Shaping a Sustainable Future: Implementing CGIAR’s 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands

On 4 December 2024, the CGIAR, ICARDA and ICRISAT launched the CGIAR 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This ground breaking initiative aims at revolutionizing dryland agriculture and nurture resilient livelihoods in dryland communities globally. This launch represents the collaborative efforts of all CGIAR centers, partners, and stakeholders pivotal in its development.

Speakers called for effective implementation of GSRD, leveraging collective expertise, knowledge, and innovation to empower rural communities and marginalized groups in dryland regions. The launch underscored the valuable contributions of partners and CGIAR research centers, fostering discussions on future steps including expanding partnerships and raising funds.

Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR said, “This strategy builds on CGIAR’s rich legacy of impact, uniting all 15 centers in a stronger, more integrated effort to tackle the challenges of drylands. By combining our expertise, we will deliver more innovative, context-specific, and lasting solutions to secure the livelihoods of communities that rely on these vital but fragile ecosystems.”

Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA’s Director General and CGIAR’s Regional Director of the arid Central and West Asia and North Africa region added,  “The CGIAR Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands is a game-changing venture targeting critical challenges like water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification. This ground breaking effort is an essential lifeline to global dryland communities confronting the accelerating impacts of climate change, the defining challenge of our time.”

“This strategy brings forward a wealth of knowledge and research from our shared 50 years of experience, demonstrating that drylands, often overlooked, possess an untapped potential for resilience. As climate change continues to threaten global food systems, the models of resilience we, along with our partners, have developed in drylands will be indispensable to support the world’s most vulnerable communities,” Stanford Blade, acting Deputy Director General, ICRISAT said.

Additionally, the event facilitated discussions on future steps regarding securing more partners and funding.

According to Martina Jaskolski, Scientist – Climate Action, Alliance Bioversity & CIAT, drought and desertification frequently manifest in regions marked by conflict and fragility, such as the MENA region. Therefore, peace plays a crucial role in the implementation of the Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands.

Underscoring the need for a balanced approach to increasing food production, considering the sustainability of water resources, Claudia Ringler, Director, Natural Resources & Resilience, IFPRI stated, “We understand that many countries in dryland regions rely heavily on food imports. While we aim to help them become more resilient and capable of growing more food locally, it’s important to consider the balance. Increasing food production isn’t always sustainable if it risks depleting their remaining groundwater reserves.”