Brief ICARDA Strategy

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1 Brief ICARDA Strategy A new strategic approach for delivering innovative science based solutions for thriving and resilient drylands Responding to Dryland Challenges The majority of smallholder farmers in the arid and semiarid regions of the developing world grow crops and/ or raise livestock as a key livelihood strategy. They face daunting challenges from infertile and degraded land, water scarcity and frequent drought, to authorities and institutions struggling to support them, poor market intelligence and integration, and limited opportunities to access innovations and new technologies. The result is low agricultural productivity and limited livelihood opportunities that perpetuate a cycle of deep poverty and food and nutritional insecurity. The implications of climate variability and change will add a further dimension to the challenges facing the drylands of the developing world. To break the cycle of poverty, improve food and nutritional security and halt or reverse the alarming process of resource degradation in dryland communities and to adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is launching a new Strategy, which outlines our research and organizational approach for action to achieve our vision for thriving and resilient dryland communities in the developing world. The Strategy builds on forty years of past achievements, lessons learned and successful partnerships and investments at regional and global levels. The Strategy is aligned with the national development priorities of the countries we work in, the CGIAR Strategic Results Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda for The Strategy orients ICARDA s research activities to find innovative and demand-driven solutions to guide sustainable development in drylands and to ensure that they have impact. Our Vision We envision thriving and resilient livelihoods in dryland communities of the developing world with robust incomes, secure access to food, markets, nutrition and health, and the capacity to manage natural resources in equitable, sustainable, innovative ways. Our Mission We seek to provide innovative science-based solutions for improving the livelihoods and resilience of the resourcepoor in non-tropical drylands in order to reduce poverty, enhance food, nutrition, and water security, through the sustainable management of natural resources in the face of climate change. We do this through cutting-edge science, strategic partnerships and capacity development for inclusive and equitable growth.

2 Why Drylands Matter? The facts The challenges The potential Cover 41% of the world s surface Inhabited by 30% of the world s population (2.5 billion people) Support 50% of the world s livestock Grow 44% of the world s food Account for the majority of the world s poor, with around 16% living in chronic poverty Most of the world s poor live in dry areas with 400 million living on less than US$1 per day Drylands lose 23 hectares per minute to drought and desertification a loss of 20 million tonnes of potential grain production every year. Scarce water resources Highly impacted by climate change Harsh environments Low and erratic precipitation Infertile soils Frequent drought Loss of cropland Salinization Loss of biodiversity High risk of crop and animal pests and diseases as the climate changes High unemployment and a youth bulge. Dominated by countries in conflict or postconflict Rapid urbanization and its associated demands and impacts. Poor governance of resources Loss of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage Loss of livelihoods leading to migration Hunger, malnutrition and poor diets Rich plant biodiversity the key to adaptation to climate change Opportunities to diversify and intensify crop and livestock production systems Millions of hectares of degraded land to restore Opportunities to re-green drylands Opportunities to diversify income streams through alternative pursuits Sound prospects for economic development through empowerment of women and youth. Addressing the productivity gaps Human capacity and agency ICARDA s research work is part of the global effort to tackle poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation in order to meet the SDG Agenda of We work to deliver results on the ground by designing research-in-development activities that contribute to: reducing rural poverty in drylands, mitigating and adapting to climate change, increasing food and nutrition security, improving health, generating viable incomes through functional markets, providing opportunities and empowering women and young people to take part in and shape agriculture development, while managing precious natural resources in a sustainable fashion. 2

