Developing and Retaining the next generation of African young researcher IFS- Approach

1. Developing and Retaining the next generation of African young researcherIFS- Approach

2. This presentation • rapidly review how IFS works in the present. • present our thoughts on how we are planning to operate in future.

3. IFS present and future

4. IFS present What IFS does? Why ? Where the focus is? Looking at the Future? How could we go forwards? Individual competitive research grants Capacity enhancement support

5. IFS present What IFS does? Why ? Where the focus is? Looking at the Future? How could we go forwards? Entrepreneurs Innovations Global debate Knowledge for development Critical mass of science leaders Focus: Young scientists LIC/LMICs Individual competitive research grants Expand opportunity for women scientists Support relevant, high quality research - locally Capacity enhancement support ‘Brain drain’

6. IFS present E.g. Managers need efficient and flexible ways to allocate water among competing quantity and quality demands for human use (such as energy, agriculture, fisheries, and urban consumption) and for healthy ecosystems (such as forests, wetlands, and oceans). E.g. World needs to double food supply over next 40 years, lifting billion people out of poverty and hunger, in ways that are environmentally sustainable. This requires accelerated research, enhanced extension services, and improved market infrastructure to meet food needs What IFS does? Why ? Where the focus is? Looking at the Future? How could we go forwards? Social context: of peoples livelihoods and poverty alleviation options Sustainable biological resources use Sustainable water use Knowledge for development

7. IFS present • Useful to pose the following questions. • What world are we preparing reasearchers for? • What must we teach? • Whom are we teaching? • Who is teaching? What IFS does? Why ? Where the focus is? Looking at the Future? How could we go forwards?

8. IFS present IFS future What IFS does? Why ? Where the focus is? What is on the horizon? How could we go forwards?

9. IFS future • IFS has a strong reputation and an impressive track record, good engagement with many scientific advisers and affiliated organisations. • Exciting opportunity to re-envision the structure and direction: • Renew core commitments ‘to support the best men and women scientists early in their careers and to maintain a focus on sustainable management of biological and water resources’. • Use Results-Based Management approaches and broad participation to envision, design, implement and monitor future efforts. • Design an effective and efficient IFS structure fit for purpose within today’s research and development architecture. • Build our capacity for impact and secure long-term funding.

10. - Piloting support forinterdisciplinary IFS future: Programmes Programme 3: Interdisciplinary grant to leverage additional funding The IFS foci on biological and water resources issues have huge relevance to development. By addressing, with more clarity of purpose, the development relevance of IFS research, can the organisation improve client satisfaction, development impact and more effectively leverage complementary development assistance Successful grantees of Programmes 1 and 2 become eligible for seed funding in support of larger grant applications from other sources such as EU, GEF climate change funds with IFS grantee partners or others. The programme for non - 1st time applicants aims to be a link to larger development assistance, providing grant and capacity enhancing support for grantees to leverage longer term financial support by research or development agencies Programme 2: Interdisciplinary grant to 3-5 IFS grantees An excellent way to build networks amongst young scientists and to build capacity for interdisciplinary working is a programme to incentivise consortia of grantees to tackle small interdisciplinary projects with a development context. The programme for non - 1st time applicants addresses important development assistance themes defined (and realigned every 2 years) at the regional level, taking account of national PRSPs, changing climate scenarios, regional agendas (e.g. Africa NEPAD, ASERECA) to define issues of regional research and development significance Programme 1: Disciplinary research The primary role of IFS should be to help young scientists get established by supporting them to produce excellent science. The programme for 1st time applicants addresses the eight disciplines currently offered by IFS

11. - Increased emphasis on tackling interdisciplinary development agendas IFS future: Programmes Programme 3: Interdisciplinary grant to leverage additional funding Provide seed funding and CES Calls for applications for research , development, environment funding (including WB Development Market Place, EU, GEF, Climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives) How could this contribute to IFS broadening its funding base and develop links with large-scale development assistance or more long term financial commitments by development agencies? Could IFS interdisciplinary project build essential capacity to tackle collaboratively, broader development agendas which are more attractive to development donors? Increase success rate of grantees winning funds Leverage support from international banks/donors Programme 2: Interdisciplinary grant to 3-5 IFS grantees International Bank/donor projects tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, integrated water use, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and growing urbanisation Research and development partners in search of quality DC science Programme 1: Disciplinary research Programme 1: Disciplinary research Programme 1: Disciplinary research Programme 1: Disciplinary research

12. Help us to design the Future of IFS Strategic Plan in the Side meeting this evening in the next room Thanks for your attention