CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117885

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation

Primary CGIAR impact area: Climate adaptation and mitigation

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/23-climber-building-systemic-resilience-against-climate-variability-and-extremes/

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 1093

Concept note for capacity building to agrifood businesses in the cashew nut value chain in Senegal
(Brief, 2024-12-28) Derenoncourt, Ena; Siagbe, Golli; Ouedraogo, Mathieu; Ouedraogo, Issa
Advisory services boost bean farming in Malawi
(Brief, 2025-02-11) Chideya, Yohane; Magwaya, Eunice; Nkhata, Wilson; Rubyogo, Jean Claude; Moyo, Nobel; Madzonga, Oswin
The Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I) has made a significant impact on smallholder bean farming in Malawi, especially during the challenging 2023-24 cropping season, exacerbated by an El Niño-induced drought. Through innovative advisory services, AID-I facilitated the adoption of climate-smart practices, including drought-tolerant seeds and improved soil management techniques. The initiative has empowered farmers like Monica Levison and Liden Mbengo to overcome challenges and increase their yields. By focusing on seed multiplication, effective agronomic practices, and extensive training, AID-I has enhanced food production and resilience among smallholders. The project has trained over 11,000 farmers, with a notable percentage of women, driving community-level agricultural transformation. These efforts have not only improved crop yields but also sparked long-term economic growth, food security, and resilience in Malawi’s farming communities.
How do interconnected dynamics of climate, security and human mobility interplay in Mali: Climate security pathway analysis
(Brief, 2025-02-05) Synnestvedt, Thea; Penel, Charlotte; Sarzana, Carolina; Cisse, Sokhna Ramatoulaye
In Mali, severe droughts and floods are becoming increasingly prominent, with average temperatures increasing. The climatic changes are leading to loss of livelihoods which exacerbate already poor socio-economic conditions. Simultaneously, tensions have been ongoing since Mali’s independence from colonialist powers in the 1960’s reaching new heights in 2012 with the Tuareg rebellion, which escalated into armed conflict. This has reduced the resilience and adaptive capacities of individuals, communities, and the state to respond to climate-related risks, while climate change and extreme weather events have exacerbated vulnerabilities, heightening conflict risks. Human mobility is a common form of adaptation to climate change, as well as violence and armed conflict. The impact of climate change on natural resources and livelihoods compels people to migrate or engage in transhumance livelihoods to sustain themselves, while more immediate climatic hazards such as natural disasters cause immediate displacements, impacting the overall human security situation. Similarly, conflict, especially in the Sahel region, has triggered widespread displacement. The aim of this factsheet is to identify some of the ways in which these components, namely, climate change, human security risks, conflict and human mobility interact within the context of Mali. In order to improve understanding of the ways in which these components interlink, it is helpful to delve deeper into the different pathways for how these dynamics play out in different contexts. Thus, the climate security mobility pathways explore the ways in which climate related risks interlink with and potentially exacerbate social tensions and conflict, as well as how conflict interact with climatic changes to alter the security landscape in Mali and the consequential changes to human mobility patterns. Although the situation in Mali is rapidly evolving, the identified pathways remain relevant in establishing a foundational understanding of Mali’s complex climate security landscape. Four main pathways have been identified for how these dynamics shape the local peace and security landscape in Mali.
Towads a common vision of climate, peace and security in Zimbabwe
(Report, 2024-12) Makanda, Joseph; Maviza, Gracsious; Caroli, Giulia; Tarusarira, Joram; Gadu, Siyaxola; Maphosa, Mandlenkosi; Takaindisa, Joyce; Onivola, Minoarivelo; de Coning, Cedric; Gumindonga, Webster; Moyo, Nqobile; Laderach, Peter
This report addresses the interconnected challenges posed by climate change, migration, fragility, and socio-economic vulnerability in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has been significantly impacted by climate variability, evidenced by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, frequent droughts, and devastating cyclones, which threaten agriculture, the environment, and the livelihoods of millions who depend on rain-fed farming. The report highlights the systemic challenges Zimbabwe faces, including food and water insecurity, displacement, and conflicts over dwindling resources. These issues are further complicated by Zimbabwe’s limited adaptive capacity, economic instability, and the gendered impacts of climate change, which disproportionately affect women and girls. A two-day workshop convened in Harare by the CGIAR Climate Security team, SAPPC and ACCORD brought together key stakeholders to develop a shared understanding and identify strategies to address the peace and security risks associated with climate change and migration. This led to a common vision centred on four main pathways that link climate impacts to socio-political instability in Zimbabwe: 1. Resource competition: scarcity of natural resources, particularly water, has intensified tensions and conflicts, especially in communities where artisanal mining exacerbates land degradation. 2. Food and livelihood insecurity: extreme weather events disrupt agricultural productivity, prompting negative coping strategies like deforestation and artisanal mining, which contribute to environmental degradation and socio-economic strain. 3. Human mobility and displacement: Climate-induced migration is prevalent, with people relocating temporarily or permanently in response to disasters or economic hardship, often straining resources and services in host areas. 4. Negative coping strategies: As communities struggle to adapt, some turn to harmful practices like illegal mining and drug trade, which further destabilize communities. The report outlines a multifaceted policy and programmatic framework to mitigate these impacts, calling for collaborative efforts among government, civil society, and international organizations. Key recommendations include strengthening climate-resilient policies, ensuring conflict-sensitive climate finance, fostering community engagement, and leveraging Indigenous knowledge alongside modern science. Enhanced evidence-based research and integrated climate, peace, and security programs are essential to achieving sustainable development and resilience against climate impacts in Zimbabwe.
