The Science Forum (SF) is a flagship event that was initiated by the ISPC in 2009 as a means to reach out to scientists and scientific communities largely external to CGIAR, but who could make important contributions to the CGIAR research portfolio and its objectives of reducing poverty, improving food security, human nutrition and health, and environmental sustainability.

In June 2015, a set of papers from the 2013 SF was published in a special section of Food Security entitled “Strengthening the links between nutrition and health outcomes and agricultural research”.
The 10 papers in the issue illustrate how global food systems are changing and suggest how agricultural research needs to change if it is to make a major contribution to nutrition and health outcomes.
The last two Science Fora focused on research and partnership issues related to the CGIAR System Level Outcomes (SLOs) on agriculture and the environment and the potential contribution of agriculture to nutrition and health outcomes. Thus for 2016, in response to the new CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework having 3 SLOs, and with suggestions from the Consortium and Centers, the ISPC decided to focus the topic for our next SF on the SLO which has not yet been addressed in a SF– the contribution of agriculture to reducing poverty. A Steering Committee established to advance progress with planning the SF program, agreed that the overarching objective of SF16 should be: “to rethink the pathways for agricultural research to stimulate inclusive development of rural economies in an era of climate change. The Forum will marshal evidence and build on lessons learned to date, to suggest an updated list of priority research areas and approaches which involve more strategic and inclusive engagement with partners.”

Program 2016

With respect to the program for the Forum itself, three full days will be allocated for the scientific debate at SF16, with an approximately 50:50 split of plenary papers and discussion sessions. In previous SFs, such debate was enhanced by diversity in participation, including representatives from donor agencies, NGOs, and the private sector as well as researchers both from within and external to the CGIAR and we would anticipate a similar audience for
SF16. The target number of participants is between 250 and 300. The ISPC recognizes that new partnerships need to involve not only leading scientists and specialists, but also provide an opportunity for early career scientists (ECS) to participate in the discussion on innovative and forward-looking approaches. At the 2013 Science Forum, funds were made available for a competition between the 21 ECS who were supported to attend the SF (selected from a diverse number of applicants), to support exchange visits and create new partnerships.
Seven such exchanges were supported in 2014. At SF16, the ISPC will strive to enhance ECS professional development through better integration into the program (e.g. as respondents in breakout sessions, poster presentations, etc.).

More information

Updates about the Forum preparations were shared at our last ISPC meeting in Rome, held on 15-16 September 2015. An informative SF16 website (www.scienceforum2016.org) with more details about the program and participation will be launched soon (at the latest by 15 November 2015).

SF16 will be co-hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and held from 12-14 April 2016 in Addis Ababa. An informative SF16 website with more details about the program and participation will be launched soon.