The Niger River Basin covers 7.5% of the African continent, and is shared between nine riparian

countries. The basin countries can be categorized into water resources producers, consumers, both

producers and consumers, and minimum contributors and consumers. As in the case for most

transboundary rivers, upstream and downstream conflicts emanating from the development and

utilization of the Niger River are inevitable and are expected to be intense, particularly given the

Poor rainwater management (RWM) and a resultant problems of land degradation, low agricultural

Summary Report from the workshop held in Rome 27-28 October 2011

Climate-induced livelihood transitons in the agricultural systems of Africa are increasingly likely. There has been only limited study on what such transitons might look like, but it is clear that the implicatons could be profound in relaton to social, environmental, economic and politcal efects at local and natonal levels.

In April of 2010, Drs. Mario Herrero and Philip Thornton of the International Livestock Research Institute contracted with Drs. Boone and Conant to create a global rangeland model of moderate complexity. Boone was funded for a 50 day effort, and Conant for ca. 40 days. An opportunity to prepare a manuscript for a special issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science arose, and Conant took the lead in that effort. Boone created the rangeland model, called G-Range, with input from Conant, drawing upon existing models and new information (see Acknowledgements).

This paper explores the potential benefits of working to improve the resilience of complex adaptive systems in agriculture and aquaculture through engaging in diverse partnerships among different types of research and development institutions, and the people in those institutions. We use five case studies of CPWF research-for- development efforts to draw lessons about achieving effective results in system resilience. The paper gives concrete examples of effective partnerships and the positive changes that resulted for farmer and fisher communities.