The last two months have seen a flurry of activity within the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). Three major workshops were held for the Rainfed, Irrigation and River Basins Strategic Research Portfolios (SRPs).

I also had an opportunity to meet with the SRP Leaders. The meeting identified the need for a clear business plan that specifies how CRP activities promise real change and how this will be achieved with partners. A call for a consultant to assist with this will be released shortly. Doug Merrey was recently tasked with identifying the details of center activities for this CRP.

The program is starting to pick up and we are beginning to define the vision and outcomes with partners. In response to a number of questions raised at recent workshops, we have put together a series of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQs). I look forward to continuing to work with everyone and welcome your feedback.

Regards

Quick links

• Website
• Agriculture and Ecosystems blog
• Intranet Wiki
• Sign-up for Yammer
• Questions and queries
• FAQs

For more information please email us at
CRP5@cgiar.org

• Program Management: Emma Greatrix, WLE Program Manager, starts on July 13, 2012. She will be based in Colombo
• Activity Plans: Please submit your activity plans to Himani as soon as possible
• Knowledge Management: Martin van Brakel (CPWF) will join WLE and will develop a system to keep track of all the individual research activities
• Gender, Poverty and Institutions: Katherine Snyder, IWMI, is commissioned to develop the plan and will be contacting various partners

• Rio +20- the ‘Landscape Approach’
• Marketing, Communication and Knowledge Management team: Abby Waldorf, Communication Intern will arrive in July to work on the website & blog. We are currently advertising for a Communication, Marketing and Knowledge Management Coordinator and  a Communication Officer
• River Basins Strategy Development: This is underway. Contact Simon Cook for further details

• Message from Frank Rijsberman - the new CEO of the CGIAR Consortium
• CGIAR website launched
• Call for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Interim Coordinator circulated within the CGIAR
• Vacancy for Gender, Poverty and Institutions Coordinator advertised
• Results from SRP workshops
• Call for consultant to develop CRP business plan released
• Interview on “Rio+20 and sustainable agriculture” with Frank Rijsberman by Bruce Campbell