Construcción de paz medioambiental en América Latina y el Caribe: reduciendo brechas y aprovechando oportunidades
(Brief, 2024-10) Higuera-Florez, Julian; Medina, Leonardo; Acuña-Alfaro, Jairo; De Francisco, Iñaki; Pacillo, Grazia; Madurga-Lopez, Ignacio
MENSAJES CLAVE: A pesar de los urgentes retos medioambientales, climáticos, de violencia y de conflictos de la región, los estudios existentes sobre construcción de paz medioambiental en América Latina y el Caribe (LAC) tienden a enfocarse exclusivamente en Colombia después del Acuerdo de Paz de 2016, con algunas pocas excepciones en México, Nicaragua, y Costa Rica. La región enfrenta una serie de problemas críticos que caracterizan las especificidades de la construcción de paz medioambiental en LAC, incluyendo desigualdades socioeconómicas, exclusión política, desconfianza institucional, crimen organizado transnacional, acaparamiento de tierras, violencia en contra de activistas. medioambientales, y acceso desigual a la tierra e inseguridad en sus derechos de tenencia. El fortalecimiento de evidencias locales es crucial para reducir brechas de conocimiento de las conexiones entre gestión medioambiental y construcción de paz en LAC. La urgencia de priorizar la participación comunitaria mediante la integración de conocimiento indígena, perspectivas locales y métodos participativos en el diseño, la implementación y la evaluación de los proyectos de construcción de paz medioambiental, aseguran que se reflejen las necesidades de las comunidades afectadas a lo largo de la duración de los proyectos. Existe la necesidad de reforzar las ofertas de capacitación sobre el nexo entre medioambiente, clima, paz y seguridad para que las instituciones públicas y la sociedad civil amplíen sus conocimientos y sensibilidad acerca de la promoción de estrategias e intervenciones integradas que apoyen los esfuerzos de construcción de paz medioambiental en LAC. Promover evaluaciones sensibles a los conflictos y a las oportunidades de construcción de paz antes de implementar proyectos, programas y políticas medioambientales puede ayudar a identificar las causas raíz de conflicto y de cooperación, evitar hacer daños no intencionados y adaptar las intervenciones a los contextos políticos, sociales y medioambientales locales.
A new project launched to strengthen evidence use for African agriculture adaptation
(Blog, 2025-01-29) Wanjiru, Anastacia; Njuguna, Lucy
As climate change intensifies across Africa, smallholder farmers are on the frontlines, facing increasingly extreme weather conditions. While climate mitigation has clear benchmarks, adaptation remains complex, often lacking reliable metrics to track progress. This gap has led to fragmented efforts and, in some cases, maladaptation, where interventions unintentionally heighten vulnerability. The Adaptation Insights project seeks to change this by revolutionizing how climate adaptation is measured and implemented. By generating high-quality, actionable data, the project equips governments, development partners, and investors with tools to prioritize and scale effective adaptation strategies. Rooted in inclusivity, it integrates local knowledge to ensure that solutions are practical and impactful. Launched in Nairobi with key stakeholders from research, policy, and development, Adaptation Insights is setting a gold standard for adaptation measurement that could shape global discussions ahead of COP30. Backed by the Gates Foundation and led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, this initiative has the potential to transform resilience-building efforts across Africa and beyond.
