The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF): Insights from 66 projects over five years in Phase 1 Larry Harrington Research Director, CPWF

International Centers supported by the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research)

2004 – Generation Challenge Program – Harvest Plus – Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) 2005 – Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program 2008 – Climate change, agriculture and food security CGIAR Challenge Programs

CGIAR Future Harvest Centers Natl Agricultural Research and Extension Systems Advanced Research Institutes International River Basin Organizations International NGOs ARCYRCCAREO CPWF partners

Per capita water supply

Phase 1 projects in the Limpopo (Awarded through open competition from proposals submitted by local partners) 1. Crop Water Technology and Markets 17. IWRM for Improved Rural Livelihoods 28. Multiple Use Systems for Water 30. Wetlands, Social Welfare & Environmental Security 36. Improved Livelihoods through Dam Management 46. Small Multi-Purpose Reservoir Ensemble Planning 47. African Models of Transboundary Governance 53. Food and Water Security under Global Change 66. Water Rights in Informal Economies Basin Focal Project Photo: CPWF

Insights from Phase 1 (results from 66 projects over five years) Water flows downhill – but money and power can flow uphill – Upstream water management affects downstream users – Limpopo, Mekong, Andes, Nile – Benefit sharing can work - Andes – Plot-level water savings do not always convert to basin-level savings - Ganges Water scarcity is not always the main driver of poverty - Ganges – Annual flows vs. seasonal scarcity – Limpopo, Volta, Nile – Water access, variability, floods also affect poverty – Limpopo, Ganges – Policy environment/ development trajectory often most important – Iran, Thailand, S Africa The concept of agricultural water productivity is useful – Water productivity often very low - helps define opportunities for improvement – Best water-related investments not always where water productivity is low Effective innovations in water for food are often complex – Integration of technology, institutions, policy reform – Limpopo, Nile – Community empowerment - Andes – Stakeholder dialogue can lead to win-win outcomes – Mekong – Great potential from MUS Ecosystem services important but often ignored when designing innovations Todays water-related investments for tomorrows water needs Water researchers and food researchers need to join forces