Miscellaneous themes
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12348/719
Browse
Recent Submissions
- In Cambodia, inland fisheries, including Rice Field Fisheries (RFFs), are a key element of rural food and nutrition security, seasonal income, and an important cultural asset. However, these fisheries are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, changes in land use, overfishing, pollution, and climate change. In response to these pressures, international organizations, government agencies, local NGOs, and local communities have partnered to implement Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) within RFFs to protect fish stocks, increase productivity, and strengthen local food systems. Managed by local communities with support from the Fisheries Administration Cantonment (FiAC) and external parties in the early stages of implementation, CFRs provide multiple benefits including stable aquatic habitats; increased production of aquatic foods; enhanced food and nutrition security; greater supplementary income; groundwater recharge, and climate resilience. However, the sustainability and success of CFRs largely depend on the capacity of local villagers to collaborate and engage in collective action. In this policy brief, some of the challenges of collective management and grassroots decision-making in a rural Cambodia context were examined, and underscored the social dimensions that development actors, policymakers, and funding agencies who initiate development interventions must consider.
- The CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Science Program represents a transformative approach to sustainable development, aiming to reimagine rural futures through holistic landscape management that integrates agriculture, environment, nutrition, and policy. As part of the program’s rollout in India, a national consultation titled “Co-creating Resilient Landscapes: Transitioning to a Multifunctional Approach in India” was convened on August 7, 2025 in Pune, Maharashtra, jointly organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The consultation underscored that building multifunctional landscapes in India demands continuous co-creation across sectors and scales, ensuring biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and equitable livelihoods within planetary boundaries.
- Farm production diversification is widely recognized as a promising pathway to enhance household dietary diversity and food security, though its effectiveness varies across ecological and socioeconomic contexts. This study investigates the relationship between farm production diversity and household dietary diversity and food security in five climate-vulnerable districts of southern Bangladesh. Data were collected from 768 households between April and June 2023 using structured surveys stratified by salinity zones. Dietary diversity was measured through household dietary diversity scores and food variety scores, while food insecurity was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Farm production diversity was quantified by the number of food groups produced, the Shannon diversity index, and food crop diversity. Poisson and ordered probit regression models were applied to estimate associations, controlling for market access, off-farm household income, household demographics, and environmental factors. The results reveal that greater production diversity is modestly but significantly associated with improved dietary diversity and reduced food insecurity, particularly in low and medium salinity zones. In high salinity areas, these associations were weaker or statistically insignificant, likely reflecting environmental constraints limiting production options. Market access, off-farm household income, education, and household size also played significant roles. These findings underscore the need for context-specific strategies that integrate production diversification with climate-resilient technologies, livelihood diversification, and improved market access to strengthen food security in climate-vulnerable rural communities.
- Boeng Sneh Lake, one of Prey Veng’s most important floodplain ecosystems, has reached a new milestone in its journey toward sustainable water and fisheries management. In late 2025, the District Technical Working Group (DTWG) in Ba Phnom successfully secured support from the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDoWRAM) to replace the deteriorated water gate that regulates flows in and out of the lake. This achievement is far more than an infrastructure upgrade-it is a clear demonstration of how local cooperation, cross-sector dialogue, and community-centered planning can translate into real investment and tangible improvements for people and ecosystems.
- WorldFish has been actively contributing to the transformation of aquatic food systems in India since 1996, focusing on sustainable aquaculture, nutrition-sensitive practices, and climate-resilient strategies. Collaborating with national and state governments, research institutions, and grassroots organizations, WorldFish has introduced innovative solutions such as genetically improved fish strains, carp–SIS polyculture, and scalable hatchery systems for small indigenous species (SIS). These initiatives have empowered women-led self-help groups, improved livelihoods, enhanced food and nutrition security, and promoted environmentally sustainable practices. Through strategic partnerships and impactful projects, WorldFish continues to support India’s goals for rural development, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
- WorldFish has been collaborating with the Government of Bangladesh since 1989 to transform aquatic food systems through research, innovation, and capacity building. The organization focuses on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries development, addressing challenges like poverty, malnutrition, climate risks, and youth underemployment. Key initiatives include genetic improvement programs for fish species like GIFT tilapia and rohu, disease diagnostic measures, community-based fisheries management, and climate-smart aquaculture solutions. WorldFish has also contributed to policy development, biodiversity conservation, and the promotion of nutrient-rich small indigenous species (SIS) to enhance food security and livelihoods. Through partnerships and innovative approaches, WorldFish aims to position Bangladesh as a leader in sustainable aquatic food systems, supporting national development goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Solar-powered freezers bring cold storage to remote rural communities, which enables preservation of fish catches (and other foods). This can strengthen fisheries livelihoods by allowing fish to be stockpiled until a good time to sell. It can also increase people’s resilience by providing opportunity to store fish to consume in times of need. WorldFish and the West ‘Are’Are Rokotanikeni Women’s Association piloted the installation and use of 12 solar-powered freezers from 2016 to 2020.
