"In November 2020, CGIAR commissioned Michigan State University’s Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen) to conduct a capacities and needs assessment (CNA) to determine, with the participation of stakeholders throughout CGIAR and (to a lesser extent) the broader agricultural research for development (AR4D) network, how the GENDER Platform could best strengthen the capacities needed to achieve the Platform’s desired outcomes. Four overarching questions guided the CNA:
• What is quality gender research?

This study documents the characteristics and functioning of fruit and vegetable (FV) value chains in select places in Ethiopia. The case study employed a mixed methods approach, including a survey of 340 FV traders, six focus group discussions (FGDs), and analysis of the policy environment with respect to food and nutrition, the business climate, and the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in delivering safe, affordable, and nutritious foods to consumers.

Ethiopia is one of the centers of genetic diversity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The sesame genetic resources present in the country should be explored for local, regional, and international genetic improvement programs to design high-performing and market-preferred varieties. This study’s objective was to determine the extent of genetic variation among 100 diverse cultivated sesame germplasm collections of Ethiopia using phenotypic traits and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to select distinct and complementary genotypes for breeding.

Ethiopia is the world’s second largest producer of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), and the crop has largest share of area and production of all pulses grown in Ethiopia. Faba bean is valued for its source of protein, income, and animal feedstock, and an important rotational crop. However, its current productivity is very low due to an emerging faba bean gall (FBG) disease and other biotic constraints. Initially, FBG disease-causing pathogen remained unconfirmed, but it was assumed to be caused by Olpidium sp.

The aim of the dissertation was to undertake phenotypic and genetic characterization and design community-based breeding programs for two indigenous goat populations in Ethiopia, namely Arab and Oromo. The dissertation was based on five manuscripts. Papers I, II, IV and V were based on data generated from production system, morphological characterization and ranking experiments. Paper III was based on whole genome data generated from three indigenous goat populations (Arab, Fellata and Oromo).

The Makueni Resource Hub was co-developed with stakeholders from the Makueni county government and officially launched at the Kenya Devolution Conference in November 2021. It has been embedded into county decision-making processes across multiple departments (agriculture, environment, planning, education and health).

The Ethiopian Government has initiated a process of water policy reform. WLE/IWMI was approached by the Ministries of Agriculture and of Water, Irrigation, and Electricity to contribute to the review. Drawing from its research, WLE/IWMI brought new ideas to the policy reform table. These ideas include the concept of multiple water values; payment for ecosystem services; irrigation cost recovery, and irrigation performance benchmarking. These options have been incorporated in the draft policy document and will strengthen climate change adaptation.

Under the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Council for Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) jointly organized a National Stakeholder Workshop on “Policy Coherence for Food, Land, and Water” in India on 16th June 2023 at India Habitat Center in New Delhi.

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) organized a state consultation workshop on 14 December 2023 on ‘Policy Coherence in Food, Land, and Water (FLW) Systems: A case study of Odisha’ at Bhubaneswar as a part of the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies Initiatives (NPS). The Food, Land and Water (FLW) project aims to identify key state-level policies in the food, land, and water systems that have a practical scope for improving coherence and hold most potential for creating an impact.

Five years ago, the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by 193 countries. They set out an ambitious plan to eradicate global poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030 ensuring that "no one is left behind". Work to deliver on that commitment has reaped some rewards, such as improving maternal and child health, expanding access to electricity and increasing women’s representation in government. Yet with just ten years left, we still have a very long way to go, especially in terms of meeting the 'climate and environment' commitments.

The challenges to agroecological transitions are not the same for all farmers and implementation of agroecological practices in different locations could yield different results. With this consideration, this study was conducted in Aba-Garima watershed in northwestern Ethiopia to characterize the structure and activities of farming households and assess factors influencing the implementation and sustainability of agroecological practices. Data were collected from 218 households, 16 key informants, and 12 focus group discussions.

Kegiatan Global Comparative Study (GCS) Tenure didorong oleh perkembangan reformasi tenurial di Afrika, Asia, dan Amerika Latin yang telah memberikan ruang pengakuan hukum untuk masyarakat lokal sekitar hutan. Melalui pendekatan komparatif global dan metodologi yang terstandarisasi untuk semua negara lokasi penelitian, program ini menganalisis berbagai faktor yang mempengaruhi keberhasilan dan kegagalan program tenurial hutan di masing-masing negara.