3 Our Pathway to Impact for Thriving and Resilient Drylands In order to achieve our mission and vision, we have set ourselves three main goals or System Level Outcomes (SLOs), which are also part of the overall CGIAR Strategic Research Framework : 1. REDUCE POVERTY: making an impact means research to generate higher, diverse and more sustainable incomes through functional markets that result in better standard of living for men, women, and children in drylands of the developing world 2. IMPROVE FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY FOR IMPROVED HUMAN HEATH: making an impact means research to increase food and nutritional security, thereby improving human health for poor and vulnerable communities in drylands. 3. IMPROVE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: making an impact means research to develop equitable and sustainable management practices of land, water resources, energy, and biodiversity in drylands for generations to come. Our approach is to tackle dryland challenges on a large scale, aiming for clear outcomes and focusing on people, results, and efficiency. Our research program results framework aligns with the new direction of the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework , and responds directly to the SDGs 2030 Agenda. Our goals contribute strongly to the SDGs targeted at no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, climate action and life on land. They also contribute toward quality education, good jobs and economic growth, reduced inequalities, responsible consumption, peace and justice and partnerships for the goals. Our strategy calls for collective action among all partners and stakeholders to engage in generating integrated and resilient farming systems for the drylands that meet market demands, ensure income generation and provide opportunities for women, men and youth to realize their full potential. In doing so, we seek to identify the most innovative and sustainable solutions with benefits that are far reaching and enduring. 3

4 OUR RESEARCH CGIAR Strategic Level Outcomes UN Sustainable Development Goals 5 3 SRATEGIC RESEARCH PRIORITIES (SRP) CROSS- CUTTING PRIORITIES (CCP) REDUCED POVERTY SRP1. Preserve and protect agricultural biodiversity in drylands in order to meet future climate and market related challenges. FOOD & NUTRITION SECURITY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Taking Research to Scale Partnerships for Impact Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation SRP2. Improved and resilient crops for greater food security in face of climate change and market volatilities. SRP3. Develop integrated drylands farming systems for improved and resilient livelihoods. Gender Equity and Youth SRP4. Support the establishment of functional value chains and viable off-farm activities for diversified incomes and improved livelihoods in drylands. SRP5: Support sustainable use and management of water and land resources in drylands. Big Data and ICT Our Strategic Research Priorities (SRP) To reach our goals, we will focus on the following five strategic research priorities (SRP) where ICARDA has a distinct comparative advantage: 1. Preserve and protect agricultural biodiversity in drylands in order to meet future climate and market related challenges. 2. Improved and resilient crops to for greater food and nutritional security in the face of climate variability and change and changing markets. 3. Develop integrated drylands farming systems for improved and resilient livelihoods in order to optimize economic, social and environmental co-benefits in areas with high concentrations of poor people 4. Support the establishment of functional value chains and viable off-farm activities for diversified incomes and improved agri-systems livelihoods in drylands. 5. Support sustainable use and management of water and land resources in drylands, focusing on ecosystems and landscapes that offer significant opportunities to reverse environmental degradation and enhance sustainable intensification. These research priorities are complemented by three crosscutting research activities: 1. Climate change: making an impact will require research to build resilience into poor and vulnerable communities to climate shocks with a focus on adaptation to and mitigation of climate change 2. Gender and youth: making an impact means research to promote gender equity that is, research to meet the needs and the aspirations of women and young people as key vulnerable groups and provide empowerment and better socio-economic opportunities, including youth employment in agri-food supply chains. 3. Capacity development: making an impact will require a strong and an empowered cadre of young and talented scientists, researchers and institutions. Key to the long-term success of this cross-cutting activity will be skilling future leaders for roles in research management and administration. 4

5 The value of ICARDA s research and expertise ICARDA combines scientific evidence and indigenous knowledge from dryland communities to address and increase the visibility of dryland issues that have a considerable impact on emerging global issues that include food and nutrition security, land degradation, and climate change. Our research aims to provide the evidence required to better position dryland issues firmly on the research and development agenda at national, regional, and global levels. Our research informs the development interventions required by providing international public goods tools, methods, practices, policies, and technologies to enhance the economic and social well-being of rural dryland communities, their resilience in the face of climate variability and change, and strengthen their adaptive capacity to manage natural resources in an equitable and sustainable fashion. Gender and youth issues, as well as options for alternative and diverse livelihoods, direct our research efforts to understand and support sustainable dryland ecosystems in the long term. Our scientific research expertise: Offers a comprehensive and systems understanding of drylands development challenges by examining placebased social, financial, technical, and environmental contexts Provides robust evidence for shaping development and increased investment in drylands. Enables the development and formulation of appropriate technologies, practices, institutions, and policies for solving those challenges Application of continuous monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and building of capacities to innovate for more sustainable development impact Unique capacities in Integrated Farming Systems Research for the dry regions, with all the elements in our strategic decentralized structure. Unique collections of wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea, faba bean, grass pea and forage genetic resources and rhizobia that will be critical in adapting to future climates. We have the capacity to look at multiple stressors Seed systems and seed system development Unique expertise in small ruminant genetics and breeding programs using local indigenous species Key contributor to global germplasm conservation and developer of improved germplasm to farmer and market needs On-farm research that allows a deeper understanding of the challenges that enables us to offer adoptable solutions Expertise in water harvesting in dry areas and on-farm water management Geographic Information Systems (GIS) / Remote Sensing (RS) skills and capacity to take advantage of the big data and ICT revolution Strong and enduring partnerships with local, regional and international agricultural research institutions and national agricultural systems. 5

