CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/117900

Part of the CGIAR Action Area on Systems Transformation

Primary CGIAR impact area: Environmental health and biodiversity

https://www.cgiar.org/initiative/28-nexus-gains-realizing-multiple-benefits-across-water-energy-food-forest-biodiversity-systems/

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 132

Transformative Futures for Water Security (TFWS), Southeast Asia Regional Dialogue Report-Regional Dialogue 6, January 17–18, 2023
(Report, 2023-07-01) International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Social Accounting Matrix for Okara District, Pakistan: A Water Resources Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) Project Analysis
(Data Paper, 2025-05-09) Davies, Stephen; Ali, Muhammad Tahir; Akram, Iqra; Hafeez, Mohsin
The aim of this paper is to develop a document to guide the methodology and data resources used to develop a local Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Okara district in Punjab, Pakistan, and to provide an overview of the SAM results. Regional SAMs at lower administrative levels can be used to understand the regional economic impact of geographically targeted policies and shocks. The common data standards, procedures, and classification systems for national SAMs are adapted and modified for these regional SAMs. This approach and paper closely follow the development of SAM construction outlined in IFPRI’s NEXUS Project, which emphasized the need for greater transparency and consistency in SAM construction to strengthen model-based research and policy analysis in developing countries. Utilizing much of that Project’s general structure, our results permit comparisons at regional administrative scales, especially in agriculture and food systems including water resources dimensions. Additionally, this paper develops a companion method to evaluate direct and indirect water use associated with the economic changes produced from SAM analyses. We hope this methodology can be used to develop SAMs for other districts in the future.
CGIAR Research Initiative on NEXUS Gains: Annual Technical Report 2024
(Report, 2025-04-15) CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains
The iGains4Gains model guides irrigation water conservation and allocation to enhance nexus gains across water, food, carbon emissions, and nature
(Journal Article, 2025-02) Lankford, B.; Amdar, Nafn; McCartney, Matthew; Mabhaudhi, T.
This paper introduces and applies iGain4Gains, an Excel-based model, to reveal how changes to water conservation and allocation, and irrigation technology, can produce four nexus gains. These gains are; reduced aggregate water consumption, sustained crop production, lower carbon emissions, and enhanced water availability for nature. We developed the model with limited data and hypothetical future scenarios from the Amman–Zarqa basin in Jordan. Given its significant irrigation and urban water demands and difficult decisions regarding future water allocation and nexus choices, this basin is a highly appropriate case study. The paper’s primary aim is to demonstrate the iGains4Gains nexus model rather than to build an accurate hydrological model of the basin’s water resources. The model addresses two critical questions regarding increased irrigation efficiency. First, can irrigation efficiency and other factors, such as irrigated area, be applied to achieve real water savings while maintaining crop production, ensuring greenhouse gas emission reductions, and ‘freeing’ water for nature? Second, with the insight that water conservation is a distributive/allocative act, we ask who between four paracommoners (the proprietor irrigation system, neighbouring irrigation systems, society, and nature) benefits hydrologically from changes in irrigation efficiency? Recognising nexus gains are not always linear, positive and predictable, the model reveals that achieving all four gains simultaneously is difficult, likely leading to trade-offs such as water consumption rebounds or increased carbon emissions. Demonstrated by its use at a workshop in Jordan in February 2024, iGains4Gains can be used by students, scientists and decision-makers, to explore and understand nexus trade-offs connected to changes in irrigation management. The paper concludes with recommendations for governing water and irrigated agriculture in basins where large volumes of water are withdrawn and depleted by irrigation.
The business or financial models for solar irrigation pumps: unveiling Interconnections, advantages, and trade-offs
(Presentation, 2024-08-08) Mutum, Lamnganbi; Kuriachen, Philip; Taneja, Garima; M. P. M. Deepa; Sikka, Alok; Ringler, Claudia
In pursuit of underscoring the need for a nexus-driven approach in upcoming ventures to effectively manage limited resources, a comprehensive study was undertaken in the Indo-Gangetic plains to assess business and financial models. This exploration delved into four distinct models through intensive Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), totaling 3-4 sessions per model. Notably, the models were interconnected utilizing fuzzy cognitive mapping to visually depict their intricate interdependencies. In conclusion, the SIP model through the PM-KUSUM Scheme proves to be most suitable for large-scale farmers in regions lacking groundwater markets. Conversely, the Guarantee Fund Model provides customized solutions tailored for medium and small-scale farmers. In Bihar, Models SBIG and SBII are notably beneficial for marginal farmers managing small, fragmented land holdings. Moreover, ensuring gender inclusivity in these models underscores the importance of advocating capacity-building strategies, thereby enhancing their efficacy and ensuring equitable benefits for all beneficiaries.
