Overview – Research

Research Impacts

CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems

IWMI’s research focuses on the key water challenges poor communities face-issues that affect people’s livelihoods and health, as well as the integrity of the environmental services on which they depend. Research thus examines the “water-food-environment nexus”, adopting a multi-disciplinary approach and balancing efficiency and productivity objectives with equity and sustainability concerns.

Seven key Research Themes help IWMI to more effectively produce impact for the benefit of poor farmers, whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and for whom access to water for productive purposes is a key constraint. IWMI recognizes the scope for a more proactive role in knowledge application to increase impact-particularly by interacting closely with other research institutes, policymakers, donors, partners and user communities.

Impact assessment measures have been adopted to systematically evaluate the extent to which IWMI is meeting its goals. They help monitor impact in the context of specific projects, engender an impact culture within the institute, ensure accountability to donors and funding agencies, and align the research agenda with policy changes and stakeholder needs and feedback.

IWMI leads the CGIAR Research Programme on Water Land and Ecosystems.