6 What is new in ICARDA s research agenda? Create climate-smart crops for extreme scenarios of 4 C warmer world through pre-breeding and introgressing adaptive genes from wild relatives of key ICARDA mandate crops. Enrich our collections of core crops with novel diversity. Select and develop climate change adapted strains of rhizobium and endophytes to reduce agricultures carbon footprint. Develop climate resilient small ruminants by studying their genomics as a way to understand levels of heat tolerance. Develop precision feeding and flock / herd reproductive management. Create functional value chains for durum, barley, pulses and small ruminants job creation and targeting markets in our key regions. Roll out the Options x Context decisionsupport tool for ensuring sustainable land management at local and global level. Focus on protected agriculture as a key element in addressing water scarcity by creating fully self-sustaining systems to produce high value crops for export. Add value to marginal quality water and create new water within the context of peri-urban food production systems. Enable farming with alternative pollinators and promote innovative approaches in using native insect species to ensure crop productivity. Take research outputs to scale by developing innovative partnerships and business and social enterprise opportunities. ICARDA organizational strengths Strong organizational values of scientific excellence, innovation, multi-disciplinarity, collaboration and accountability. Close and enduring partnerships with a wide network of national agricultural research systems (NARS) and advanced research institutions (ARIs) Capacity development of national agricultural research systems and the training of students, scientists and professionals Experience of working in fragile states and postconflict reconstruction of the agricultural sector Decentralized structure that makes us nimble and effective by conducting research where it matters the most A new business delivery model that takes ICARDA s research outputs and outcomes to scale through engagement with the public and private sectors, through new and innovative partnerships and joint ventures in the commercialization of products. Key to the success of our research will be innovative and effective communications and knowledge sharing. 6

7 Where we work The non-tropical drylands are diverse both within and between dry regions; they vary climatically, topographically, environmentally, economically, socially, and culturally. Despite the diversity, nontropical drylands face common challenges. To deal with both differences and similarities, ICARDA conducts its work through key strategic hubs that include Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, Lebanon and India. It will continue to build a significant footprint across the Middle East and North Africa with activities in Central and West Asia, South Asia, the West African Sahel and Dry Savannas, and East Africa where we have a comparative advantage. Who benefits from our research? ICARDA works to benefit the poorest, hungriest, least healthy, and most marginalized people living in rural drylands of the developing world. In many of these regions, the degraded natural resources on which their livelihoods depend contribute directly to their low levels of wellbeing. Our research primarily targets the needs of smallholder farmers, agro-pastoralists, pastoralists, and livestock producers. Others who add value along the chain from producer to consumer also stand to benefit from our work. In particular, we target women farmers and young people in search of dryland agricultural opportunities to improve their livelihoods, as well as other marginalized communities excluded from mainstream development. In our work to improve nutrition and food access, we will particularly target women and children in the poorest households. Other rural, urban and peri-urban communities that are not directly targeted by ICARDA are also likely to benefit from our research. We believe that our efforts to address the needs of impoverished and marginalized dryland communities are critical contributions to achieving the United Nations by

