2023 CGIAR Annual
Report

In 2023, CGIAR and its valued partners around the world continued to pioneer and deliver solutions addressing the most urgent challenges, while partnering to deliver and scale impact.”

Leaders' Message

Advancing Nutrition, Health, and Food Security

CGIAR Executive Managing Director Ismahane Elouafi and CGIAR System Board Chair Lindiwe Majele Sibanda highlight 2023 key achievements, and preview the report’s theme of nutrition, health, and food security.

Portfolio & Results

Our 2023 Annual Report highlights the significant strides made by CGIAR in our ongoing mission to transform food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. This year’s report theme focuses on a critical aspect central to our goals: nutrition, health, and food security. Please explore our results across our three Science Groups (and their 32 Research Initiatives), Regional Integrated Initiatives, our coordinating Impact Areas, and our Research Centers.

Key results stories

Center Success Stories

Impact Areas

In collaboration with around 3,000 partners, CGIAR advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by targeting five key Impact Areas. Each Impact Area Platform focuses on research and innovation aimed at achieving significant, enduring, and scalable impacts.

Our Impact in Numbers

Slide for more impacts

Nutrition

people

2.1 million people

Over 2.1 million people in 2023 used CGIAR innovations to support nutrition, health, and food security. 

business

1,786 partners

We worked with 1,786 partners to combat hunger and malnutrition, and improve well-being. 

results

2,942 results

Our research produced 2,942 results contributing to better health, and enhanced food and nutrition security. 

innovation

464 innovations

We produced 464 innovations to support health and combat hunger. 

Climate

people

22.4 million people

More than 22.4 million people used CGIAR innovations to mitigate or adapt to climate change. This included more than 1.3 million and 1.8 million men. 

business

1,887 partners

Up to 1,887 partners were engaged on climate-focused results at the ground level. 

results

4,505 results

Our scientists produced more than 4,505 results that contributed to SDG 13 on Climate Action, including publications, analyses and methods. 

innovation

548 climate solutions

At least 548 field-ready climate solutions were shared to help smallholders adapt to climate change and reduce emissions from agriculture. 

Environment

people

1.2 million people

Over 1.2 million people used CGIAR innovations to improve environmental health and biodiversity. 

business

1,813 partners

A total of 1,813 partners worked with us on supporting conservation of biodiversity and a healthy environment. 

results

2,460 results

Our researchers produced 2,460 results contributing to SDGs 14 and 15 on life below water, and life on land.

innovation

504 new innovations

Our researchers produced around 504 new innovations to support environmental health and biodiversity worldwide.

Gender

people

16 million people

More than 16 million people used CGIAR innovations to support gender equality, youth, and social inclusion. 

business

1,594 partners

Up to 1,594 partners were engaged with efforts for equality and inclusion on the ground. 

results

1,028 results

As many as 1028 results were recorded that contributed to SDG 10 on reduced inequalities. 

innovation

413 innovations

Research produced around 413 innovations supporting greater equality between men and women, and inclusion of youth and other minorities in food systems. 

Poverty

people

21 million people

Over 21 million people used CGIAR innovations to support poverty reduction, livelihoods and jobs.

business

1,821 partners

As many as 1,821 partners worked with us on transforming food systems to provide better jobs, income, and stable livelihoods. 

results

4,767 results

We recorded up to 4,767 results that contributed to SDG 1 on ending poverty in all its forms. 

innovation

394 innovations

Our research produced 394 innovations to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods. 

Regions & Partnerships

With around 3,000 partners, collaboration is essential to CGIAR’s approach. We work with small-scale farmers and associations, national universities and governments, global networks, and more. CGIAR engages across six key regions, aligning its strengths with regional needs. Please also explore an expanded focus on two key countries: Ghana and Guatemala.

Regions

Partnerships

Countries Focus

Digital Transformation

CGIAR integrates cutting-edge digital solutions into our scientific innovations. And we use digital technologies to enable our business units and research programs. In 2023, we made substantial advances in deploying digital solutions that will help us tackle global challenges.

Events & Awards

Explore a selection of CGIAR Centers and researchers awarded for their outstanding work, along with highlights from our key global event participation in 2023.

Our Operations

Our operations teams are committed to ensuring CGIAR is a value-driven, high-performing organization. In 2023, CGIAR made progress ensuring we are an inclusive and enabling organization, a transparent financial manager, and an effective manager of digital and data assets.

Oversight & Assurance

CGIAR’s Advisory Services, Internal Audit, and Ethics & Business Conduct teams are crucial in ensuring that best practices are maintained within our organization and in our external collaborations.

Improved parboiling technology increases women’s income and nutrition in Africa

The GEM parboiling system allows women to gain 140 kg of milled rice and US$73 per tonne in Benin.

Food insecurity and child malnutrition remain persistent problems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). GEM, an improved parboiling system developed by AfricaRice and its national partners, leads to better physical and nutritional properties of processed rice than the traditional system. Compared to the traditional system, GEM allows women in Benin to gain an additional 140 kg of milled rice per tonne of paddy and US$73 per tonne.

Micronutrient deficiencies, or “hidden hunger,” are on the rise in SSA, affecting one in every two Africans. At the same time, little progress has been made to reduce undernutrition. The region has the highest prevalence of undernutrition, with 98 million children affected by stunting.

To improve the nutritional quality of rice as a staple food crop, AfricaRice and partners developed GEM, an improved parboiling system that allows rice to be processed with better physical and nutritional properties compared to the traditional system. GEM is an improved parboiling technology that uses both a uniform steam parboiler and an improved parboiling stove. The GEM system is not only about the equipment but also the improved process.

After first being introduced in 2015 by the CGIAR Research Program on Rice, the GEM system has now been scaled to 11 African countries. The Initiative builds on the existing GEM equipment to strengthen women’s technical capacity, such as through the process of parboiling rice with GEM, and soft skills, such as business skills, marketing strategies, and personal development. The Initiative has also helped to link women parboilers to markets through its women and youth innovation platform.

The Initiative funded a study to assess the impact of the system’s adoption on women’s livelihoods. Results showed that adopting the GEM system increased women parboilers’ rice output rate (dehulling return), income, and food security, and reduced poverty. Compared to the traditional system, GEM allows women to gain an additional 140 kg of milled rice per tonne of paddy and US$73 of additional income. Adoption of the GEM system also reduced the poverty rate by 26 percent among adopter households. These results are supported by women’s perceptions that the output rate, better nutritional value, and reduction in the amount of broken rice during dehulling are major advantages of the new parboiling system. This shows that parboiled rice using improved equipment and methods can not only reduce hidden hunger in SSA but also improve women’s livelihoods.

Women in 36 areas in 11 African countries are benefiting now from the GEM system: 23 areas in West Africa (Bante, Glazoue, Malanville, and Savalou in Benin; Gaya in Niger; Goronyo and Nasarawa in Nigeria; Soutouboua in Togo; Abidjan, Bouake Dar Salam, Bouake marché de gros, Boundiali, Daloa, Gagnoa, Korhogo, Man, and Odiene in Côte d’Ivoire; Baguineda, Dioro, San, and Segou in Mali; and Saint Louis in Senegal); one area in Central Africa (Nkolfolou-Yaounde in Cameroon), and 12 areas in East Africa (Bahidar and Woreta in Ethiopia; Ambatondrazaka, Ankazomiriotra, Antanarivo, Antsirabe, Antsohihy, Mahabo, and Tanandava in Madagascar; and Gaza, Sofala, and Zambezia in Mozambique).