Ifpri Podcast

POLICY SEMINAR Virtual Event - Building back better: How can public food and agricultural research institutions be strengthened and rebuilt after the COVID-19 pandemic? Co-Organized by IFPRI and the International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) FEB 2, 2021 - 09:30 AM TO 11:00 AM EST The COVID-19 pandemic presents new challenges and new opportunities for publicly funded food and agricultural research in the global South. Growing government deficits related to the pandemic threaten funding for research needed for sustainable and healthy food systems. Yet, the pandemic and current health research could also spur greater investment in agricultural research. Spillovers from government and industry research and investment to fight COVID-19 may benefit agricultural research. This work has raised government and public awareness of the importance of biological research and of the links between agricultural and human health. In addition, new tools such as genomics, CRISPR, and information technology

PIM Virtual Launch Event Forest Tenure Pathways to Gender Equality: A Practitioner's Guide January 29, 2021, 9:00-10:00 AM EST There is no one single approach to reforming forest tenure practices for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment. Rather, it involves taking advantage of opportunities that emerge in various institutional arenas, such as policy and law-making and implementation, government administration, customary or community-based tenure governance, or forest restoration at the landscape scale. The overall aim is to promote the responsible governance of forest tenure so that it serves the interests of both women and men of all backgrounds. A new practitioner’s guide prepared by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) authors with support from the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) and other donors* explains how to promote gender-responsive forest tenure reform in community-based forest regimes. It is aimed at those taking up this challenge

POLICY SEMINAR Local vs Global? The role of trade in building food system resilience JAN 13, 2021 - 09:30 AM TO 11:00 AM EST As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global economy and put pressure on food supply chains, debate has resurged about the role of trade in protecting food security. Though food supply chains have proved fairly resilient during the outbreak, many countries have faced both severe disruptions in supply and shifts in food demand. A few have responded with protectionist measures—namely export bans on key staple foods—with the intent of protecting domestic consumers, but depriving those abroad. These measures raise the question: Are food systems strongly connected with global value chains more vulnerable to disruptions or more resilient than more localized food systems? This seminar will bring together food system experts from the research community, policymaking organizations, and the private sector to discuss whether localized food systems with shorter supply chains a

Virtual Event - CGIAR COVID-19 Hub: Supporting National Responses to a Global Pandemic Co-Organized by IFPRI and CGIAR COVID-19 Hub JAN 12, 2021 - 09:30 AM TO 11:00 AM EST As the global leader in agricultural research, CGIAR took action in the earliest days of the pandemic to counter the potentially devastating impact on food security and nutrition worldwide. The CGIAR COVID-19 Hub mobilizes multidisciplinary research and innovation in support of national response efforts. This seminar brings together researchers and national partners from Bangladesh and Ethiopia, the Hub’s pilot countries, to reflect on progress made and lessons learned. Looking ahead, they will also consider key priorities for mitigating threats to food systems that could arise from similar shocks in the future. Representatives from Malawi, Myanmar, and Nigeria will also share reflections on national priorities, as the three countries begin working with the CGIAR COVID Hub. Opening Remarks -John McDermott, Director, A4NH and co-lead, CGI

The coronavirus outbreak has affected trade in food and farm goods, imperiling efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition and adding to pressure already on the farm sector from climate change. The pandemic-induced postponement of the WTO’s next ministerial conference and ongoing tensions among major economies have affected both the substance and process of updating the global trade rulebook. As governments revisit priorities in this new context, they should engage with various constituencies in their region and beyond to build an inclusive public policy vision – one that can contribute to economic recovery and improve resilience to future food system shocks. With South Asia home to millions of small farmers, and food insecurity a persistent challenge in both rural and urban areas, policies affecting markets for food and agriculture remain highly controversial in the region. While economic growth has contributed to rising incomes and evolving patterns of demand, South Asia’s agrifood sector also faces a growin