8 Creating Value for our Stakeholders ICARDA Strategy Map Achieving our vision and creating value to our stakeholders Our picture of success to produce and deliver quality science and research solutions Strategic research priorities with focus on innovation and knowledge sharing A new business model to innovate and to efficiently utilize resources Aligned with CGIAR SRF and SDGS Our Vision: Thriving and Resilient Dryland Communities Creating Stakeholder Value Improved livelihood outcomes in drylands through reduction poverty (SLO1), increased food and nutrition security (SLO2) and sustainable natural resources management (SLO3) 1. ICARDA becomes recognized as worldclass leader and source of agricultural research and science-based solutions for drylands Leading think-tank in dryland agricultural science fostering scientific rigor and research excellence Provider of a unique suite of science-based tools, products and flagships publications SRP1. Preserve and protect agricultural biodiversity in drylands in order to meet future climate and market related challenges Generate new science and technologies and promote an organizational culture of innovation and learning Support niche and Demand-driven Strategic Research Priorities (SRP) SRP2. Improved and resilient crops for greater food security in face of climate change and market volatilities Enable our People Facilitate Skills growth and Leadership development Recognize and reward leaders and scientific excellence Recruit and retain a highly skilled engaged and diverse staff Enhance communication effectiveness, knowledge sharing and accountability Shaper of critical debates and policies, nationally and globally, on science-based agricultural development in drylands Improved global positioning through refreshed ICARDA brand, higher visibility and increased communication of research results SRP3. Develop integrated drylands farming systems for improved and resilient livelihoods INNOVATE AND GROW futuristic research on extreme climate scenarios (+4Degree) SRP4: Support the establishment of functional value chains and viable off-farm activities for diversified incomes and improved agricultural systems livelihoods in drylands Ensure innovations and new ideas are effectively shared internally and externally Establish a fit-for-purpose organizational structure and infrastructure Restructure programs, units in line with new ICARDA strategic objectives Optimize current and develop new physical infrastructure Strengthen resultbased performance management through establishment of MEL platform Build an integrated technology environment Demand-driven research is translated into practice 2. ICARDA research outputs are delivered strategically to key stakeholders invested in transforming agriculture and development in drylands Facilitate rapid uptake of new research knowledge and cutting-edge technologies and innovations Engage in national, regional and global fora and opportunities to enhance outreach and impact of research, and build skills and capacities SRP5: Support sustainable use and management of water and land resources in drylands. Build strategic partnerships and pursue opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration both internally and externally Identify, promote and advocate for agricultural sciencebased solutions to address key development challenges in vulnerable dryland communities Cross-Cutting Priorities (CCP) CCP1. Climate change CCP2. Gender Equity and Youth CCP3. Big Data and ICT Explore and develop opportunities to commercialize innovations in order to generate revenue Strengthen & Maintain Financial Health Achieve operational efficiencies Generate Align resource mobilization with strategic priorities stable and increased revenue Expand donor base and implement alternative funding mechanisms As innovators in drylands agricultural science, we lead and partner to achieve three key strategic development outcomes (SLO) in drylands: SLO 1. Reduce poverty; SLO 2. Improve food and nutrition security, SLO3. Ensure sustainable use of natural resources Our Core Excellence Innovation Multi-displinarity Accountability Values: and Collaboration 8

9 ICARDA Strategy Development Process As part of its strategy development process, ICARDA is implementing a broad consultation process that provided stakeholders and partners both inside and outside the CGIAR the opportunity to provide input. These consultations promote effective, targeted investment and built partnerships, capacities and mutual accountabilities at all levels of the agricultural system so as to ensure that ICARDA s agricultural research meets the critical demands and needs of dryland communities. The consultation process help to refine our research priorities with national, regional and global agricultural research priorities, as identified by different stakeholder groups and representatives in an inclusive way to make the new ICARDA strategy as relevant and demand-driven as possible. 9

10 About ICARDA Established in 1977, the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a non-profit, CGIAR research centre focusing on delivering innovative solutions for sustainable agricultural development in dryland countries in the developing world. It is headquartered in city, country, with regional offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, civil society and the private sector to develop scalable agricultural solutions that have a real impact on poverty reduction, food security and ecosystem health. For more information, please visit Contact us Dalia Building 2nd Floor, Bashir El Kassar Street, Verdun, Beirut, Lebanon Office Tel.: Office Fax: /