Meta-analysis of yield-emission trade-off in direct seeded vs. puddled transplanted rice: Towards a cleaner and sustainable production
(Journal Article, 2024-11-20) Reddy, K. Srikanth; Parihar, C.M.; Panneerselvam, P.; Sarkar, Ayan; Patra, Kiranmoy; Bharadwaj, Sneha; Sena, D.R.; Reddy, G. Sreeja; Sinha, Alok; Dhakar, Rajkumar; Kumar, Virender; Nayak, Hari Sankar
Conventional rice production through puddled transplanted rice-PTR is tillage, water, energy, and capital intensive. Furthermore, it is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. In this regard, Direct seeded rice-DSR can be a potential alternative to PTR for reducing GHGs emissions, while sustaining yields. However, depending upon agroclimatic situation, whether the effect of DSR on GHGs emission and yield are consistent or not, as compared to PTR need a comprehensive analysis. To bridge this knowledge gap, we performed a meta-analysis synthesizing 876 paired measurements from 54-peer-reviewed studies to understand how DSR impacts N2O and CH4 emissions, global warming potential-GWP (heat-trapping potential of greenhouse gases compared to CO2), yield and C-footprint-CFP (environmental impact in CO2 eq. due to concerned activity). Compared to PTR, DSR decreased CH4 emissions by 70%, GWP by 37% and CFP by 34%, despite 85% increase in N2O emissions. However, this shift comes with 11% decrease in yield. To decipher the primary factors driving these outcomes, we conducted subgroup analyses by taking environmental conditions and management practices as predictors in a random effect model. Low to medium pH soils, zero tillage, puddled soil (wet DSR), conventional flooding, and high nitrogen rates (>200 kg/ha) are found to be favorable for DSR with comparable yields but posing a discrepancy with environmental sustainability benefits. Therefore, further research to evaluate DSR across agro-ecologies, management practices are needed to optimize yields with lower GWP and CFP.
Real exchange rate misalignment and economic growth: An empirical analysis for Ethiopia
(Working Paper, 2024-12-31) Alemnew, Teklebirhan; Taffesse, Alemayehu Seyoum
In both developing and developed economies, academic and policy discussions have consistently emphasized that achieving stable economic growth and maintaining internal and external balance require an exchange rate aligned with its long-term equilibrium value. This paper examines the impact of real exchange rate misalignment on Ethiopia's economic growth from 1980 to 2022. The study begins by estimating the equilibrium real exchange rate using the Behavioral Equilibrium Exchange Rate (BEER) approach to calculate the misalignments. It then analyzes the effects of these misalignments on economic growth using Vector Autoregressive (VAR) and Hansen's (2000) threshold regression model. The VAR and Impulse Response Function (IRF) analyses reveal that real exchange rate misalignments have an immediate positive impact on economic growth, which diminishes between the eighth and sixteenth years and stabilizes as a permanent long-term effect. The threshold regression results indicate that undervaluation of the Ethiopian Birr enhances economic growth up to a 13.95% deviation from the equilibrium real exchange rate, while overvaluation supports growth up to a 7.15% threshold. Beyond these limits, misalignments hinder growth. The study underscores the importance of avoiding excessive deviations from the equilibrium exchange rate to sustain economic growth. Furthermore, it highlights the need for consistent macroeconomic policies to minimize the gap between the actual and equilibrium real exchange rates. These findings emphasize the critical role of exchange rate policy in promoting sustainable economic development in Ethiopia.