Process Evaluation for The CGIAR Climate Resilience Initiative Activities in Kenya
(Report, 2024-05-01) Juma, Ogada Maurice
In response to the threats of climate change, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and its partners launched the CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) in 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya, covering 6 countries (Guatemala, Kenya, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, and Zambia). The aim of ClimBeR is to simultaneously transform food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis so as to enhance the resilience of the smallholder production systems. In 2023, ClimBeR initiative commissioned this process evaluation exercise with two main objectives: (1) To assess the adherence to implementation plan, noting any deviations & corrective measures, and (2) To demonstrate how ClimBeR impacts are emerging, highlighting the drivers of and barriers to uptake. The process evaluation used a blend of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative module involved Key Informant Interviews (KII) with ClimBeR staff and country-level implementing partners and focus group discussions (FGDs) with implementing farming communities. Quantitative module involved household interviews in the communities where the Risk-Contingent Credit (RCC) innovation is being implemented.
A scalable crop yield estimation framework based on remote sensing of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF)
(Journal Article, 2024-04) Kira, Oz; Wen, Jiaming; Han, Jimei; McDonald, Andrew J.; Barrett, Christopher B.; Ortiz-Bobea, Ariel; Liu, Yanyan; You, Liangzhi; Mueller, Nathaniel D.; Sun, Ying
Projected increases in food demand driven by population growth coupled with heightened agricultural vulnerability to climate change jointly pose severe threats to global food security in the coming decades, especially for developing nations. By providing real-time and low-cost observations, satellite remote sensing has been widely employed to estimate crop yield across various scales. Most such efforts are based on statistical approaches that require large amounts of ground measurements for model training/calibration, which may be challenging to obtain on a large scale in developing countries that are most food-insecure and climate-vulnerable. In this paper, we develop a generalizable framework that is mechanism-guided and practically parsimonious for crop yield estimation. We then apply this framework to estimate crop yield for two crops (corn and wheat) in two contrasting regions, the US Corn Belt US-CB, and India's Indo–Gangetic plain Wheat Belt IGP-WB, respectively. This framework is based on the mechanistic light reactions (MLR) model utilizing remotely sensed solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) as a major input. We compared the performance of MLR to two commonly used machine learning (ML) algorithms: artificial neural network and random forest. We found that MLR-SIF has comparable performance to ML algorithms in US-CB, where abundant and high-quality ground measurements of crop yield are routinely available (for model calibration). In IGP-WB, MLR-SIF significantly outperforms ML algorithms. These results demonstrate the potential advantage of MLR-SIF for yield estimation in developing countries where ground truth data is limited in quantity and quality. In addition, high-resolution and crop-specific satellite SIF is crucial for accurate yield estimation. Therefore, harnessing the mechanism-guided MLR-SIF and rapidly growing satellite SIF measurements (with high resolution and crop-specificity) hold promise to enhance food security in developing countries towards more effective responses to food crises, agricultural policies, and more efficient commodity pricing.
A framework for addressing the interconnectedness of early warning to action and finance to strengthen multiscale institutional responses to climate shocks and disasters
(Journal Article, 2025-01) Attoh, Emmanuel M. N. A. N.; Amarnath, Giriraj
Early warning systems (EWS) inform decision making and planning in response to climate shocks and catastrophic disasters. However, the current disaster response mechanism falls short due to the fragmented warning, action, and finance systems, coupled with inadequate institutional collaboration, coordination and inclusive engagement for effective anticipatory action. This study addresses this challenge by introducing an Early Warning, Action and Finance (AWARE) platform to promote anticipatory action through multistakeholder engagement. Data from literature re views, expert surveys, and stakeholder workshops in Senegal, Zambia and Sri Lanka helped identify the platform’s needs and priorities. The study draws upon theories of technological frames, interpretative flexibility, boundary objects, social learning, collaborative governance and adaptive co-management to conceptualize a framework for AWARE. Results demonstrate the potential of AWARE as a boundary object that fosters social engagement, active involvement, open communication, collaboration, and shared commitment to safeguarding lives and liveli hoods. Analysis of technological frames and interpretative flexibility underscores the role of social learning in shaping the design and user features that promote multiscale institutional responses to disasters. AWARE aligns with the priorities of the Sendai Framework and emphasizes system thinking, co-production of knowledge, and the need for context-specific solutions to enhance anticipatory action. Recognizing the limitations of one-size-fits-all EWS, the AWARE framework acknowledges contextual factors as barriers to implementation. The study underscores the importance of integrated EWS and collaborative efforts to overcome implementation barriers and improve anticipatory action outcomes.
