Small-scale aquaculture systems can contribute significantly to food and nutritional security, poverty alleviation, and rural development, especially in developing countries. However, the intensification of aquaculture systems often has negative environmental outcomes. The adoption of diversification practices (e.g. polyculture, pond-dike cropping (PDC)) and better management practices (BMPs) has been identified as a possible approach to intensify sustainably small-scale aquaculture production.

The summative and formative evaluation of the GENDER (Generating Evidence and New Directions for Equitable Results) Platform assessed its progress from January 2020 to October 2022, to document lessons and best practices, to also provide forward-looking recommendations for the newly transitioned CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform. The evaluation was conducted between October 2022 – June 2023 by the external team, which was led by an evaluation expert and comprised of three subject matter experts to specifically address Evidence, Methods, and Alliances modules of the Platform.

This report examines the nature of polycentric governance and transformative characteristics adaptation options in Sri Lanka. The report focuses on four major climate adaptation projects implemented in recent years, namely Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP), Climate Resilience Improvement Project (CRIP), Climate Smart Irrigation Agriculture Project (CSIAP), and the Northwestern Province Canal Project (NWPCP).

This learning module shows how gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) considerations can be identified and integrated in programmes and initiatives in the Water-Energy-Food Environment (WEFE) Nexus. Intentionally focusing on gender and social inclusion in designing, implementing and monitoring Water-Energy-Food Environment initiatives is critical to ensure that these initiatives benefit and do not harm women and other marginalised groups and communities.

This brief reviews recent initiatives to establish community seedbanks in Somaliland, South Sudan and Sudan, located in the Horn of Africa, which have paid special attention to the insecure and instable social, economic and political circumstances that affect seed and food security. Effectively functioning community seedbanks can contribute to seed security, even in a protracted crisis situation, but careful consideration should be given to community seedbank site selection, membership and decision-making, and infrastructure and equipment.

A major challenge in natural resource management in developing countries is to pursue conservation objectives while avoiding negative impacts on local livelihoods. Inland capture fisheries provide opportunities to demonstrate an integration of conservation and livelihood objectives when managed as a social-ecological system. While numerous marine no-take reserves have been found effective for the recovery of fisheries, few well-documented examples exist in the freshwater realm.

CIAT’s financial mandate includes maintaining accountability and transparency in its finances, and to evaluate and communicate direct impact from our work to our donors, partners and the wider research and development community.

The Zimbabwean economy depends on agriculture, which is at a crossroads with the environment, particularly under conventional agriculture practices. Transitioning to agroecology approaches has been identified as a means to transform food systems and address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, social inequities, and rising demand for food. While policies can support or hinder agroecological transitions, it appears that there is a dearth of knowledge on the extent to which the national policies contribute in Zimbabwe.

Community Forest Management in the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR; Petén, Guatemala) has been recognized internationally for yielding forest conservation and socioeconomic benefits. However, the effect of current timber harvesting practices on the genetic diversity of timber species populations has not previously been documented. This study assessed the effects of timber harvesting on the genetic diversity and viability of regeneration of the most commercially important timber species in the MBR: big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King).

Ethiopian agricultural production and productivity are strongly affected by weather and climate. Varying climatic conditions bring disparities in food demand and supply, which constitute a challenge for the integration of climate-smart agriculture in the agriculture mix.