Abstract
The CRP on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) aims to “learn how to intensify farming activities, expand agricultural areas and restore degraded lands, while using natural resources wisely and minimizing harmful impacts on supporting ecosystems.”
WLE is led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). It encompasses nearly all research at IWMI, but it is a partnership of 11 participating CGIAR Centers, with CIAT, Bioversity, ICRAF, and IITA as the most significant partners.
WLE comprises five Strategic Research Portfolios (SRPs): (1) irrigated agriculture; (2) rainfed agriculture; (3) resource recovery and reuse; (4) river basins [into which CPWF merged]; and (5) information systems technology. Two additional themes are “Gender, Poverty, and Institutions” and “Ecosystem Services and Resilience,” themes which cut across the five SRPs. Focusing on Africa and Asia, WLE has selected the Volta, Nile, Ganges, and Mekong river basins for particular emphasis in its research, policy influence, and partnership outreach activities.
The primary purpose of this evaluation is to enhance the contribution that the CRP on Water, Land and Ecosystems is likely to make towards reaching the CGIAR goals on reducing poverty, improving food security, and managing natural resources sustainably.
As for all CRP evaluations, the purpose is to provide essential evaluative information for decision-making by Program management and its funders on issues such as extension, expansion and structuring of the program and adjustments in some aspects of the program.
