Speaker Profile

Dr. Zakaria Issahaku is the Regional Business Creation Lead for West and Central Africa at MEDA, with over 20 years of experience in advancing inclusive agrifood systems, impact investment, and resilient rural livelihoods across Africa.

He has provided strategic leadership globally, supporting the design and implementation of multi-country agriculture  investment strategies that align agricultural transformation with climate resilience, gender inclusion, and sustainable development goals.  Dr. Issahaku is widely recognized for his expertise in value chain development, agricultural financing, and policy advisory. He has contributed to national and regional policy processes, guiding reforms in agricultural commercialization, and climate-smart agriculture, while strengthening the role of SMEs and smallholder farmers in market systems.

A respected facilitator of multi-stakeholder dialogue, he regularly convenes governments, development partners, private sector actors, and research institutions to co-create investment pathways and scalable solutions. He has represented organizations at major global and regional platforms, contributing thought leadership on impact investing, agrifood systems transformation, and inclusive economic growth.

Dr. Issahaku holds a PhD in Agronomy and brings a strong blend of technical depth, policy insight, and practical implementation experience to advancing sustainable and inclusive investment in Africa’s agrifood systems