LocationsTimbuktoo Angola AgriTech Center of Excellence commits to innovation, youth, and economic diversification
April 16, 2026
The agreement was formally signed by His Excellency the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Albano Ferreira, and by the UNDP Resident Representative in Angola, Dr. Denise António.
The Government of Angola and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement yesterday to establish the Timbuktoo Angola AgriTech Centre of Excellence, a strategic initiative aimed at driving agricultural innovation, promoting youth entrepreneurship, and accelerating the transformation of the sector’s value chains.
The ceremony took place in Luanda and was attended by members of the Executive, institutional partners, representatives from the private sector, academia, and young innovators.
Scheduled to be implemented in Huambo Province, the Centre of Excellence will serve as a regional hub for agricultural technology and aims to establish itself as a pan-African centre of excellence in sustainable agriculture, green technologies, and rural entrepreneurship.
As part of the pan-African Timbuktoo platform, led by the UNDP, the project positions Angola as a key player in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent. The future Timbuktoo Angola AgriTech Center of Excellence, currently under development, is a project coordinated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, co-coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and implemented by the UNDP, with support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
During the ceremony, the project was formally signed by His Excellency, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Albano Ferreira, and by the UNDP Resident Representative in Angola, Dr. Denise António.
On that occasion, the UNDP Resident Representative emphasised that “agriculture has always been a priority for Angola, but what is changing is the way we approach it. By investing in innovation and youth, Angola is taking a decisive step toward transforming potential into concrete results for the people.”
The Centre will act as a catalyst for a modern agricultural innovation ecosystem, promoting youth entrepreneurship, the adoption of digital tools, and the transformation of agricultural value chains.
Given the country’s high agricultural potential and its strategic location along the Lobito Corridor, the project aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, support the development of startups and investment-ready small and medium-sized enterprises, and reinforce Angola’s integration into regional value chains, including within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Centre is expected to involve higher education institutions, research centres, companies, cooperatives, and startups from across the country, promoting greater coordination between the public and private sectors in the agricultural, veterinary, and forestry sectors.
The signing of this project represents an important milestone in the joint commitment to promote economic diversification, strengthen innovation, and create sustainable opportunities for Angolan youth.