Nature-based solutions for river restoration and flow management: the case of Kitwe City, Zambia
(Book Chapter, 2025-01-30) Umer, Yakob; Debele, S. E.; Mvula, C.; Amarnath, Giriraj; Chisola, M. N.; Marti-Cardona, B.
River systems worldwide are under significant anthropogenic pressures and climate-related challenges, leading to ecosystem degradation and increased flood risk. This chapter demonstrates how Nature Based Solutions (NbS) can contribute to river restoration while reducing flood risk, supporting wider sustainable goals. To this end, this chapter evaluates the effectiveness of NbS interventions in river restoration and flood risk management in the Kitwe City, Zambia. The methodology involves using a hydraulic model to simulate river flow under different NbS scenarios (retention ponds and woodland reforestation), and to compare the simulated flood depth and flow velocity in pre- and post-intervention conditions. The findings indicate that the presence of NbS significantly reduces flood risks, with retention ponds and woodlands leading to flood depth reductions ranging from 0.09 m to 0.18 m and 0.06 m to 0.11 m, respectively. Regarding flow velocities, retention ponds reduced them by an average of 0.11m/s, and woodlands, by 0.07 m/s. These results indicate that both NbS types reduce flood depth and velocity, with ponds being slightly more effective than woodland in the particular setting of the Kitwe District. The findings suggest that integrating NbS into river restoration can mitigate flood risks, improve ecosystem resilience, and contribute to long-term sustainability. These results inform risk management policies and emphasise the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to upscale NbS for maximum ecological and societal benefits.
Pathways to resilient dryland food systems in Africa: Strategic and tactical choices for accelerated impacts
(Report, 2024) Marenya, Paswel P.; Narmandakh, Davaatseren; Kirui, Leonard; Odhong, Jonathan A.; Sanni Abdulrahman; Aboudoulaye, Soule B.; Adam, Mamadou; Alex, Gerald; Belko, Marème N.; Bett, Charles; Dembele, Bandiougou; Derik, Sakatali P.; De Pee, Eric; Diatta, Cyril; Faye, Ndeye F.; Gichuru, Lilian; Kone, Bouréma; Kazombo, Samson F.M.; Kisilu, Rachael; Mchau, Devotha; Martey, Edward; Mbulwe, Lloyd; Ndubi, Jerika M.; Templer, Noel A.; Ouédraogo, Nofou; Opie, Hellen; Puozaa, Doris K.; Reoungel, Djinodji; Salegua, Venancio; Sawadogo-Compaoré, Eveline; Sime, Mekonnen; Zemedu, Lemma
Africa’s drylands form vital food systems, supporting a significant portion of its population and agricultural activity. However, they face persistent challenges with low productivity, limited market integration, and acute vulnerability to climate shocks. These issues contribute to structural poverty and high rates of undernourishment, highlighting the need for investments to improve rural incomes, enhance resilience, and foster economic growth.
Using participatory processes in Senegal, Guatemala and Kenya to develop gender-sensitive climate information services
(Brief, 2024-12-21) Vyas, Shalika; Giraldo Mendez, Diana
The digital divide is a significant barrier to providing effective CIS. In Kenya, it is estimated that 30% of rural livestock farmers lack the digital literacy needed to access or understand climate advisories. People in rural areas in Guatemala show similar low digital literacy levels, often falling below 40% literacy in using digital tools for agriculture, especially in marginalized Indigenous communities. For women, the challenge is even greater, and in Senegal, they are 25% less likely to have access to mobile phones, limiting their ability to receive crucial climate information. Another barrier is trust. Climate information needs to come from sources that farmers trust—like the local radio, community elders, or fellow farmers— not only meteorological agencies. It is not just a matter of disseminating accurate information; it’s about ensuring that the information is provided in a way that resonates with both men and women farmers. The Livestock and Climate Initiative tackled these challenges by bringing together national meteorological services, socially inclusive CIS, and local knowledge systems. Based on evidence of how best to help farmers, the Initiative is transforming how livestock producers receive and use climate information. We are building partnerships, translating science into actionable advisories using local knowledge and ensuring that even the most marginalized communities can understand and respond to climate risks facing their livestock. This Brief documents the pathways taken to reach our outcomes.
