata is the Deputy Director of CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program and Director of Water, Growth and Inclusion for the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Jacobs-Mata pioneers science-based, locally grounded innovations by blending global research with local culture to solve real-world agrifood challenges. Through the Ukama Ustawi Initiative— meaning “partnerships for prosperity”—she empowered farmers and African businesses to be self-sufficient problemsolvers. Her work has improved the lives of millions of farmers across East and Southern Africa through better access to tailored innovations. She enabled hundreds of agribusinesses to secure growth capital, while influencing key water and trade policies that drive food system transformation across the region. She helped design and now co-leads a global program that supports researchers, investors, and policymakers to make scaling efforts more intentional, equitable and results-driven. Her commitment to co-creation and local ownership has made Ukama Ustawi a model for inclusive innovation in agri-food systems for CGIAR and beyond.