World Water Day 2024: Invest in women for peace and water security
(Blog Post, 2024-03-21) Ringler, Claudia
The theme of this year’s World Water Day (March 22), “Water for Peace,” could not come at a more opportune time. Global water, food, and humanitarian crises have reached near-unprecedented levels: As a 2023 conference of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences concluded, “The world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War. These conflicts are major triggers of humanitarian and food crises, reducing access to production factors, social safety nets and trade, and causing forced displacement.” More on World Water Day 2024 from IFPRI’s Claudia Ringler. Humanitarian crises are forcing hundreds of millions of people around the world to live in conditions without dignity. Currently, more than 100 million people are forcibly displaced, while 850 million face medium or high-intensity conflicts and food and water insecurity. Many lack access to basic sanitation and clean water for drinking and other household purposes, and many face hunger. More broadly, 2.2 billion people globally lack access to clean, safe drinking water; while 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services; 3.4 million people die each year from scarce or contaminated water sources. Because water is essential to life, the lack of water is a crisis multiplier—an underlying factor contributing to and compounding conflict and humanitarian crises. But this also means that improving water management can reduce the potential for conflict—and when conflict occurs, help to ease its impacts.
Enhancing smallholder agricultural production through sustainable use of shallow groundwater in the Borkena Catchment, Awash River Basin, Ethiopia
(Journal Article, 2024-10-01) Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Taye, Meron Teferi; Seid, Abdulkarim; Tekleab, S.
With increasing shallow groundwater use for agricultural purposes, understanding the spatiotemporal variability in recharge rates, storage capacity, and its interaction with surface waters becomes crucial for its sustainable management. An integrated SWAT–MODFLOW model is developed to assess shallow groundwater availability in the Borkena catchment. The model is calibrated using streamflow and static groundwater level data. Results show that groundwater recharge in the catchment is 85 mm/a, representing 11% of the mean annual rainfall. Shallow groundwater resources exist across nearly 42% of the Borkena catchment. The percentage of shallow groundwater withdrawal to groundwater recharge is very low (0.1%), signifying the potential for increased shallow groundwater development. However, caution must be taken as its uncontrolled expansion may result in a high risk of depletion. This integrated modeling is one of the few efforts conducted to provide important information regarding shallow groundwater potential in the Borkena catchment, which is essential for the resilience of small-scale producers in the continued growing water demand and climate change.
D4N2024 Presentation Showcase – THEMATIC SESSION 4b: Gender and Social Inclusion
(Presentation, 2024-12-04) Saville, Naomi; Banerjee, Archis; DuttaGupta, Tanaya; Alvi, Muzna; Jolly, Saira Parveen; Nguyen, Phuong Hong; Maringmei, Jasmine; Vaidya, Sneha; Pradhan, Mamata
D4N2024 Presentation Showcase – THEMATIC SESSION 4b: Gender and Social Inclusion Oral presentations Inequalities in dietary adequacy in the remote mountains of Nepal – adolescent girls fare worst Naomi Saville, University College London Hidden Helpers: Adolescent workloads in rural South Asia Archis Banerjee, International Food Policy Research Institute A qualitative inquiry of the effects of social protection and nutrition education on climate resilience of rural women and their households in southern Bangladesh Tanaya Dutta Gupta, International Livestock Research Institute Beyond the Grid: Women’s Empowerment in Energy and Household Well-being in Rural South Asia Muzna Fatima Alvi, International Food Policy Research Institute Women’s Empowerment and Nutritional Status of Children: New Evidence for Bangladesh Saira Parveen Jolly, BRAC University Rapid-fire presentations Trends and Inequities in Adequacy of Micronutrient Intakes in Rural Bangladesh Phuong Hong Nguyen, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute Participation of Women in Delivering Health and Nutrition Outcomes: Evidence from a qualitative study in Andhra Pradesh, India Jasmine Maringmei, Health Systems and Policy Research Specialist, International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Gender Dynamics in Nutrition: Exploring Household Preferences for Staple Foods and Healthy Diets in Relation to Market Access in Western part of Nepal Sneha Vaidya, Research Assistant, Institute of Integrated Development Studies Migrants, beneficiary preferences, and shocks: Evidence from largest social safety net in India Mamata Pradhan, Research Coordinator, International Food Policy Research Institute
Stakeholder engagement strategy for developing integrated food and land use pathways
(Report, 2024-12) Lavado, Angela; Navarrete Frias, Carolina; Declerck, Fabrice; Jones, Sarah
Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana
(Preprint, 2024-04-16) Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; Zhang, Wei; Ringler, Claudia; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.
