I am just returning from Stockholm (pictured above) where I spent the last couple of days working on a science paper about lessons learnt from Phase 1, particularly from the Basin Focal Projects, with Johan Rockström (Chair of our Advisory Committee), Line Gordon (Co-leader of our Resilience Topic Working Group), Simon Cook and Myles Fisher (our longstanding partners on the Basin Focal Projects). This and my recent work interactions with the media for Stockholm World Water Week (see below) reinforces the relevance of CPWF results emerging from Phase 1 and our current basin led research agenda.

This e-letter brings a lot of important news from both science and governance perspectives.

On the science side, the International Forum on Water and Food (IFWF) is shaping up to be a major event to showcase the current CPWF research agenda. More than 130 2-pager abstracts of research papers have been submitted. More news of the event can be found at the Forum website. As the different basin articles in this e-letter demonstrate, work is moving vigorously ahead. Interestingly, all the African basins have an article in this edition on their work on Innovation Platforms and Rainwater Management.

In addition, for Stockholm World Water Week from 21-27 August, CPWF supported the dissemination of a IWMI and UNEP report (which we contributed to) calling for the urgent need to rethink current strategies for intensifying agriculture, given that food production already accounts for 70 to 90 percent of withdrawals from available water resources in some areas of the world. Together with IWMI this gave us a pretty good exposure in the media, including an interview in Le Monde, France’s leading daily newspaper. You can see the media releases in our press center and the Op-ed of mine which was published in Jeune Afrique here

From a governance perspective, we would like to inform you that the CPWF and IWMI Boards have merged in order to streamline the governance structures in anticipation of the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Water, Land and Ecosystems. However, CPWF will continue to operate as one of the CRP5 partners until early 2014. This means we will be implementing all agreed upon activities until early 2014 and retain our management structure. At a strategic level we will continue to work closely with IWMI and other CRP partners to streamline systems and procedures for when the CRP comes on-line in 2012.

CPWF has also added two part-time new Management Team Members: Dr. Simon Cook and Dr. Timothy (Tim) Williams. Simon was the Basin Focal Project Coordinator in Phase 1 and is currently the leader of the Global Drivers Topic Working Group: his main task will be to co-ordinate our various Topic Working Groups and to assist the Research Team. Tim is the IWMI Regional Director for Africa: he will play an important role in overseeing the CPWF African Basins, especially the Volta to start with.

CPWF is currently developing long-term “continuation strategies” for its basin research programs with its local partners so that basin programs can continue beyond 2014 within the CRPs or operate independently within basin level organizations. Likewise, we are making a push to document our lessons and experiences so that learning is integrated across CRPs.

Another major milestone has occurred within the CPWF family with the departure of Ms. Pamela George. Pamela was the longest serving CPWF staff member. She played various roles as the primary CPWF program manager through both Phases 1 and 2. One Pamela’s lasting legacy is the innovative whole contracting and management system of CPWF. This system was accountable and transparent but also allowed for adaptive management capability that is essential for a research for development program. Pamela is retiring to her new farm in Australia and will be providing some back up support to CPWF’s corporate services. We wish her the best of luck and thank her for the long and outstanding years of service.

We will continue to update you on new events and activities and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely

Alain Vidal

Director, CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food