2015 Dryland Systems Annual Performance Report

Abstract

In 2015, the Program invested significant time, efforts, and resources in the requested Task Force, the CRP Commission External Evaluation (CCEE), an internal audit and its follow up, and preparation of Phase II CRP proposal that envisions a merger between Dryland Systems and two other CRPs on Grain Legumes and on Dryland Cereals. The CCEE Report - deemed excellent by the IEA - concluded that “Dryland Systems is highly relevant” and that “there is a clear need for investing improving sustainable productivity of dryland agricultural systems which could benefit hundreds of millions of poor people.” Our response to the CCEE list of recommendations, coupled with the Mission Critical Areas for Research identified by the Task Force in April 2015, informed our plan of action and timeline to ensure our Program legacy - in terms of its unique systems approach, key research knowledge, result-based management tools (MEL Platform) and lessons learned - is effectively transferred to the Phase II CRPs on agri-food systems. The program’s unique integrated systems approach was key to shaping thinking and policy recommendations of the UNCCD 3rd Scientific Conference, as well as the landmark global agreement on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). In our role as scientific coordinator of the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) initiative, we helped bring to fruition a 4-years research effort - between 30 partner organizations - on The Value of Land. This is now being widely cited including by those in the private sector. Our robust scientific evidence on the value of land and its untapped potential for boosting economic prosperity through sustainable land management were presented to the European Parliament, and to the 70th Summit of the UN General Assembly on adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the post-2015 development agenda. Through encouraging efforts of our PMU we report 558 publications, a significant increase over 2014.