Program areas at IWMI
Water, food and ecosystems (wfe): agriculture is the engine of food security, the largest global user of Water and, in developing countries, an important source of employment for poor people. As competition for Water intensifies, food systems must become more sustainable and resilient, and better able to meet the nutritional needs of growing populations without undermining the landscapes and ecosystems on which they depend. Research is needed to enhance agricultural productivity, develop technologies and policies that promote sustainable agricultural intensification, and identify ways to integrate nature-based infrastructure into the Management of rural landscapes.
Water, growth and inclusion (wgi): Water security is key for sustainable and inclusive growth, underpinning almost all types of economic activity - from farming to manufacturing, energy, and transport. Water scarcity, floods, pollution and conflict over Water all pose threats to people and economies. How Water is allocated between agriculture and cities or among competing sectors affects growth and the sharing of its benefits across societies. Water Management should occupy a central place in development plans and strategies, helping to achieve equitable and inclusive growth. Research is needed to explain how Water affects the dynamics of growth, the implications of Water resource allocation and Water policies for economic development, the roles of institutions and incentives in Water Management, its impacts on gender and inclusion, and the real or perceived trade-offs between growth and sustainability.
Water, climate change and resilience (wcr): enhanced Water resources Management and more resilient Water services are essential for adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change, and for strengthening the resilience of communities, ecosystems and economies. Research is needed, for example, on scenarios for Water Management and allocation in agriculture and across sectors under future climates, policies and technologies for disaster preparedness and response, climate-smart strategies for Water storage and the development of financial remediation schemes such as insurance.
- Water data science & digital innovation- program Management unit of cgiar research program on Water, land and ecosystems- other miscellaneous program services