Webinar series // From Research to Resilience: Climate-smart solutions to enhance ecosystem health and strengthen food, nutrition and water security for all
A webinar series to assess the progress of research for development, capture lessons learned, and identify the scientifically proven tools and approaches that climate-vulnerable communities can adopt to secure more inclusive, sustainable and resilient futures.
Hung Ngyen/ILRI
October 2021, Tuesdays & Thursdays (8 sessions)
Venue: Zoom Webinar (videos will be made available on the WLE website after the sessions)
Hosts: CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
About the webinar series
Informed by the experience and insights of WLE and its partners, and the solutions the program has developed and refined over the past decade, eight webinars will promote promising scientific innovations designed to protect climate-vulnerable ecosystems, communities and livelihoods. The tools and approaches to be discussed – which also prioritize the inclusion of women, youth and other marginalized groups – target critical challenges across the Global South such as land degradation, water scarcity and climate variability.
Held strategically between the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), the webinars will identify evidence gaps, capture lessons learned and consolidate thinking on the future direction of research for development to sustainably transform our water, land and food systems. Themes include accelerating clean energy access, inclusive and gender-sensitive land restoration, resilient urban food systems, sustainable water management, disaster risk management, and innovative approaches to evaluate ecosystem health and monitor landscape restoration.
Program
Webinar #1 – Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Accelerating clean energy access in rural areas
Presenting WLE energy research that can help countries enhance smallholder access to clean energy, address climate adaptation/mitigation challenges, and transform food, land and water systems.
Webinar #2 – Thursday, October 7, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Drought and flood risk reduction strategies
Introducing several WLE-supported risk management initiatives and solutions that have been implemented across South Asia. The webinar will enhance the knowledge and awareness of disaster risk management professionals and provide an opportunity for south–south learning.
Webinar #3 – Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Towards resilient city region food systems
This webinar will introduce key tools developed by the RUAF Global Partnership and WLE to assess the climate-resilience of urban areas. It will outline the action plans, policies and programs required to develop innovative and resilience-strengthening water and food solutions.
Webinar #4 – Thursday, October 14, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Innovation investment for impact
The WLE-supported Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI) will present insights on enabling behavior change in innovation investors and policymakers – and how this can be used to underpin the investment approach for innovation of future food systems.
Webinar #5 – Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Managing water for climate adaptation and mitigation
Exploring integrated approaches to water management that enhance climate adaptation and mitigation. The session will outline an evidence-based framework to help decision makers understand and remove the technical, economic, social, financial and institutional barriers that prevent the adoption of sound water adaptation options.
Webinar #6 – Thursday, October 21, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Boosting synergies and managing trade-offs in food systems
Our climate, biodiversity and food systems are inextricably linked. This webinar discusses evidence, actions and lessons learned on how to leverage biodiversity in our food systems for people and planet.
Webinar #7 – Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Securing inclusive land restoration
Referring to WLE research and experiences in India and Ethiopia, this webinar explores who sets restoration agendas, and why, how and for whom. It also discusses whether plural and unequal local voices and knowledge systems are valued or ignored, and whether these voices can influence how degraded landscapes are restored.
Webinar #8 – Thursday, October 28, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Innovations in soil health monitoring for nature and people
This webinar will showcase recent advances and gaps in the monitoring of soil health and land restoration; raise awareness about the multiple benefits of soil health beyond crop productivity – including the provision of critical ecosystem services; and demonstrate how new evidence and monitoring frameworks are informing policy.
Who should attend?
- Policymakers, decision makers and planners
- Donors and investors
- Private sector representatives
- Development professionals from national and international organizations, NGOs, CSOs etc.
- Researchers interested in water, land, ecosystems, food and agriculture, sustainable development, and climate change.
Objectives
- Capture lessons learned on the application of proven innovations to enhance the management of land and water resources, protect fragile ecosystems and sustainably intensify food production.
- Identify knowledge gaps to influence the direction of future research programs and initiatives.
- Consolidate thinking on the systematic changes needed to secure more sustainable, inclusive and equitable food systems amid a changing climate. Inform policies and investment decisions to enhance the sustainable management of ecosystems and water and land resources.
Photo credits: Webinar #1 - Prashanth Vishwanathan/IWMI, Webinars #2 & #5 - Hamish John Appleby/IWMI, Webinar #3 - Aris Sanjaya/CIFOR, Webinar #4 - Alfonso Cortés/CIMMYT, Webinars #6–#8 - Georgina Smith/CIAT