Download SRP 5 ACTIVITY CLUSTER 1 Decision Analysis — identifying high

SRP 5 ACTIVITY CLUSTER 1
Decision Analysis — identifying high value information needs for revitalizing agriculture,
supporting ecosystems and improving livelihoods
Tagline (if available)
Connecting research to development decisions
Problem to be addressed: (100 words)
Development decisions related to agricultural intensification, ecosystem management and
improving livelihoods are most often sub-optimal due to lack of sufficient relevant information
on areas of large uncertainty. There is insufficient clarity on what are the key uncertainties in
important development decisions (where the cost of being wrong is high), and as a result
research, measurements and information products are often not useful. A systematic approach to
analyzing development decisions, using decision sciences, would help to (i) pinpoint high value
information needs, (ii) increase the efficiency of research and (iii) provide a framework to better
connect research, measurements and information systems to development outcomes.
Development objective (SLO link)
Improved understanding of development decision processes and more systematic identification of
high value information needs will result in more rapid and more efficient generation of
information products and accelerated learning on effective options for sustainable intensification
of agriculture in developing countries (food security, nutrition, health, and poverty, NRM).
Intermediate Development objective (long). (100 words)
Governments, research and development organizations increasingly design and monitor the
effectiveness of intervention strategies for sustainable agro-ecosystem management based on
systematic and quantitative analysis of key decisions. CGIAR research and information products
target high value information needs for achieving development outcomes.
Research outcomes (50 words)
Governments, research and development organizations use decision analysis tools to better target
measurement, monitoring and information services to key uncertainties in development decisions
related to agricultural intensification and management of ecosystem services.
Increased capacity of the CGIAR, Governments, universities, development NGOs, and
conservation groups in decision analysis for sustainable agricultural intensification and improved
management of ecosystem services.
Expected activities & outputs (100 words)
Activities:
Development of new decision analysis approaches for pinpointing high value information needs
and their application to a portfolio of important development decisions for sustainable
intensification.
Outputs:
● Improved methods for structuring decisions and value of information analysis, illustrated
with case studies. Applied Information Economics framework for forecasting development
impacts.
● Participatory analysis of a set of key development decisions related to water, land and
ecosystem management at different scales, leading to identification of key objectives,
quantification of uncertainties and identification of high value information and
measurements.
Theory of change (50 words)
Systematic scientific analysis of decision problems often leads to counter-intuitive conclusions on
what are the critical decisions, which are the key uncertainties, and what measurements and
information have high value for reducing uncertainties. Development and wider use of applied
information economics and related decision science methods by the CGIAR and development
partners will make transformative increases in the effectiveness of information systems research
and accelerated learning on effective interventions for sustainable intensification of agriculture in
developing countries.
Approximate timescales for delivery: 1-5 years
Budget over next 3-5 years: $3 million/y over 5 years
SRP 5 ACTIVITY CLUSTER 2
Title (15 words)
Agro-ecosystem health metrics and monitoring
Tagline (if available)
Measuring agro-ecosystem health
Problem to be addressed: (100 words)
There is increasing demand for data on the status and trends in agro-ecosystem health from
different categories of users from global to local scale to help guide sustainable intensification
and management of agro-ecosystems. New advances in earth observation and proximal sensing in
the field and laboratory are transforming our ability to provide accurate information over large
areas. However progress is hampered by a lack of systematic approaches to defining and
measuring indicators of agro-ecosystem health and making the easily accessible in useful forms.
Development objective (SLO link)
Improved methods, data and monitoring of agro-ecosystem health metrics improve decision
making at different scales on sustainable intensification of agriculture in developing countries
(food security, nutrition, health, and poverty, NRM).
Intermediate Development objective (long). (100 words)
Governments in food insecure countries in CGIAR regions use agro-ecosystem health metrics and
monitoring systems as a basis for the design and implementation of investments and interventions
for sustainable agricultural intensification, including policy and financial instruments for
increasing productivity, managing/sharing risk, valuing and protecting ecosystem services.
Research outcomes (50 words)
Governments adopt ecosystem health surveillance methods for national- and sub-national level
agricultural planning and natural resource management. Increased capacity of Governments,
universities, development NGOs, and conservation groups in agro-ecosystem health surveillance
science, technology and methods.
Expected activities & outputs (100 words)
Activities:
International working group to define consistent agro-ecosystem health metrics and measurement
protocols, with links to the Integrated Monitoring System for Ecosystem Services
in African
Agricultural Landscapes project.
