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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Kinya Kaibung’a

Kinya Kaibung’a is a Research Officer with the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a keen interest in leveraging machine learning, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies to boost climate resilience and food security in smart agriculture systems.

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Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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IFPRI currently has more than 480 employees working in over 70 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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experts

Agrifood Innovation and Resilience

Claudia Ringler

Director

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Claudia Ringler

Bio

Claudia Ringler is the Director of the Agrifood Innovation and Resilience Unit, where she leads a global research portfolio at the intersection of nature, agricultural innovation, climate, and development. Her work focuses on shaping equitable and climate-resilient food systems through integrated, evidence‑based solutions. Dr. Ringler has 30 years of research-for-development experience at CGIAR, the world’s largest publicly funded agricultural research network. She carries out her work through deep, long‑standing collaborations with partners across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with a strong recent focus on sub‑Saharan Africa and South Asia. She is internationally recognized for her scientific leadership and for shaping the global discourse on climate, water, and food systems. In recognition of her longstanding contributions, she was awarded lifetime memberships in 2021 by both the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) and the International Association of Agricultural Economics (IAAE). Dr. Ringler has a PhD in Agricultural Sciences specializing in Agricultural Economics, as well as training in business management and international and development economics.

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Publications

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Journal Article

Integrated hydrological and economic assessment of hydropower and irrigation development in Sudan under climate change

2026Basheer, Mohammed; Elnour, Zuhal; Pérez, Cristo Facundo; Liao, Wenxi; Siddig, Khalid; Ringler, Claudia
Details

Integrated hydrological and economic assessment of hydropower and irrigation development in Sudan under climate change

Demands for water, energy, and food are rapidly increasing in many low- and middle-income countries, driving the development of large-scale hydropower and irrigation projects. As climate change poses major risks and uncertainties for large-scale infrastructure investments, it is essential to stress-test infrastructure development plans to address these challenges and strengthen resilience. The Nile is one of the world’s longest rivers, draining approximately 10% of Africa’s land surface; Sudan accounts for around 40% of the basin area, and several new large hydropower and irrigation infrastructure projects are planned. We develop an integrated analytical framework for the Nile River system, utilizing 16 climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) 6 and hydrological, river system, and Computable General Equilibrium models to evaluate the biophysical and economic impacts of hydropower and irrigation development in Sudan under climate change. The results indicate a projected increase in the naturalized streamflow of the Nile by 2050 due to climate change. A phased hydropower and irrigation development strategy in Sudan – targeting a total of 1,500 MW of hydropower capacity and approximately one million hectares of irrigated wheat – is projected to increase annual hydropower generation by up to 8.1 TWh and expand total wheat area by 283% by 2050. These developments increase the undiscounted national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2030–2050 by US$ 0.1 to 0.4 billion per year, with larger increases occurring under high economic growth pathways. This research highlights the interconnected nature of climate change, water resource development, and economic performance, underscoring the importance of integrated assessment in informing investment decisions.

Year published

2026

Authors

Basheer, Mohammed; Elnour, Zuhal; Pérez, Cristo Facundo; Liao, Wenxi; Siddig, Khalid; Ringler, Claudia

Citation

Basheer, Mohammed; Elnour, Zuhal; Pérez, Cristo Facundo; Liao, Wenxi; Siddig, Khalid; and Ringler, Claudia. 2026. Integrated hydrological and economic assessment of hydropower and irrigation development in Sudan under climate change. Journal of Hydrology 679(Part A): 136135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136135

Country/Region

Sudan

Keywords

Africa; Northern Africa; Hydrology; Economic Analysis; Water Power; Irrigation; Climate Change; Transboundary Waters; Decision-making; Water; Energy; Foods

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136135 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

Why water matters for Africa’s food systems: A Call to Action for irrigation investment

2026Cofie, Olufunke O.; Ringler, Claudia; Agbonlahor, Mure; Amede, Tilahun; Czajkowski, Mikayla; Kabuti, Vincent; Kimotho, Ephantus; Smith, Mark
Details

Why water matters for Africa’s food systems: A Call to Action for irrigation investment

Less than 5 percent of Africa’s cultivated land is reported to be irrigated, leaving farmers, livelihoods, and economies exposed to erratic rainfall, drought, floods and associated economic shocks. Irrigation is key to agricultural intensification, enabling year-round production, allows farmers to grow higher-value, nutrient-dense crops, creates jobs and wealth and strengthens food supply chains and markets. Irrigation is, moreover, an enabler of other agricultural inputs, ensuring that productivity-increasing inputs and technologies don’t go to waste as a result of dry spells but instead generate yields and farmer incomes. Africa’s irrigation potential is considerable: estimates point to roughly 33 million hectares suitable for farmer-led groundwater irrigation and 6 million hectares for additional surface water irrigation. But realizing this potential sustainably means aligning national investment decisions with underlying basin and aquifer conditions; agro-ecological zones; competing water demands (such as for nature, households, and industry); and infrastructure and technology possibilities. The African Union’s Framework for irrigation development and agricultural water management (IDAWM) describes key underlying conditions for investment and scaling complementary irrigation development pathways.

