On 9 April 2025, at CGIAR’s inaugural Science Week in Nairobi the UK-CGIAR Centre hosted a side event entitled “Leveraging science excellence and development impact through partnerships.”
Consisting of presentations and a panel discussion, the side-event explored the role of partnerships in improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers while easing the global food crisis.
The UK-CGIAR Centre Director Dr Richard Shaw presented on the work done so far by the Centre to strengthen ties between UK science institutes and CGIAR. He described how, as a result of the Centre, scientists from leading UK research institutes and CGIAR are now working with local partners in regions that are high priorities for all parties involved.
This was followed by a presentation from Marielle Karssenberg and Gerrie Tuitert of the Netherlands (NL) – CGIAR Research Programme, a strategic partnership between Government of the Netherlands and CGIAR dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. The presentation explored how the partnership is advancing knowledge and enhancing innovation to help improve global food and nutrition security.
The presentations were followed by an expert panel discussion, convened by Phyllis Ombonyo, Director of Strategy and Engagement, International Development at CABI. Drawing upon their own experiences and the key takeaways from the presentations, the panellists discussed how the formation, implementation, and delivery of equitable partnerships can help achieve excellent science while delivering development impact.
A video of the event can be viewed below
Presentation slides
UK-CGIAR Centre presentation
NL-CGIAR presentation
Event Speakers and Panellists
Chair
Phyllis Ombonyo, Director of Strategy and Engagement, International Development, CABI
Speakers
Richard Shaw Director of the UK-CGIAR Centre CABI
Marielle Karssenberg, Medior Knowledge Broker, Netherlands Food Partnership
Gerrie Tuitert, Coordinator NL-CGIAR Research programme, NWO Dutch Research Council
Panellists
Dr Sandra Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR
Dr Dennis Rangi, Director General – Development, CABI
Dr Rachel Lambert, Head of Food & Agriculture Research and Evidence Team, FCDO
Dr Benjamin Kivuva, Assistant Director, Crop Production and Seed System,KALRO.
Pim van der Male, First secretary, Food Security and Water, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nairobi Kenya
Image credit: CGIAR