The growth of dry season farming in Ghana is putting increased pressure on groundwater resources. Using mixed methods this paper examines the learning effect of an experiential groundwater resource game in Ghana’s Upper East Region that simulates real-life resource use and common-pool resource management dilemmas. Results indicate short and medium-term learnings associated with participation in the game. During the game, group interaction and communication improved cooperation and led to more sustainable game behaviors. The positive learning effects from the game persisted 12 months after the intervention. Game participants mentioned sustained lessons learned about the depletable and shared nature of groundwater resources and the importance of communication and collective governance. There were also examples of conscious selection of water conserving crops and the creation community watering schedules to manage water use. Findings highlight the important role experiential learning games can play in fostering real-life behavior change and sustainable natural resource use.
Hydro-economic models for decision making on water optimization in Indus Basin: A Presentation for the NEXUS Gains Community of Practice Program
(Presentation, 2024-12-13) Davies, Stephen; Akram, Iqra; Ali, Muhammad Tahir
A presentation given December 13, 2024 for the CGIAR Nexus Gains Initiative Community of Practice Workshop for Work Package 1. Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Geodatabase and atlas: Khorezm Province, Uzbekistan
(Report, 2024-12-30) Gafurov, Zafar; Eltazarov, Sarvarbek; Yuldashev, Tulkun; Djumaboev, Kakhramon; Zaitov, Sherzod; Kenjabaev, Shavkat
This product highlights the collaborative efforts undertaken to develop a comprehensive geodatabase and atlas for the Khorezm Province, Uzbekistan. It encapsulates spatial data, analyses, and knowledge products aimed at addressing the challenges posed by arid climate conditions, water resource scarcity, and sustainable regional development. Utilizing modern tools like GIS, remote sensing, and climate modeling, this activity provides decision-makers with actionable insights for improving water use efficiency, land management, and ecological resilience in the region.
Digital ecosystems and migration responses to climate extremes: case study from Rahim Yar Khan District, Punjab in Pakistan
(Report, 2024-12-30) Waqar, Kanwal; Hafeez, Mohsin; Rehman, Maryam; Aeman, Hafsa
The report titled "Digital Ecosystems and Migration Responses to Climate Extremes in Pakistan" focuses on the impacts of climate change, particularly in Rahim Yar Khan district, Punjab. A digital ecosystem is a network of digital technologies, individuals, and organizations working together to achieve developmental goals like poverty reduction, economic growth, and improved healthcare and disaster management. The study highlights how climate-induced events like floods and droughts have driven migration, affecting vulnerable communities, especially women. As indicated in recent study, approximately 2 million people in Pakistan are expected to become climate migrants by 2050 due to climate disasters. The report emphasizes the need for better disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, including the role of digital ecosystems, social media, and early warning systems in building community resilience. However, there are challenges, such as limited access to technology, the Gender Digital Divide, and inadequate government support for displaced populations. The study also emphasizes the importance of strengthening institutional capacities at both local and provincial levels to effectively manage climate-induced migrations. By improving disaster response mechanisms and integrating digital technology into these processes, officials can better address the needs of affected communities. The report advocates for the development of internal migration policies that can safeguard migrants' rights and provide essential services, including health, education, and shelter, to displaced populations. Furthermore, it underscores the need for global and regional collaboration to better understand climate change impacts and to devise collective solutions that can mitigate the risks of forced migration. The research methodology employed in this report is robust, involving household surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs) with diverse stakeholders. This comprehensive approach provides a rich dataset that captures the lived experiences of those affected by migration and climate change, as well as the potential role that digital tools could play in enhancing their resilience. Under the CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict and Migration, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Pakistan conducted a comprehensive research case study in Rahim Yar Khan, a disaster-prone district in Punjab Province of Pakistan. One of the key components of FCM's initiative is Work Package (WP)-3, which focuses on the role of the digital ecosystem in building community resilience during climate-induced migration. The case study in Rahim Yar Khan—southern part of Punjab, a high-risk area for drought and floods, provides insights into climate vulnerabilities. As a host community for climate migrants facing multiple natural hazards, Rahim Yar Khan illustrates the complex effects of climate change on economic, social, and environmental dynamics.
