Challenge Program on Water and Food

The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) is an international, multi-institutional research initiative with a strong emphasis on parternships, adapative management and participation. The program focuses in improving how water is managed and used for improved food production.

Over the last six years, and based on more 68 projects carried out throughout the world, the main lessons learned is that mproved water productivity is only one piece of the puzzle. Equally important are equitable access to water and better water governance. Taken together and integrated across scales, these can reduce poverty, improve livelihoods resilience, and boost ecosystem services.

The CPWF represents the largest, most comprehensive investment in the world on water, food and environment research. Through the paradigm of water productivity - developing ways to produce more food within limited water availability - it offers a new approach to natural resources management research within the CGIAR. The CPWF works together in with institutions, NGOs and community groups in partnerships which seek meaningful impact for the people who use the new innovations developed by scientific research.

The CPWF does this by focusing research on this intersection, then linking relevant research outputs with the broader development community.