. Geosciences hubs, labs and partnerships for consistent processing of metrics and capacity
building across CGIAR regions.
Outputs:
● Standardized protocols for deriving agro-ecosystem health metrics at different scales (remote
sensing to field/lab measurement) developed and applied in CRP5 study areas.
● Review of indicators, metrics and monitoring systems for agriculture, poverty and
environment.
● New methods for remote sensing of water balance components and water quality monitoring;
digital mapping of irrigated areas, water productivity, groundwater use, and soil salinity.
● Web-based spatial data and visualization platform providing open access to regional/basin
data sets on agro-ecosystem health metrics at regional, basin and sentinel site scales.
Tailored information products include maps of ecosystem health and human well-being
indicators, water productivity, rainfed, pastoral and irrigated areas, salinity affected areas,
● Capacity development of national scientists, universities and development organizations in
ecosystem health assessment and monitoring protocols and information products.
Theory of change (50 words)
Provision of high quality, well-presented and easily accessible data on agro-ecosystem health
metrics and strengthened national capacity in state-of-the-art agro-ecosystem surveillance
methods will together drive evidence-based planning, implementation and evaluation of water,
land and ecosystem management policy and practice at local to global scales. Improved evidencebased planning and management will in turn accelerate reliable learning on successful agricultural
intensification strategies.
Approximate timescales for delivery: 2-5 years
Budget over next 3-5 years: $3 million/y over 2 years, expanding to $5 million/y in years 3-5.
SRP 5 ACTIVITY CLUSTER 3
Title (15 words)
Institutionalizing Soil Health Surveillance Systems in Africa
Tagline (if available)
Evidence-based management of Africa’s soils - AfricaSoils
Problem to be addressed: (100 words)
Improving soil health and reversing soil and land degradation in sub-Saharan Africa is key to
sustainable agriculture and development, addressing challenges such as food insecurity, climate
change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. Current soil information is sparse and
inconsistent and does not meet stakeholder decision needs. There are now tested possibilities for
rapidly delivering location and near-real time specific information by integrating innovative
ground and laboratory measurements with high resolution remote sensing imagery, advanced
spatial analytics, and internet-based information delivery technology. Institutionalization of these
innovations can support high economic, social and environmental returns on investments in
agriculture that will improve the livelihoods of farming communities in Africa while safeguarding
the environment.
Development objective (SLO link)
Improved information on soil health will support decisions on investments from national to land
user level that increase productivity, profitability and nutritional value of major food crops in the
smallholder sector (food security, nutrition, health, and poverty), and improve agro-ecosystem
services (NRM).
Intermediate Development objective (long). (100 words)
African governments deploy soil health surveillance methods and location specific data on soil
and land health to (i) target fertilizer and soil fertility management and investment strategies, and
(ii) formulate and monitor land conservation and rehabilitation strategies and plans. Public and
private soil testing laboratories use new infrared spectroscopy technology to provide affordable
advisory services to smallholder farmers.
Research outcomes (50 words)
Advances in soil health surveillance developed under the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS)
institutionalized at national level through capacity development in four African countries (Ghana,
Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania). Increased capacity of Governments, universities, development
NGOs, and conservation groups in soil health surveillance science, technology and methods.
Business models with public and private sector for commercial soil testing services for
smallholder farmers based on infrared spectroscopy.
Expected activities & outputs (100 words)
Activities:
Implementation of capacity development and advisory programmes for national soil information
systems. Development of soil health surveillance innovations and information products tailored to
specific needs.
Outputs:
● National soil health surveillance systems operational and a well-supported soil infrared
spectroscopy network in Africa.
● Protocols for soil and field data collection, soil spectroscopic methods and digital mapping of
soil/land health indicators.
●
●
Infrared calibration libraries and databases of Africa soil functional properties.
Digital maps and prevalence estimates of key soil constraints in Africa, and demonstration of
information products for specific stakeholder decisions.
Theory of change (50 words)
Development of national and private sector capacity in soil health surveillance and associated
technology will lead to generation and use of relevant soil information for evidence-based
decision-making on agriculture and landscape management in Africa at different scales,
stimulating investments in sustainable agricultural intensification, which in turn will result in
improved soil productivity, food crop yields and quality, and farm incomes, supported by healthy
ecosystems.
Approximate timescales for delivery: 5 years
Budget over next 3-5 years: $8 million/y over 5 years