Box 4.3: About the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change,
Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
1
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food
Security (CCAFS) is a strategic partnership of CGIAR and Future Earth led
by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). CCAFS brings
together the world’s best researchers in agricultural science, development
research, climate science and Earth System science to identify and address the
most important interactions, synergies and trade-offs between climate
change, agriculture and food security. For more information see ccafs.cgiar.
org
As an R4D program working on addressing the complexities of climate
change, agriculture and food security, the main goal of CCAFS is to improve
the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and poor people in target countries
in Asia, Africa and Latin America. While CCAFS is at the cutting edge
of generating demand-driven science products, it also plays a bridging
role: to transform credible scientific evidence and results into development
outcomes. A key underlying principle the CCAFS management team subscribes to is the “Three-Thirds Principle”: one third of effort engaging with
partners to decide what needs to be done and how; one third on doing the
actual research, often in partnership; and one third on sharing results in
appropriate formats and strengthening capacity of next users to utilize the
research to achieve outcomes and impact. Deep engagement with stakeholders with the support from a wide network of partners to get sciencebased solutions to practical problems is fundamental to the CCAFS approach
(CCAFS 2014).
CCAFS has been one of the programs at the forefront of testing and paving
the way for moving a multi-million dollar R4D program from a logframe
approach to an outcome-focused approach. Additionally, it has put in place a
MEL mechanism for programmatic RBM, including elements of adaptive
management.
1 CCAFS started as a Challenge Program (2009–2011), and then became a CRP with Phase
1 (2012–2014) and an Extension Phase (2015–2016). The proposal for Phase 2 (2017–2022)
is currently under development. We acknowledge support to CCAFS from the CGIAR Fund
Council, European Union, and International Fund for Agricultural Development. We also
acknowledge the inputs of many people in the work and activities described here.
60
T. Schuetz et al.
Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
1
The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food
Security (CCAFS) is a strategic partnership of CGIAR and Future Earth led
by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). CCAFS brings
together the world’s best researchers in agricultural science, development
research, climate science and Earth System science to identify and address the
most important interactions, synergies and trade-offs between climate
change, agriculture and food security. For more information see ccafs.cgiar.
org
As an R4D program working on addressing the complexities of climate
change, agriculture and food security, the main goal of CCAFS is to improve
the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and poor people in target countries
in Asia, Africa and Latin America. While CCAFS is at the cutting edge
of generating demand-driven science products, it also plays a bridging
role: to transform credible scientific evidence and results into development
outcomes. A key underlying principle the CCAFS management team subscribes to is the “Three-Thirds Principle”: one third of effort engaging with
partners to decide what needs to be done and how; one third on doing the
actual research, often in partnership; and one third on sharing results in
appropriate formats and strengthening capacity of next users to utilize the
research to achieve outcomes and impact. Deep engagement with stakeholders with the support from a wide network of partners to get sciencebased solutions to practical problems is fundamental to the CCAFS approach
(CCAFS 2014).
CCAFS has been one of the programs at the forefront of testing and paving
the way for moving a multi-million dollar R4D program from a logframe
approach to an outcome-focused approach. Additionally, it has put in place a
MEL mechanism for programmatic RBM, including elements of adaptive
management.
1 CCAFS started as a Challenge Program (2009–2011), and then became a CRP with Phase
1 (2012–2014) and an Extension Phase (2015–2016). The proposal for Phase 2 (2017–2022)
is currently under development. We acknowledge support to CCAFS from the CGIAR Fund
Council, European Union, and International Fund for Agricultural Development. We also
acknowledge the inputs of many people in the work and activities described here.
60
T. Schuetz et al.