Influencing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(Brief, 2024-12-25) Cramer, Laura K.; Njuguna, Lucy; Arango, Jacobo
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty aimed at combating climate change. Adopted in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, it sets out a framework for international efforts to address the issue of global warming and its impacts. To do this, the UNFCCC fosters international collaboration on various efforts, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing adaptation to experienced and anticipated climate risks, and mobilizing support required for climate action. Under the auspices of the UNFCCC, stakeholders come together at the annual Conference of Parties (COP) and Subsidiary Bodies sessions to deliberate and agree on a way forward on specific issues, particularly on how to operationalize decisions. In this regard, it is crucial to ensure that the priorities and concerns of people in specific contexts are represented in these discussions. The Initiative has therefore focused on documenting how actions to achieve sustainable livestock production can lead to adaptation (building climate resilience and supporting food security and livelihoods) and mitigation (boosting low- emission development). This brief describes the Initiative’s engagement with UNFCCC followed four pathways: (1) influencing the content of the Adaptation Gap Report; (2) participating in the production of the IPCC’sSixth Assessment Report; (3) informing UNFCCC COP negotiations and building the capacity of negotiators in livestock issues; and (4) presenting livestock and climate at successive COPs.
Developing a digital climate-linked credit risk scoring tool for micro-finance institutions and livestock owners in Kenya and Guatemala
(Brief, 2024-12-20) Vyas, Shalika; Giraldo Mendez, Diana
The Livestock and Climate Initiative focuses on improving climate risk management for livestock producers. Using targeted action research, Initiative scientists are creating ‘investable’ solutions to attract finance for livestock owners exposed to increasing climate variability and hazards, such as drought and heat stress. Under Work Package 2, our implementing partner, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, worked with microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Kenya and Guatemala to develop innovative, climate-linked credit risk scoring tools that are now facilitating access to credit for dairy farmers and pastoralists. The approach differed slightly, but both countries’ digitally enabled decision support tools have created socially inclusive financial products that embrace climate risk dimensions. This brief describes the different pathways taken to reach our outcomes.
Enhancing flood resilience: a framework for flood risk management system evaluation
(Report, 2024-12-30) Herath, H. M. M.; Amarnath, Giriraj; Alahacoon, Niranga
Flood risk management faces significant challenges due to its societal, economic, and environmental impacts, which are exacerbated by climate change and its influence on extreme weather events and social dynamics. Recent policies and strategies emphasize flood resilience, shifting from traditional technical approaches to more adaptive, inclusive, and nature-based solutions that address the complex nature of flood risks. Evaluating the impact of flood management projects is essential for assessing their effectiveness in reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience. However, definitions of flood resilience and the effectiveness of strategies remain contested. To address this gap, the research aims to develop a comprehensive framework for systematically evaluating flood resilience, providing guidance for future flood management efforts. The methodology involves conducting a thorough literature review to identify key criteria that link flood risk management, resilience, adaptive capacity, and governance, laying the foundation for the evaluation framework. Flood resilience views floods as opportunities for growth and innovation, fostering more robust, adaptable, and transformative systems that can cope with future uncertainties. Achieving flood resilience requires adaptive and collaborative governance, involving diverse stakeholders such as government agencies, local communities, and the private sector, across multiple scales. The eight parameters for assessing flood resilience focus on key aspects of flood risk governance. These include the capacity to implement diverse management strategies and maintain critical infrastructure, foster multiscale stakeholder collaboration, and involve local communities in decision-making. Other important parameters include flexibility in decision-making, legitimacy through coherent policies, effective risk assessments, resource mobilization, and continuous monitoring and evaluation. Together, these parameters ensure a comprehensive, adaptive, and inclusive approach to managing flood risks and promoting long-term resilience in the face of climate change.
Sustainable operations of tank cascade management committees in Nawagaththegama and Kovilkulam, Sri Lanka: stakeholders perspectives
(Report, 2024-12-30) Herath, Malani; Sivananthan, Piriyanka; Alahacoon, Niranga; Amarasinghe, Upali A.; Amarnath, Giriraj
Adaptation in focus: Kenya’s efforts in climate reporting and resilience
(Blog Post, 2025-01) Njuguna, Lucy; Cramer, Luara; Jalango, Dorcas; Wendo, Hausner
Kenya is taking significant strides in climate reporting and resilience-building by successfully submitting its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) under the Paris Agreement. Developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, the report outlines the country’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, and identifying areas where additional support is needed. It also highlights Kenya’s proactive efforts to address climate challenges, particularly in the face of natural disasters that annually cost the country 3–5% of its GDP. This milestone showcases Kenya’s commitment to global climate action and emphasizes the need for robust adaptation strategies to secure a sustainable future.