Mapping energy use portfolios and household outcomes in Nepal: Insights from farm and household surveys in the Terai and the Mid-hills
(Brief, 2024-12-30) Alvi, Muzna; Sufian, Farha; Singh, Tushar
Rural energy access remains a critical challenge in developing economies, with profound implications for agricultural productivity, household welfare, and gender dynamics. Nepal's diverse geographical landscape—spanning the plains of Terai to the challenging Mid-hills and mountain regions—presents a unique context for understanding energy poverty and its multifaceted impacts. This study examines the intricate relationships between energy infrastructure, household economic status, and social outcomes in rural Nepalese communities. By investigating electricity access, cooking fuel technologies, and agricultural mechanization, we reveal how energy transitions are not merely technical interventions but complex social processes that reshape household labor, economic opportunities, and gender relations. Our research highlights the significant disparities in energy access between different geographical regions and wealth quintiles. Beyond infrastructure, we explore how energy technologies interact with dietary diversity, women's empowerment, and agricultural productivity. The findings underscore the need for nuanced, context-specific energy policies that consider local socioeconomic and geographical variations.
Strengthening evidence-based policymaking through WEFE modeling
(Report, 2024-12-04) Getaneh, Yonas; Balcha, Yodit; Abera, Wuletawu
Through the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT has been implementing the development of Water-Energy-Food and Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus analysis modeling tools using the FABLE Calculator (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land use and Energy) at the national scale. To this end, an inter-institutional Technical Working Group (TWG)—composed of sectoral ministries and government institutions working in the areas of food and land-use systems (food, climate mitigation, biodiversity, livestock, energy, fertilizer use, water, and macroeconomy)—was created to co-develop WEFE national pathways and targets, as well as conduct capacity-building training to enable/ training relevant stakeholders on the use of nexus tools for policy coherence. This report highlights the process and insights from the latest in a series of three TWG workshops, showcasing the refinement of development pathways and the introduction of an accessible Dashboard to support evidence-based policymaking through improved understanding of synergies, trade-offs, and sectoral priorities.
Crop diversification for sustainable farming: What do farmers think?
(Blog Post, 2024-12-16) Dubey, Swatantra Kumar; Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan; Deb, Proloy; Urfels, Anton; Kumar, Virender
To shed light on farmers’ perspectives on crop diversification in India, and to identify the challenges encountered, NEXUS Gains conducted a series of focus group discussions across four districts of Haryana. Participants included 50 progressive farmers from the Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonipat districts of Haryana Province.
Groundbreaking assessment highlights the importance of an integrated approach to climate change, biodiversity, food, water, and human health
(Blog Post, 2024-12-18) DeClerck, Fabrice A.J.
The IPBES Assessment Report on the Interlinkages Among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health (and Climate) – known as the Nexus Report – was officially approved by 147 countries on 16 December 2024. This milestone marks the culmination of efforts to which NEXUS Gains, and before it the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), have contributed substantially since 2019. The assessment focuses on more than 70 solutions available to policy makers, including managing ecosystem function in agricultural landscapes; reducing nutrient, plastic, and pesticide pollution; and shifting to sustainable healthy diets.
Effects of experiential learning on women’s participation in agricultural decision making in India
(Brief, 2024-12-18) Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; ElDidi, Hagar; Falk, Thomas; Sanil, Richu
Women’s decision-making in agriculture has received considerable research and policy attention in recent years. Decision-making is a key aspect of empowerment. For example, women’s input in productive decisions is a key indicator in the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI). Inclusion of women in decision-making can also help ensure that their knowledge and priorities are considered, which can lead to better agricultural outcomes and resource conditions. A cross-sectional study found that in Burkina Faso, India, Malawi, and Tanzania, households where women were more included in decision making on agricultural production produced more varied food-group crops with higher nutrient density. The question is how to strengthen women’s decision-making ability. A review of 12 agricultural development projects with explicit aims for women’s empowerment found that only 3 had a significant impact on women’s participation in agricultural and livelihood decision-making. An evidence scan on programmatic approaches to increasing women’s decision-making power found that the majority of such interventions focused on household- or community-level changes to social norms, technical training, or leadership, role models, and mentoring. The study notes the need for more contextualized studies of different programmatic approaches to increase women’s decision-making power and outcomes associated with the interventions.

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