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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
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Media
contact:
icarda-media@cgiar.org
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IFAD
and ICARDA to focus on strategic partnerships
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A
high-level delegation from the International Fund for Agricultural
development (IFAD) visited Tel Hadya, 14-15 January. The team comprised
Dr Nadim Khouri, Director, Near East and North Africa (NENA) Division,
Dr Abdelhamid Abdouli, Country Programme Manager, Dr Mylene Khairallah,
Regional Economist, Mr Nabil Mahaini, IFAD Damascus (all from IFAD);
and Dr Wafa Khoury of FAO.
Director General Dr Mahmoud Solh described ICARDA's new Strategic Plan (2007-2016) and the Center's research programs. He also presented the highlights of IFAD-ICARDA collaboration over the past three decades, covering impacts generated as well as lessons learned. Dr Khouri spoke about IFAD's funding priorities (e.g. research topics and target countries for development projects) and emphasized the importance of having a strategic partnership with ICARDA. Dr Kamel Shideed, ADG-International Cooperation and Communication, made a presentation on the linkage between IFAD research grants implemented by ICARDA and IFAD development projects in the NENA region, providing empirical evidence on the added value of linking research to development: wider adoption of new technologies, and impacts on productivity, food security, income and environmental services. The presentation also covered lessons learned and implications for future investments. The visitors met with ICARDA's senior management team, and toured laboratory and field facilities at Tel Hadya. Following a series of discussions, six thematic priority areas were identified for IFAD-ICARDA collaboration:
The discussions also covered planning/implementation issues and research gaps. For example, IFAD would welcome expanded work on livelihoods diagnosis and poverty mapping, as this is central to their project development process. In general, new projects would build on previous work, and focus on scaling out available, proven technologies. ICARDA will step up efforts to facilitate sharing of information between NARS. It will also work with national partners to identify what technologies (and what delivery methods) might work in specific IFAD projects. The broad approach would be a combination of bilateral and regional projects, for example pilot activities in two or three countries, with potential for regional expansion in a subsequent phase.
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About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA 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.