Facilitation tools to enhance the alignment of scientific technical assistance with agribusinesses and create buy-in among key stakeholders: Mutual interview protocol
(Manual, 2024-12-30) Peterson, Nathanial
Effective agribusiness support requires bridging gaps between scientists and companies while addressing two major challenges: scientists’ limited understanding of business realities and the lack of stakeholder alignment within agribusinesses. To improve scientist-company collaboration, we created a mutual interview protocol that fosters efficient, productive discussions and informs future matchmaking. Simultaneously, we developed a communication framework to help companies present scientific insights effectively to key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and securing financial support. These tools aim to improve the adoption of technical assistance, scale CGIAR innovations, and enhance the impact of agribusiness support programs. In developing agribusiness support programs and aligning high-quality scientific technical assistance, two significant challenges emerge. First, top-tier scientists often lack an understanding of the specific business challenges faced by companies, particularly in complex, high-risk contexts like sub-Saharan Africa. Scientists may assume that businesses can prioritize and address potential risks highlighted in their recommendations. However, most companies lack the capacity and financial resources to implement these recommendations. Providing scientists with sufficient context about the business environment is crucial for ensuring their advice is both actionable and tailored to the company’s needs. Programs within the CGIAR system, such as the CGIAR Food Systems Accelerator, aim to bridge this gap by connecting scientists and agribusinesses and providing sufficient time for engagement. However, these programs are highly resource-intensive and difficult to scale, limiting the broader impact CGIAR scientists can have on agribusiness outcomes. Initial attempts to improve efficiency through facilitated meetings proved time-consuming and relied on participants arriving without pre-meeting preparation. To address this, we developed a mutual interview protocol that takes about one hour to complete and can be reviewed by the other party in approximately 20 minutes before their meeting. This approach has, anecdotally, significantly improved meeting efficiency, enabling discussions to progress to outcomes that would typically require 4–6 hours of dialogue. Beyond facilitating immediate collaboration, this instrument also collects data to enhance future matchmaking efforts. The second issue and tool is described in a second submission, linking to that tool. In addition to these tools, solving discrete problems, we also developed an Accelerator Playbook to guide organizations on the development of programs.
Facilitation tools to enhance the alignment of scientific technical assistance with agribusinesses and create buy-in among key stakeholders: Communication framework
(Manual, 2024-12-30) Peterson, Nathanial
Effective agribusiness support requires bridging gaps between scientists and companies while addressing two major challenges: scientists’ limited understanding of business realities and the lack of stakeholder alignment within agribusinesses. To improve scientist-company collaboration, we created a mutual interview protocol that fosters efficient, productive discussions and informs future matchmaking. Simultaneously, we developed a communication framework to help companies present scientific insights effectively to key stakeholders, ensuring alignment and securing financial support. These tools aim to improve the adoption of technical assistance, scale CGIAR innovations, and enhance the impact of agribusiness support programs. A pressing challenge lies in the communication and adoption of technical assistance by agribusiness stakeholders. Agribusinesses are often guided by funders and board members who may not fully understand or appreciate the technical recommendations—particularly when those insights suggest transformative strategic shifts, such as changes in supply chain management or new product development. Even when the initial scientist-company collaboration succeeds, these relationships can falter if the company cannot secure financial support for sustained engagement or if stakeholders feel threatened by the proposed innovations. Paradoxically, the most groundbreaking innovations often generate the greatest resistance. To address this issue, we developed a communication framework enabling companies and scientists to package insights effectively and present them to key stakeholders, including executives, boards, and investors. This tool, currently in early testing with agribusinesses and impact investors in the Nairobi market, takes the form of report template as well as a slide deck template designed to integrate scientific insights into a company’s strategic narrative. The goal is to achieve three levels of buy-in: from company executives, board members, and external investors or grant funders who can support and de-risk scaling CGIAR innovations. By incorporating this communication framework into companies’ investor pitch decks, we hope to enable more effective adoption of scientific insights and foster long-term collaboration. In addition to these tools, solving discrete problems, we also developed an Accelerator Playbook to guide organizations on the development of programs.
Kenyan counties invest in climate adaptation and peace
(Blog Post, 2025-01-23) Gadeberg, Marianne; Schapendonk, Frans; Medina, Leonardo; Jaskolski, Martina
Future climate adaptation investments by Kenya’s County Climate Change Fund (CCCF) are poised to promote peace thanks to research-backed recommendations.

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