- This is a submission to a consultation process for the UNFCCC Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture (SJWA) on the topic of the agenda for the workshop on ‘Systemic and holistic approaches to implementation of climate action on agriculture, food systems and food security, understanding, cooperation and integration into plans’, to be held during the 62nd session of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Bodies (SB62). The submission highlights the importance of aquatic foods for climate solutions and makes concrete suggestions on how relevant expertise and insights can be incorporated into the workshop agenda.
- Water scarcity in hilly and remote regions persists despite moderate rainfall because of inadequate decentralized storage. The conventional masonry tanks are costly, slow to build, and unsuitable for rugged terrains. To address this, IWMI and ICAR under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Program developed a modular prefabricated water storage tank—a low-cost, flat-pack system that can be assembled within 20 minutes without tools or skilled labor. Made of galvanized-iron panels and a reinforced liner, the tank (≈11 kL) is portable, durable, and reusable, enabling rooftop rainwater harvesting, small-stream diversion, or solar-pump filling. Field demonstrations in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, showed significant improvements in household water security, year-round vegetable production, and women’s time savings. The tanks also support agroecological homesteads, nurseries, and small-scale aquaculture. Affordable and scalable, the innovation aligns with CGIAR and IWMI priorities on climate-resilient water solutions, offering a replicable model for decentralized water storage and management across the Global South.
- This vision takes shape through co-creation, where scientists, farmers, policymakers, civil society, and private sector actors work together to design innovations that balance environmental sustainability with human development. By bridging agriculture, environment, nutrition, and policy, the program aims to transform landscapes into multifunctional systems that not only enhance productivity but also restore ecosystems, strengthen rural livelihoods, and build resilience against climate shocks.
- Social Entrepreneurship has emerged as an approach of social change. Social entrepreneurs have addressed the issues related to triple bottom lines (Social, Economic and Environmental) by adopting innovative entrepreneurial methods to bring about sustainable positive social change (Guha, 2021). It is also a method of social and economic value creation (Singh, 2016). Social entrepreneurs can work for the betterment of the society in different ways: by addressing the community needs, enhancing the capacity of local communities which might transform the cultural context; by developing skills and capacities of the marginalized section of the society to increase the productivity which leads to transform the economic process of development and inclusive growth. It also helps the communities reduce inequality, get the justice and peace. Social entrepreneurs also work on innovative business model such as cross subsidization model, Cooperatives etc., which addresses issues related to sustainable development goals such as poverty and inequality alleviation, women empowerment, climate change, retaining biodiversity, sustainable institutions etc.
- The Inter-Provincial Workshop on Sharing and Dissemination of Results from Decentralized Governance of Food Systems, Food Security, and Nutrition in Cambodia was held on 18 December 2025 at the Prey Veng Provincial Administration. The workshop brought together 83 key stakeholders from government institutions, development partners, and community-based organizations to address critical challenges in food systems governance. Organized by the Secretariat of the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), WorldFish Cambodia (WF), and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the event aimed to share experiences and lessons learned from the implementation of District Working Groups on Food Security and Nutrition (DWG-FSN) in Ba Phnom District, Prey Veng Province, and Santuk District, Kampong Thom Province, including sub-working groups in Boeng Sneh Lake and Boeng Ream Lake.
- This study adds to the expanding literature on diet quality and food accessibility by presenting evidence from Cambodia—a Southeast Asian nation undergoing dietary shifts while grappling with persistent malnutrition—based on nationally representative data. Specifically, we analyze: (1) dietary composition; (2) adequacy of key nutrient intake relative to Estimated Average Requirements (EARs); and (3) the cost of foods and their micronutrient contributions.
