Aly Abousabaa has a 35-year record of high-level strategic leadership of complex sustainable development operations and resources in developing countries.

He became Director-General of ICARDA in October 2016 and CGIAR Regional Director of Central and West Asia, and North Africa (CWANA) in June 2021. He leads an International Organization and a regional office involved in dryland agricultural scientific research across 16 offices in Central and West Asia, and North Africa Region.

Previously, Aly worked at AfDB for 22 years where he occupied several leadership, managerial and technical positions of which the last five were as Vice President Operations in charge of Agriculture, Water, Human Development, Governance, and Natural Resources. His work contributed to improving the lives of millions of people in Africa through a diverse portfolio of US$10billion across 30 countries.

He has served on several Boards, including the Congo Basin Forest Fund, The Africa Water Facility, The Governance Trust fund, The Africa Fertilizer Facility, and the Khalifa Date Palm Award. He has established a global network with international partner institutions on development and research matters across five continents, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, and USA.

Aly is an Egyptian national, and holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Alexandria University, Egypt, and an M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Montana State University, USA.

Under Aly Abousabaa's leadership in 2024, ICARDA achieved significant milestones in advancing climate-smart agriculture and innovative solutions for dryland farming. Notably, the pioneering ULE Drip Irrigation technology, which switched from diesel to solar-powered systems in Egypt, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 64% and was nominated for the World Water Prize. The improved climate-resilient wheat variety exceeded expectations in Zimbabwe, producing 468,000 tons from 90,186 hectares, even amid challenging climatic conditions.

ICARDA’s resilience was further demonstrated with successful seed preservation during ongoing security challenges in Lebanon, and continued progress in the International Nurseries, ensuring seed security despite regional instability. The community-based breeding program for goats in Mali became a regional model, improving the genetic potential of small ruminants to enhance livelihoods.

International collaboration was also at the forefront, with ICARDA participating in COP29 and COP16, promoting the CGIAR Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands, and forging new partnerships with global stakeholders like the Gates Foundation. ICARDA’s capacity-building initiatives, including a farmer’s field school in Egypt and hosting students from Tottori University, further strengthened its role as a global leader in agri-innovation.

Looking ahead, ICARDA is poised for continued success in 2025 with a renewed focus on its 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy, backed by robust financial strategies and a commitment to sustainable agri-food systems, ensuring its ongoing contribution to global food security and climate resilience.