IWMI is leading the development of Nepal’s CGIAR Country Strategy Framework, aiming to scale research for impact across agrifood, land, & water system priorities. As development actors seek to move beyond fragmented pilots toward impact at scale, CGIAR has begun piloting Country Strategy Frameworks (CSFs) to consolidate research, partnerships, and investments around nationally owned priorities.
Nepal is one of three countries globally piloting this approach, with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) as lead agency and IWMI’s Manohara Khadka appointed as CGIAR Country Convener.
Strategic Shift Toward Integration
CSFs respond to CGIAR’s 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy, calling for stronger country ownership, fewer institutional silos, and clearer pathways for scaling research. The framework aligns with five thematic areas: climate adaptation and mitigation; environmental health and biodiversity; gender equality, youth and social inclusion; nutrition, health and food security; and poverty reduction, livelihoods and jobs.
A recent national workshop brought together government, CGIAR centres, and partners to define how the CSF should function and be governed, moving beyond stand-alone pilots toward institutionalization of proven innovations.
Addressing Nepal’s Challenges
Nepal’s agrifood systems face mounting pressures from climate change, migration, unsustainable farming, and supply-demand imbalances.
“The multi-stakeholder participation adds great value when shaping the roadmap of the country strategy framework,” said Deepak Kharal, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. “I believe the framework would be an essential document in transforming Nepal’s land, food, and water systems.”
Stakeholders identified priority research areas focused on climate-resilient, inclusive, and technology-driven systems integrating biodiversity, local knowledge, and socio-economic needs. Key mechanisms include payment for ecosystem services, multi-stakeholder governance, the water-energy-food environment nexus, and collective farming.
Moving Forward
Stakeholders committed to sharing data, supporting technical advisory groups, and participating in CSF development. Funding remains a major bottleneck, and the CSF will explore solutions to expedite approval processes and prioritize scaling innovations.
A government-led working group will steer co-creation of the CSF to transform Nepal’s agrifood, land, and water systems through a nationally co owned program portfolio.
