At its most fundamental level, the mission of the new African Centre for Food Security is  to contribute towards eradicating food deprivation and promoting sustainable livelihoods  among the people and nations of sub-Saharan Africa. By facilitating and conducting  professional training and trans-disciplinary research, and through targeted information  dissemination and informed advocacy, it seeks to establish, support and sustain a critical  mass of personnel, as well as a network of collaborating institutions and organisations, equipped to lead effective food security policy and practice across the sub-continent.