ICARDA News

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria
Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012
Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105;
E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG
Website: www.icarda.org
15 June 2006
                             Media contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
 
Senior Officials of the World Food Program Visit ICARDA
Dr Mahmoud Solh (center), Director General, along with other senior management team members of ICARDA, holding discussions with Mr David Kaatrud and Ms Pippa Bradford of the World Food Program, at ICARDA on 10 June.
Mr David Kaatrud, Chief of Analysis, Assessment and Preparedness Service, World Food Program (WFP), Rome, and Ms Pippa Bradford, WFP Research Representative in Syria, visited ICARDA on 10 June 2006. Their visit was to seek synergies between the work of the WFP and ICARDA. The WFP is making efforts to improve its preparedness and response framework for emergencies and would need to build up a comprehensive database of food security and vulnerability.

Dr Mahmoud Solh, ICARDA Director General, received the visitors on arrival at ICARDA and briefed them on the Center’s activities. They held discussions with members of the management committee and listened to thematic presentations by the MegaProject Directors.

WFP has a strong GIS capacity and is interested in ICARDA’s GIS databases, research, and information. Among other things, they have sub-national data on the poverty situation in some countries, which is very relevant to ICARDA’s work. WFP is interested in understanding the Center's work in markets and livelihood analyses.

Other areas of possible cooperation between ICARDA and the WFP, which were identified during the discussions, include project design and policy analysis; rangelands management; links between scarce water availability, livelihoods and vulnerability; micronutrient-dense food legumes; adaptation of cultivars and landraces; post-conflict intervention; and training, with particular emphasis on women. The possibility of using microfinance to support the dissemination of ICARDA-developed packages was discussed.

In order to consolidate the relationship, a Memorandum of Understanding, which will state the areas of collaboration and the modus operandi, will be developed and signed by the two organizations.

For more information contact: Dr William Erskine
  

About ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.
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