Mandla Nkomo has a rich, twenty-five year career in the African agri-food sector. He currently serves as the CEO of Partners in Food Solutions. Previously he served as chief growth officer for CGIAR's Excellence in Agronomy Initiative.
Mandla was born in Zimbabwe, but has spent most of his life moving between Zimbabwe and South Africa. After studying biochemistry and food science in college, he started out working in agricultural production where he helped farmers solve challenges like access to markets, finance and lack of technical know-how. He also has experience in the food processing space, including running a small dairy factory. Mandla has previously worked with the international organizations TechnoServe and Solidaridad. All of these professional sojourns, in his own words, “have given me a good perspective of how the entire food sector functions and intersects.”
He has a strong belief in the potential of the African continent and its people, and is committed to contributing to transitioning the food and agriculture space to a point where it is sustainable, supports livelihoods, and provides safe, healthy and nutritious food to its people.
Outside of work, Mandla loves being outdoors. He has a farm in Zimbabwe, where he’s able to connect deeply with nature. He is also an avid reader and is involved in a number of leadership initiatives. Mandla has been married for twenty-five years to Hilda, and they have two children in their twenties.