This webinar organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) and Food Security Portal on December 11, 2020 shares results of recent studies in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and India on how food value chains are responding to COVID-19. Kalle Hirvonen (IFPRI) presents findings from a study on food consumption and food security in Ethiopia, using a unique panel survey of a representative distribution of households in Addis Ababa. Sudha Narayanan (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research) discusses bottlenecks in food and agriculture supply chains in India following closures of several Agricultural Produce Market Committee mandis and presents policy recommendations to ease the flow of goods. Ben Belton (WorldFish / Michigan State University) presents findings on the impact of COVID-19 on Nigeria’s fish value chains, which are crucial to the country’s food security and employment opportunities. More info: https://bit.ly/COVID-FVC Presenters: Kalle Hirvonen, Senior Research Fel

Virtual Event - The African Continental Free Trade Area: How will economic distribution change? DEC 15, 2020 - 09:30 AM TO 10:45 AM EST In early 2021, African countries will begin implementing the much-anticipated African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Africa-wide elimination of tariffs will encourage regional integration to a degree never before seen on the continent. As intra-African trade unifies, will regional agricultural production and food supply chains change drastically? How will the agreement affect poverty and food security? And what types of political resistance might arise? Join three specialists in a discussion about the political and economic distribution effects we anticipate as the AfCFTA unfolds. Introduction: Nalishebo Meebelo, Senior Program Coordinator, Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research and Institutes (ReNAPRI) Speakers: David Laborde Debucquet, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Maryla Maliszewska, Senior Economist, World Bank Group Andrew Mold, Chief, Regional

Session 1: Promoting food system transformation and resilience post-COVID 19 December 08, 2020 Brief overview of key recommendations from policy notes Dr. Mariam Raouf, IFPRI and Mr. Hosam Ibrahim, IFPRI Commentators: Dr. Mouchera Karara, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Abla Abdel Latif, Egyptian Center for Economic Studies Brief overview of key recommendations from policy notes Dr. Kibrom A. Abay, IFPRI Commentators: Dr. Fadi Abdelradi, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University Dr. Yasser ElShayeb, Center of Excellence for Water, the American University in Cairo Mr. Mostafa Arafa, Agricultural entrepreneur Moderator: Dr. Channing Arndt, Director of Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI LINKS: Symposium Policy Notes (in Englisha and Arabic): https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/Symposium%20policy%20note/field/title/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc Other EIBC Publications: https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/

Session 2: Digitalization of agricultural services and policy analysis December 08, 2020 Brief overview of key recommendations from policy note: Ms. Yumna Kassim, IFPRI Presentation of Monitoring Agricultural Projects in Egypt (MAP Egypt) Ms. Hagar ElDidi, IFPRI Commentator: Dr. Ismail El Faramawy, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and Development Partners Group – Agriculture and Rural Development Moderator: Ms. Yumna Kassim, Research Associate, IFPRI LINKS: MAP Egypt: https://mapegypt.org/#/en?_k=ms3oaj Symposium Policy Notes (in Englisha and Arabic): https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/Symposium%20policy%20note/field/title/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc Other EIBC Publications: https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/EIBC/field/ifpri/mode/all/conn/and IFPRI-Egypt Office: http://egyptssp.ifpri.info/ Book: COVID-19 And Global Food Security: http://bit.ly/IFPRICovidBook IFPRI Resources And Analyses Of COVID-19 Impact

Closing Remarks and Way Forward December 08, 2020 Speaker: Dr. Clemens Breisinger, MENA and Egypt Program Leader and Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI LINKS: Symposium Policy Notes (in Englisha and Arabic): https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/Symposium%20policy%20note/field/title/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc Other EIBC Publications: https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/EIBC/field/ifpri/mode/all/conn/and Book: COVID-19 And Global Food Security: http://bit.ly/IFPRICovidBook IFPRI Resources And Analyses Of COVID-19 Impact: https://www.ifpri.org/covid-19 IFPRI-Egypt Office: http://egyptssp.ifpri.info/

