Systemwide Initiative on Malaria and Agriculture (SIMA)

Responsible center

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Project Duration: 

2000 – 2006

Geographical Focus: 

The SIMA purpose is being achieved through the following three outputs and associated activities: 

Output #1— Knowledge base expanded
This output involves three thematic areas of research aimed at  creating  a sound  knowledge base on:   the impacts of agriculture on malaria; impact of  malaria on agricultural productivity;  innovative anti-malaria interventions.

Activities:  Facilitate research projects that: (a), analyze the impact of environment and livelihood changes related to agriculture on malaria; (b), assess the impact of malaria on agricultural productivity, livelihoods and economic growth; (c), field test,  validate and demonstrate  innovative intervention ideas for effectiveness and feasibility.

An ecosystem (holistic) approach is applied to the bulk of research projects supported through SIMA.  The reason for this is that in spite of increased awareness regarding the complexity of malaria determinants in Africa and elsewhere in the tropics, there has been little change in the piece-meal approaches used to address the various components of disease transmission.  Most other current and past research on malaria rarely focuses on the big picture and is often devoid of anthropogenic considerations, essential for the development of sustainable malaria interventions.  These are issues that SIMA research projects seriously take into account. 

Output #2  Research capacity built
This output aims to build research capacity in malaria endemic countries.

Activities:  Identify needs for training and capacity building; Organize training workshops on trans-disciplinary and participatory research approaches; Facilitate the training of graduate students;  Organize policy level workshops / round tables.

Output #3— Research information disseminated
This output aims to disseminate the results from SIMA research projects to health, agricultural and development sectors in malaria endemic countries. 

Activities: Disseminate results from SIMA research projects across different sectors; Manage SIMA website; Provide inputs to key malaria and agriculture conferences; Commission research syntheses / reviews and policy briefs.  .

Operational modalities
SIMA as an international research and capacity-building program is open to participation by all parties with an interest in the promotion of cross-sectoral, transdisciplinary and participatory research for a better understanding of the links between malaria and agriculture.  IWMI is the convening institute of SIMA and has the overall responsibility for facilitation and coordination of the Initiative.

Goal 

Malaria reduction resulting in improved health and well-being,  increased agricultural productivity, and poverty alleviation.

Project Purpose

Specific Objectives

Partners 

Other CGIAR Centers:International Livestock Research  Institute (ILRI); International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA).

Other International Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs): International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)

            Other partners:

Developing countries:  National agricultural research and malaria control programs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ghana, Ethiopia
Developed countries:  Canada – IDRC; Denmark - University of Copenhagen, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory (DBL); World Health   Organization; United Kingdom - Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM); USA – Duke University

Donors

IDRC; Dutch Government; African Development Bank; USAID; World Bank