Poverty and hunger remain enormous challenges. Nearly 1 billion people in the world go hungry, and more than 1 billion live on just $1.25 a day. Seventy-five percent of the poor live in rural areas, and the majority of them depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. At the same time, food prices are high and rising, which will present a sustained challenge to food security in coming years.
One of the most promising tools for promoting development and reducing poverty—pro-poor, sustainable agricultural growth, particularly for small producers—has been underexploited. Evidence shows that agricultural growth reduces poverty by twice the rate of growth in nonagricultural sectors, but this growth has been constrained by failures related to policies, institutions, and markets and will be further challenged by emerging trends such as climate change and natural resource scarcity. Past agricultural growth has also been limited by a narrow focus on the sector that excluded macroeconomic dimensions, environmental inputs and outcomes, and important enabling conditions, such as rural infrastructure, effective markets, and complementary services such as credit and agricultural extension.
The purpose of the Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) research program is to establish how these challenges and failures can be overcome to most effectively reduce poverty, improve food security, and grow small producers’ incomes. Since developing countries face a tremendous variety of development challenges and also vary greatly in their policy, institutional, and market capacities, the program has a strong focus on supporting country-led, country-driven, and country-owned development through collaborative research, partnership, and capacity building.
CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets: Priorities for 2019–2021
The CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) works with research and implementation partners in Africa, Asia,
Annual report 2020: CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM)
In 2020, PIM findings contributed to seed policies in Nepal and Uganda, Malawi’s extension strategy and approval of insect-resistant cott
Embracing political economy to enhance policy influence: Lessons from PIM research
An overarching goal of the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) has been to influence policy outcomes in w
Gender research in PIM
The CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) is working to provide solutions that eliminate gender bias, enhance inclusion, and promote effective development.
Policy research for a food secure present and future
Sound policies, robust institutions, and well-functioning markets complement new discoveries...
PIM
Policies, Institutions, and Markets
Publications
Can the establishment of private property rights to land improve child health and nutrition outcomes?
The project Reaching Smallholder Women with Information Services and Resilience Strategies to Respond to Climate Change aimed to increase the climate resilience of poor women and men farmers in Africa south of the Sahara and South Asia — especially those in
Blogs
Transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system for healthier diets and higher farm incomes
A policy shift focusing on nutritious foods and consumers.
The devolution revolution paradox: Greater accountability, lower spending on agricultural services
A potential obstacle to food system transformation at the local level.
Related Events
Advancing Gender Equality through Agricultural and Environmental Research: Past, Present, and Future
Discussion of the history and wealth of gender knowledge that has been generated to date by CGIAR agricultural & environmental research.
Watch video
Innovations in agricultural insurance: Lessons learnt about managing smallholder farmer risks
Virtual Event: OCT 26, 2021 - 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT. This webinar will present an evaluation of how action oriented research on tools for improving smallholder farmers have spawned further interest by different sector actors.