WLE and the INTEGRATING ECOSYSTEM SOLUTIONS INTO POLICY and INVESTMENTS (IES) FLAGSHIP Nathanial Matthews Global Research Coordinator IES Flagship Leader

Why WLE

Unique selling points  We are not about protecting ecosystem for the sake of the ecosystem  We support human development by working with ecosystems and people.  We see ecosystems as the foundation for agriculture productivity, sustainable land and water management, equity, livelihoods and prosperity  We go beyond the paradigm of minimizing the impacts of agriculture  We are exploring the interface between rural and urban systems  We work across sectors to provide integrated solutions to reverse land and water degradation  We combine an ecological and natural resource management approach to build resilience = Integrated!

How Part 1  Research is: co-designed and co-developed with stakeholders and embedded (owned) by key policy- makers, governing bodies in the regions  Guided by and integrated through WLE Ecosystem service and resilience framework, Gender and Information Systems Core themes  Methodologies for baseline assessments developed and applied for (i) ecosystem service and natural capital assessment, (ii) resilience assessment, (iii) water accounting (iv) gender and equity assessment, (v) assessment of driver forces (social, economic, environmental, e.g., climate change), and (vi) institutional assessment (ESS&R, GPI, new investments).

How Part 2  A landscape planning methodology should be co-developed with stakeholders across the core flagships.  A framework for generic metrics should be developed including success indicators, and knowledge base (e.g., for sustainability intensification practices)  Develop and apply basin scale modelling and synthesis platform.

WLE Program Structure

INTEGRATING ECOSYSTEM SOLUTIONS INTO POLICY AND INVESTMENTS (IES) Critical Issues National and regional issues being addressed in an integrated manner. Supporting development through sound economic investments. Key areas of work  The Nile and East Africa  The Volta/Niger  The Greater Mekong  The Ganges  The Innovation Fund Harness and integrate WLE’s R4D portfolio will foster a transition to sustainable intensification (SI) while enhancing national and regional capacity. LEADER: Nathanial Matthews

IES Focal Region Location

WLE At Scale

IES Theory of Change  Engage and align with public, civil society and private sector partners in each region, who create or re-frame water, and and ecosystems investments or implementation strategies.  Integrate WLE research to assess the long-term impacts, risks and trade-offs of these investments and strategies.  Strengthen the capacity of decision makers, WLE Partners and Regional and National Organizations.  Draw out lessons learned on sustainable intensification for cross-regional application.

Impact Pathways WLE Global Flagships and Core themes IES Flagship Individual Projects

Flagship IES Outcome 2025 Public institutions (e.g. governments, extension services, farmer organizations), Civil Society Orgs and NGOs at national and sub-national level are widely promoting integrated and equitable ecosystem based approaches to water and land management. Flagship IES 2019 Outcome #2 are using 10 Public-private actors (including financing) at national and sub-national levels are using new incentive mechanisms (e.g. novel financial mechanisms) or business models/markets that explicitly promote ecosystem based approaches in natural resource management especially agriculture using WLE science. Flagship IES 2019 Outcome #1 are using 10 Major development initiatives and public institutions at national and subnational levels are using WLE’s science and decision support tools to prioritize and inform project implementation of equitable ecosystem based approaches. INDICATOR: # mil. Farmers including at least 40% of whom are women will be living in an ecosystem service and resilience environment. TARGET 2025: 10 INDICATOR 1: # of Major development initiatives and national and subnational public institutions that prioritize and inform project implementation of ecosystem based approaches using WLE science and decision support tools; TARGETS: 2019: 10 – 2016: : 2 INDICATOR 2: # of public-private actors at national and sub-national levels are using new incentive mechanisms or business models/ markets that explicitly promote ecosystem based approaches in natural resource management especially agriculture using WLE science. TARGETS: 2019: : : 2