- In sensory panel IV (Adults), The ComFA+Fish strawberry flavor instant porridge is a market-leading product with exceptional sensory appeal and usability. Its nearly universal positive ratings on texture and flavor can set a high benchmark to improve the other variants. The ComFA+ strawberry porridge is due to its high acceptability. There is a need to improve plain porridge and the Vanilla+Kapenta variants in terms of flavor and texture. Insights from strawberry's success— such as flavor balancing and texture consistency—could be applied to refine the other variants. In sensory panel V (infants), the ComFA+Fish strawberry flavor instant porridge has the strongest appeal among infants, followed by the vanilla flavor. Strawberry porridge should be prioritized for launch due to its universal appeal among infants and, thus, suitable for mainstream adoption. Vanilla porridge can also be promoted as an option for kids as it performs well across T1, T2 and T3. Vanilla porridge is a big contender for infants and children who like subtle flavors. The ComFA+Fish vanilla flavor extra kapenta porridge must be reformulated to improve broader acceptability. Reducing portion sizes to reduce food waste and encourage children to consume porridge fully may be critical.
- This report contributes to the CGIAR Initiative on Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) under Area of Work 5 (AoW5): Inclusive Governance and Gender Equality. AoW5 seeks to embed gendertransformative approaches and inclusive decision-making within landscape interventions to ensure equitable benefits for women and marginalized groups. By applying the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) in communities in Attapeu Province, Lao PDR, this activity demonstrates how participatory tools can strengthen household and community planning, challenge entrenched gender norms, and foster inclusive governance. The findings provide actionable insights into integrating gender equality and social inclusion into multifunctional landscape strategies, contributing to sustainable and resilient livelihoods.
- This paper uses case studies of three agri-food systems in Nigeria – cassava, catfish and chicken – to demonstrate the impact of gender norms on women's economic resilience to climate change impacts. It provides insights into how transforming gender norms helps build economic resilience for women. It is based on data collected in Ogun and Oyo states through a stakeholders’ workshop, 55 Individual and Key Informant Interviews and 18 sex-disaggregated Focus Group Discussions. A gender-sensitive resilience approach was developed from literature on resilience approaches and gender transformative processes and used to analyse the data. The paper concludes that gender norms create gendered opportunities and constraints for economic resilience to the impacts of climate change. These opportunities and constraints emerge at the intersection of social institutions, agency and power relations. More men than women have access to and ownership of resources for economic resilience, such as land and finance. Men can often make long-term/strategic plans compared to women's short-term survival tactics. Approaches to promoting women’s economic resilience in climate change scenarios should challenge discriminatory gender norms and integrate gender-sensitive agricultural policies that encourage women’s equal and meaningful participation in all spheres, including at household, community, organizational and macro-environmental levels.
- Cambodia has included fish in its newly launched Third National Strategy for Food Security and Nutrition (2024–2028). The strategy, spearheaded by the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), aims to boost food security, nutrition outcomes, and resilience nationwide.
- The Feed the Future Burma, Fish for Livelihoods Activity (2019-2027) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) focusses on improving the nutritional status of vulnerable households in Central and Northern Myanmar by promoting inclusive and sustainable aquaculture growth for small-scale farmers and their communities. This report presents the 2024 survey findings on dietary diversity among women of reproductive age from 34 townships participating in the Activity. For the safety and security of the field survey team, villages deemed unsafe or inaccessible were excluded from the survey sample.
- The Communal Reflection and Action Planning Workshop was organized under Area of Work 5 (AoW5) of the Multifunctional Landscape initiative. This activity focuses on strengthening inclusive community engagement and gender-responsive planning through the Gender Action Learning System (GALS). The workshop provided a platform for participants to reflect on livelihood challenges, analyze gender roles, and co-create actionable solutions for sustainable resource management.
- Cambodia’s diverse natural ecosystems remain central to meeting national development goals. Yet, natural resources management (NRM) is complex, with conflicts over access between uses and users inhibiting more sustainable and equitable development. Water is illustrative, exemplified by the tug-of-war between freshwater ecosystems and rice production in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake’s (TSL) floodplain. This threatens the diversity, productivity, and resilience of aquatic ecosystems, associated food production, and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of households. Despite Cambodia’s decentralized governance structure, the water, fisheries, agriculture and environment sectors exhibit limited cooperation, despite the fact the multi-functionality of water demands collaborative management. Although Cambodia’s development policies call for more cooperation, an innovative institutional model was needed to operationalize this by bringing diverse actors together to resolve local NRM issues.