Year published

2026

Authors

Cofie, Olufunke O.; Ringler, Claudia; Agbonlahor, Mure; Amede, Tilahun; Czajkowski, Mikayla; Kabuti, Vincent; Kimotho, Ephantus; Smith, Mark

Citation

Cofie, Olufunke O.; Ringler, Claudia; Agbonlahor, Mure; Amede, Tilahun; Czajkowski, Mikayla; Kabuti, Vincent; Kimotho, Ephantus; and Smith, Mark. 2026. Why water matters for Africa’s food systems: A Call to Action for irrigation investment. CGIAR System Organization. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/185319

Keywords

Africa; Water; Irrigation; Food Systems; Investment; Resilience

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Closing the gender and youth gap for healthier soils: Women’s and youth’s agency as levers of change

2026Ringler, Claudia
Details

Closing the gender and youth gap for healthier soils: Women’s and youth’s agency as levers of change

Healthy soils are fundamental to food security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods, yet soil degradation affects up to 40 percent of the world’s land, threatening agricultural productivity and leading to significant economic and environmental costs. Recurring fuel, fertilizer, and food price crises limit farmers’ access to fertility-enhancing inputs and increase the risk of soil nutrient mining and land degradation, with negative consequences for both soil health and food security. Effective soil management requires investments and informed decision-making, but these are shaped by social norms, gendered roles, and resource constraints, including women’s and youth’s limited access to land ownership, credit and inputs, and extension services. These same constraints also limit the uptake of women’s valuable knowledge about soils and soil management. With 60 percent of youth in Africa working in agriculture, obstacles preventing them from accessing land and agricultural credit likewise dramatically lower the effectiveness of today’s soil health recommendations. Importantly, virtually all fertilizer, soil health, and plant nutrient interventions continue to overlook gender- and age-related inequalities in access to resources, decision-making power, and benefits, which reduces their effectiveness. Gender- and youth-responsive approaches to soil health management are needed to accelerate the adoption of effective practices; improve agricultural productivity, food security, and nutrition; and promote inclusive agricultural transformation.

Year published

2026

Authors

Ringler, Claudia

Citation

Ringler, Claudia. 2026. Closing the gender and youth gap for healthier soils: Women’s and youth’s agency as levers of change. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/185011

Keywords

Gender; Youth; Soil Quality; Environment; Natural Resources

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Blogs

Women as shock absorbers: Gendered costs of the global fuel and fertilizer crisis
Issue Post
 | 
June 12, 2026

Women as shock absorbers: Gendered costs of the global fuel and fertilizer crisis

By Elizabeth Basauri Bryan, Muzna Alvi, Marame Cisse, Faith Gikunda, Eric Kirimi, Hamza Muhammad, Claudia Ringler, Tirsit Sahledengil, Bello Yakasai, and Taddese Zerfu

High prices from the Iran war are increasing inequities.

Are subsidies the solution for ‘costly’ small-scale irrigation technologies?
Issue Post
 | 
June 10, 2026

Are subsidies the solution for ‘costly’ small-scale irrigation technologies?

By Claudia Ringler and Nicole Lefore

More targeted forms of support can help farmers.

Guiding Niger River Basin investments using a WEFE Nexus approach
Research Post
 | 
April 21, 2026

Guiding Niger River Basin investments using a WEFE Nexus approach

By Maria DiGiovanni and Claudia Ringler

IFPRI’s role supporting stewardship for a key resource.

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Events

Measuring Women’s Agency: New Tools, Takeaways, and What Comes Next
Series/Special Event

 | 

September 30, 2026, 9:30 – 12:00 pm

Measuring Women’s Agency: New Tools, Takeaways, and What Comes Next

Please type your questions into the chat box with name, affiliation, and country. The event recording will be available in the days following the event. This half-day forum, hosted by the Measures for Advancing Gender Equality (MAGNET) initiative, will share new findings about measuring women’s agency across three dimensions—control over assets, goal-setting and decision-making, and […]

IFPRI @ World Water Week 2026
IFPRI at External Event

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August 23 to 27, 2026

IFPRI @ World Water Week 2026

IFPRI is participating in World Water Week 2026, the leading conference on global water issues, taking place August 23–27 in Stockholm, Sweden. World Water Week 2026, organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), will bring together decision-makers, experts, practitioners, and other stakeholders from around the world to advance dialogue, collaboration, and innovation on water. […]

Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Landscapes through Nature-Positive Agriculture
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

March 18, 2026, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Rooted in Biodiversity: Transforming Landscapes through Nature-Positive Agriculture

Agriculture is both a major driver of biodiversity loss and a crucial part of the solution. This seminar will present research and evidence underpinning the World Bank report Rooted: Agriculture Rooted in Biodiversity, which identifies why biodiversity is key for agriculture and examines the constraints, strategies, and investment pathways needed to harness biodiversity and make […]

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News

September 03, 2025 | Press Release

Celebrating 50 Years of Impact and Informing Food Policies Across Africa

IFPRI marks its 50th anniversary with a special event at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar.

September 02, 2025 | Press Release

Launch of IFPRI’s 2025 Global Food Policy Report at Africa Food Systems Forum

IFPRI and AGRA will host a high-level Africa launch of IFPRI’s 2025 GFPR, “Food Policy: Lessons and Priorities for a Changing World,” at AFSF, highlighting linkages to the new CAADP agenda.

August 29, 2025 | Press Release

IFPRI at Africa Food Systems Forum 2025

IFPRI’s delegation at AFSF 2025—including Director General and senior researchers—will participate in plenary sessions, high-level panels, side and special events as part of the wider CGIAR delegation at AFSF.

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