The regional representations of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the World Food Programme (WFP) signed a regional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework of collaboration to fill knowledge gaps on food security in urban, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach areas in West & Central Africa. The MoU was signed by Elvira Pruscini, Deputy Regional Director for WFP, and Dr. Jemimah Njuki, Director for Africa of IFPRI, and was moderated by Jennifer Jacoby, Head of Partnerships at WFP. The signing of this MoU is extremely timely, as the world and the region are confronted with a set of new and unique challenges, such as Covid-19, conflict, and increased urbanization. Therefore, our ‘food and nutrition security’-toolkit should be adapted and extended accordingly, said Dr. Jemimah Njuki. This WFP-IFPRI partnership is a good opportunity to conduct more applied and locally embedded research; it will combine and reinforce each organization’s respective strengths in filling knowledge gaps with rigorous research and in developing and implementing new tools and approaches to improve food and nutrition security throughout the region.