Session 3: Agriculture and social protection for improving health and nutrition December 08, 2020 Brief overview of recommendations from policy notes Dr. Sikandra Kurdi, IFPRI Commentators: Dr. Atef Alshabrawy, the Ministry of Social Solidarity Dr. Racha Ramadan, Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Cairo University Ms. Ghada Mostafa Abdallah, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics Brief overview of recommendations from policy notes Ms. Hoda Elenbaby, IFPRI Commentators: Dr. Habiba Hassan Wassef, National Nutrition Sciences Committee, the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology Dr. Ghada Nasr, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Q&A Moderator Dr. Daniel Gilligan, Deputy Director of Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, IFPRI LINKS: MAP Egypt: https://mapegypt.org/#/en?_k=ms3oaj Symposium Policy Notes (in Englisha and Arabic): https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/Symposium%20policy%20note/field/title/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/a

Opening Remarks: Impact of policy research and lessons for post-COVID development December 08, 2020 Speakers: H.E. Dr. Hala El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development H.E. Dr. Nivine Elkabbag, Minister of Social Solidarity Dr. Saad Mousa, General Supervisor of Foreign Agricultural Relations, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Ms. Leslie Reed, Mission Director for Egypt, USAID Dr. Nasredin Hag Elamin, Country Representative for Egypt, FAO Dr. Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Moderator: Dr. Clemens Breisinger, MENA and Egypt Program Leader and Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI LINKS: Symposium Policy Notes (in Englisha and Arabic): https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/Symposium%20policy%20note/field/title/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc Other EIBC Publications: https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/search/searchterm/EIBC/field/ifpri/mode/all/conn/and Book: COVID-19 And Global Food Security: http://bit.ly/IFPRICovidBook IFPR

Global nutrition priorities, financing, and governance have evolved significantly over the last two decades. The translation of scientific evidence and cross-sector program data and experience has played a leading role in this evolution. But evidence alone is insufficient to stimulate broad-based action and enduring nutrition change. At the 30th annual Martin J. Forman Memorial lecture, Ellen Piwoz will address how the global nutrition community strategically used data and evidence to spur collective action and investment, emphasizing the period from 2008 to the present. Lessons from efforts to reframe nutrition problems, consequences, and solutions will be discussed along with personal reflections on what should be avoided or done differently in the future to ensure that nutrition remains a global priority. The annual lecture commemorates the significant impact on international nutrition by Martin J. Forman, who headed the Office of Nutrition at USAID for more than 20 years. The annual lecturer is invite

Publishing Agricultural Development Research in Social Science Journals: Writing and Responding to Referee Reports PIM Webinar December 7, 2020 This PIM Webinar Co-organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), the CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA), and African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), was recorded on November 30,2020. This webinar, the 3rd and final in the series “Publishing Agricultural Development Research in Social Science Journals”, focuses on the specifics of the referee process—how (and why) to do good reviews, and how to respond to referee comments received. The session includes sample “revise and resubmit” reviews. More info about the series: https://bit.ly/PublishingAgRes Presenters: Cheryl Doss, Senior Departmental Lecturer in Development Economics and Associate Professor, Oxford Department of International Development J. V. Meenakshi, Professor, Delhi School of Economics; SPIA Member Chair: Michele Mboo-T

Virtual Event - Food and Agricultural Trade in the New Policy Environment: How Can WTO Members Support Recovery and Resilience in Africa (English panel)? Co-Organized by IFPRI, Akademiya2063, and International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) DEC 8, 2020 - 09:30 AM TO 10:30 AM EST The coronavirus outbreak has affected trade in food and farm goods, imperiling efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition and adding to pressure already on the farm sector from climate change. The pandemic-induced postponement of the WTO’s next ministerial conference and ongoing tensions among major economies have affected both the substance and process of updating the global trade rulebook. As governments revisit priorities in this new context, they should engage with various constituencies in their region and beyond to build an inclusive public policy vision – one that can contribute to economic recovery and improve resilience to future food system shocks. In Africa, continentwide economic integration under the Africa

