On behalf of collaborating CGIAR Centers, partners, and stakeholders who played a vital role in its development, ICARDA and ICRISAT launched the CGIAR 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) at COP16 in Riyadh, KSA in December 2024. The GSRD sets out CGIAR’s steadfast commitment to harnessing cutting-edge agri-science and technology to tackle the complex challenges facing global dryland communities, exacerbated by climate change, conflicts, and outdated agricultural practices. This session led by CGIAR center and system leadership frames the discussions to follow

Opening Remarks: 

Augusto Becerra: Deputy Director General - Research, ICARDA
Marcela Quintero: Associate Director General, Research Strategy, and Innovation for the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

Sarah Hearne: Chief Science and Innovation Officer (CSO) at CIMMYT
Stan Blade: Deputy Director General-Research and Innovation, ICRISAT
Rachel McDonnell: Deputy Director General – Research for Development, IWMI
Purmina Menon: Senior Director for Food and Nutrition Policy

This session illustrates how CGIAR and partners are optimizing collective expertise, knowledge, and innovation to benefit rural communities and marginalized groups in dryland areas. The session comprises three short presentations with panelists and audience Q&A. Theme moderator: Andre van Rooyen, ICRISAT

Developing resilience in drylands through CGIAR-NARES partnerships for crop improvement. [08:50-09:55] This presentation and panel discussion explores the establishment of the Africa Dryland Crop Improvement Network (ADCIN) that represents a transformative step forward in African agricultural collaboration, turning dryland crop challenges into opportunities for growth, resilience, and prosperity for farmers. Central to the ADCIN’s approach is the shared breeding pipeline, a collaborative framework that integrates the efforts of NARES and CGIAR to co-design, co-develop, and co-implement a unified research agenda. This strategy enhances the development and commercial viability of new crop varieties—including sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, groundnut, chickpea, and pigeon pea—across Eastern and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa.  Presenters: Chris Ojiewo, CIMMYT; Mark Nas, CIMMYT; Mariam Coulibali, INERA, Burkina Faso.

Panelists: Kevin Pixley, CIMMYT; Rekiya Abdulmalik, Ahmadu Bello University; Charles Bett, KALRO; Eveline Compaore, INERA; Harish Gandhi, CIMMYT; Bright Jumbo, ICRISAT.

 CGIAR’s Integrated Desert Farming Systems - Transformative Food Systems for Resilient Dryland Livelihoods. [10:00-10:30] This panel discussion introduces Integrated Desert Farming Systems (IDFS) - innovative approaches designed to revitalize global dry regions and generate sustainable food systems in previously untenable hot and water-scarce areas, including hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid drylands. IDFS leverages and combines the global dryland agri-research and technologies of CGIAR and its network of partners, to foster innovation and scale proven solutions to generate a food- and nutrition-secure future for millions of people living in the drylands and beyond. Panelists: Vinay Nangia, ICARDA; Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA; Tarifa Alzaabi, ICBA; ML Jat, ICRISAT; Steven Were Omamo, IFPRI; Olufunke Cofie, IWMI; Jorn Schmidt,  WorldFish; Charles Spillane, University of Galway.

Unlocking Opportunities for Dryland Cereal Food Systems. [10:35-11:05] This panel discussion introduces the IsDB Regional Wheat – Millet – Sorghum Food Security, Trade and Transformation Program that seeks to enhance Africa’s dryland wheat-sorghum-millet value chain from sustainable production to supply chain development while supporting agroecological intensification, ecosystem services, and safeguarding nutritional diversity. Panelists: Andre Van Rooyen, ICRISAT; Stanford Blade, ICRISAT; Ougfaly Badji, Islamic Development Bank; Rebbie Harawa, ICRISAT

11:00– 11:30: Short Break

In the Horn of Africa and elsewhere, drought and other shocks, as well as conflict and climate variability significantly impact the food security and livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, potentially overwhelming their long-standing resilience strategies and undermining food, land and water systems vital to the region’s sustainable development. Early – and anticipatory – actions are emerging as the cornerstones for effective preparation, response and recovery against shocks. Acting in advance of a crisis reduces its impact on the poorest, contributes to community resilience in the longer term and is less costly than emergency assistance. The session comprises three very short presentations, followed by audience interaction and a policy panel. Theme moderator: Alan Duncan, University of Edinburgh/Jameel Observatory

Presentations:

 Early action to manage droughts, food insecurity and environmental shocks in the Horn of Africa. [11:30-11:50] Speakers will showcase initiatives of the Jameel Observatory and partners that broker science, knowledge, and real-world action – through capacity sharing, collaborative research and inclusive dialogue – to better manage shocks and boost food security early action in drylands of the Horn of Africa.

Presenters: Tahira Mohamed and Samuel Derbyshire, ILRI and Jameel Observatory

 Drought action catalyst: transforming innovation into resilience for a climate-secure future. [11:55-12:10] Speakers will showcase cutting-edge approaches to address the dual challenges of drought and water scarcity in the context of climate change. The session will highlight the Drought Action Catalyst, an initiative designed to transform innovative solutions into actionable resilience strategies. With droughts affecting over 1.6 billion people and causing economic losses of more than $240 billion globally since 2000, the Catalyst integrates sustainable water and land management, early warning systems, and adaptive governance to enhance preparedness and mitigate risks.

Presenter:  Rachael McDonnell, DDG research, International Water Management Institute
 
Innovative water and pasture monitoring and early warning system - driving early action to tackle climate risks and manage conflicts in pastoral areas of the IGAD region. [12:15-12:30] Speakers will highlight the critical roles of real-time data and community-driven solutions in empowering vulnerable pastoral communities to enhance climate resilience, improve drought management, and mitigate resource-induced conflicts. Furthermore, the demonstration will showcase how the system is currently utilized for anticipatory action by various stakeholders, including the end users’ pastoralists to respond to climate-induced droughts. The session will showcase a pioneering water and pasture monitoring-forecasting-early warning system developed in Ethiopia, which integrates satellite data, field observations, and community engagement.

Presenter: Sintayehu Alemayehu, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT

Audience interaction and policy and partner panel [12:30-13:15] Panelists reflect on the key messages and propose priority collaborations and actions. Panelists: Guyo Malicha Roba; others TBC

This session introduces an innovative and comprehensive initiative in the making to combat the Red Palm Weevil (RPW), a devastating pest threatening palm cultivation worldwide. This three-year, multi-institutional project, led by ICARDA in collaboration with global partners, aims to develop, test, adapt, and scale sustainable solutions for RPW management, starting with the UAE as a focal point and extending to low- and middle-income countries globally. Speakers: Fatema AlMulla (UAE Presidential Court), Ruben Echeverria (Gates Foundation), Aly Abousabaa (ICARDA), Michael Baum (ICARDA), Augusto Beccera (ICARDA), Samira Faris (icipe), Leena Tripathi (IITA), Srikanth Rupavatharam (ICRISAT), Ganga Rao (ICBA).

We invite you to join ICARDA Director General Aly Abousabaa, ICRISAT Director General Dr. Himanshu Pathak, and other distinguished speakers and partners for a dynamic and strategic discussion on how to effectively implement the global drylands strategy to serve rural communities and marginalized groups across the global dryland regions.

The event will focus on implementing the GSRD, emphasizing the optimization of collective expertise, knowledge, and innovation to benefit rural communities and marginalized groups in dryland areas. Furthermore, speakers and audience will discuss resource mobilization strategies to ensure the formulation and actualizing of this strategy.