Strengthening water system research at the CGIAR to achieve a water and food secure world

The GGIAR is a global research for development partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources including water. It comprises 13 Centers with a total of more than 10,000 staff members mainly working in the Global South. It developed the new CGIAR 2030 Research and Innovation strategy that redefined its mission and targets a systems transformation approach for food, land, and water systems. It is a major realignment of food system research that contributes to transformations to end hunger and malnutrition but also supports climate solutions, gender equality, job creation, prosperous livelihoods, opportunities for the youth, environmental health and biodiversity, and aims to develop effective solutions to achieve the SDGs.

Water will play a central role in this new strategy. This presentation will summarize key new research initiatives and their links to hydrological and water system sciences. It will discuss relevant research questions and outline possible solutions to achieve progress with the SDGs. Furthermore, ways to include the hydrological sciences community better in CGIAR research and to strengthen the links to intergovernmental programs will be suggested.