Intra-African trade—especially agricultural trade—is much larger than official statistics suggest. In West Africa, an estimated 30 percent of staple foods cross borders informally, and informal trade across some African borders—particularly for perishable foods like fruits and vegetables—far exceeds formal trade. Recent initiatives have made great strides in assessing the magnitude of the gap between reported trade and total trade. This seminar discussed emerging trends in agricultural informal cross-border trade, the barriers to participating in formal customs procedures and trade, and the central role of female informal traders. The presenters considered how border closures and restrictions due to COVID-19 have disproportionately affected informal trade. Introduction: Patterson Brown, Senior Trade Advisor, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Speakers: Brahima Cisse, Expert, Comité Inter-Etat de Lutte contre la Sècheresse au Sahel (CILSS) Na

Virtual Event - Food Policy Research and Capacity Development in Eurasia Co-Organized by the Eurasian Center for Food Security (ECFS), World Bank Group, and IFPRI Strengthening policy research and analytical capacity in Eurasia is critical for the region’s agricultural transformation and for development of inclusive food systems. A recent program supported by the Russian Federation and jointly implemented by the World Bank, IFPRI, and ECFS at Lomonosov Moscow State University has helped to strengthen capacities of research and educational institutions and individual researchers in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and other countries in the region. By facilitating a network of institutions and researchers, the program has helped actors in Eurasian food policy systems engage effectively with policy, research, and capacity development objectives. Reporting from this collaborative project, webinar speakers presented recent research and case study findings and discuss key lessons

This webinar, the 2nd in the series “Publishing Agricultural Development Research in Social Science Journals”, offers a panel discussion amongst editors or associate editors of leading journals, addressing what they look for in submissions, how to avoid “desk rejections”, how to handle reviews, proofing, and publicizing articles. More info about the series: https://bit.ly/PublishingAgRes Panel: Ashok Mishra, Editor-in-Chief, Agricultural Economics Elizabeth King, Managing Editor, Journal of Development Effectiveness Laurens Klerkx, Editorial Advisory Board, Agricultural Systems Chair: Travis Lybbert, Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis; former editor of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics; SPIA Special Initiative Member Introduction: Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

The world is facing a new nutrition reality in which persistent undernutrition and escalating overweight and obesity coexist within countries, communities, households, and individuals. This double burden of malnutrition brings a set of new challenges for policy and programming. This seminar presented new global evidence on the magnitude of the double burden of malnutrition, describe the interconnected biological, societal, and ecological drivers of it, and propose a way forward on designing and estimating the cost-effectiveness of double-duty actions to tackle multiple forms of malnutrition simultaneously. The COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the urgency of re-thinking nutrition policy and programming to tackle the new nutrition reality. Introduction: Francesco Branca, Director, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development (NHD), World Health Organization (WHO) Speakers: Corinna Hawkes, Director, Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London Rachel Nugent, Vice President and Director, Center for Gl

Virtual Event - Information Needs for Food Crisis Risk Early Warning: The Role of the Food Security Portal Co-Organized by IFPRI and the Food Security Portal (FSP) NOV 24, 2020 - 09:30 AM TO 11:00 AM EST Persistent drivers of food insecurity and acute hunger—conflict, climate shocks, and environmental shocks—have been compounded in 2020 by the COVID-19-related health and socioeconomic upheaval and by the severe desert locust outbreaks in East Africa. The pandemic is expected to push as many as 132 million more people into chronic hunger in 2020, in addition to the 690 million who went hungry in 2019. To navigate the increasingly complex, interlinked causes of food crises, governments and other stakeholders require timely, high-quality information to increase the resilience of food systems and cope with future crises. The EC-funded Food Security Portal (FSP)( http://www.foodsecurityportal.org/), initiated in 2010 in response to lessons learned from the 2007–2008 world food crisis, seeks to improve government