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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

Timothy Thomas

Timothy Thomas is a Senior Research Fellow in the Foresight and Policy Modeling Unit. His research focuses on the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity. Tim’s work involves developing innovative methods for simulated climate futures and model coordination between climate, crop, water, energy, and economics.

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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

Heterodox thinking on water economics, values, and governance

2026
Grafton, R. Quentin; Borgomeo, Edoardo; Chu, Long; Coombes, Peter; Fanaian, Safa; MacDonald, Darla Hatton; Katic, Pamela; Longboat, Sheri; Manero, Ana; Nikolakis, William
…more Svensson, Jesper; Wheeler, Sarah Ann; Wyrwoll, Paul; Adamowicz, Wiktor; Akter, Sonia; Biswas, Asit; Brouwer, Roy; Doyen, Luc; Horne, James; Kompas, Tom; Le, Lien; Martins, Rita; Milne, Sarah; Nguyen, Nhat-Mai; Ringler, Claudia; Talbot-Jones, Julia; Thiam, Djiby; Tortajada, Cecilia; Williams, John
Details

Heterodox thinking on water economics, values, and governance

Global water crises are, finally, near the top of the agendas at the United Nations and at multilateral initiatives and organizations. A social sciences– and humanities-informed emerging literature that we call Heterodox Thinking offers alternatives to much of the current decision-making on water. Rooted in water economics, values, and governance, Heterodox Thinking comprises developments in nonmarket valuation, systems thinking, risk assessments and mitigation, infrastructure investments, and understanding injustices and relationality. It is characterized by the Three Ps: People (e.g., who has voice and power and who does not), Place (e.g., locally informed and justice-based), and Planet (e.g., system interconnections, risks, and ecological and nonhuman considerations). At its best, Heterodox Thinking is informed by on-the-ground evidence and multiple disciplines and knowledge, and it seeks to value water, expose power imbalances, support human rights and well-being, and mitigate systemic risks. If effectively operationalized, it can deliver more equitable, risk-mitigated, and sustainable responses to the many different and localized water crises.

Year published

2026

Authors

Grafton, R. Quentin; Borgomeo, Edoardo; Chu, Long; Coombes, Peter; Fanaian, Safa; MacDonald, Darla Hatton; Katic, Pamela; Longboat, Sheri; Manero, Ana; Nikolakis, William; Svensson, Jesper; Wheeler, Sarah Ann; Wyrwoll, Paul; Adamowicz, Wiktor; Akter, Sonia; Biswas, Asit; Brouwer, Roy; Doyen, Luc; Horne, James; Kompas, Tom; Le, Lien; Martins, Rita; Milne, Sarah; Nguyen, Nhat-Mai; Ringler, Claudia; Talbot-Jones, Julia; Thiam, Djiby; Tortajada, Cecilia; Williams, John

Citation

Grafton, R. Quentin; Borgomeo, Edoardo; Chu, Long; Coombes, Peter; Fanaian, Safa; et al. 2026. Heterodox thinking on water economics, values, and governance. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 51: 279-304. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112624-021419

Keywords

Water; Water Governance; Valuation; Justice; Welfare; Water Demand; Water Management

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112624-021419 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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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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Working Paper

Mapping the policy landscape for climate action in Ethiopia's agrifood systems

2026Magalhaes, Marilia; Ringler, Claudia; Arega, Tiruwork; Bryan, Elizabeth
Details

Mapping the policy landscape for climate action in Ethiopia's agrifood systems

Ethiopia has made important policy commitments to address climate change in agriculture and food systems, yet challenges remain in translating these commitments into coordinated, inclusive action. This study examines Ethiopia’s climate change institutional landscape, with a particular focus on the integration of gender and nutrition considerations. Drawing on the Net-Map methodology and a participatory stakeholder mapping workshop involving government agencies, donors, nongovernmental organizations, research institutions, and private sector actors, the study maps the institutional relationships shaping climate action. Findings reveal a highly centralized network, with authority concentrated in the Prime Minister’s Office, financial flows largely controlled by the Ministry of Finance, and information and advisory exchanges dominated by the Ministry of Agriculture. While several institutions play influential roles in shaping climate action, coordination across sectors is limited. Despite the proliferation of gender- and nutrition-related initiatives, their implementation is fragmented and weakly connected to climate policy processes. The findings point to the need for stronger cross-sectoral coordination, more inclusive governance arrangements, and greater institutional support for actors working at the intersection of climate change, gender, and nutrition.

Year published

2026

Authors

Magalhaes, Marilia; Ringler, Claudia; Arega, Tiruwork; Bryan, Elizabeth

Citation

Magalhaes, Marilia; Ringler, Claudia; Arega, Tiruwork; and Bryan, Elizabeth. 2026. Mapping the policy landscape for climate action in Ethiopia's agrifood systems. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2445. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/185564

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Eastern Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Gender; Nutrition; Climate Change; Climate Action; Institutions; Governance; Governance Systems; Inclusion; Agrifood Systems; Policies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

Blogs

Do digital agricultural tools improve women's agency and well-being?
Issue Post
 | 
October 16, 2026

Do digital agricultural tools improve women’s agency and well-being?

By Claudia Ringler and Niyati Singaraju

Technologies must be tailored to user needs.

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.

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Events

IFPRI @ 2026 World Food Prize: Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue
IFPRI at External Event

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October 20 to 22, 2026

IFPRI @ 2026 World Food Prize: Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue

IFPRI is participating in the 2026 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. This year’s theme, “Before Hunger Wins,” highlights the urgent challenges facing global food security, including intensifying conflict, climate volatility, and deepening inequality. The Dialogue will bring together world leaders and experts to share knowledge, explore partnerships, and discuss strategies for addressing critical issues in […]

World Food Forum '26
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

October 8 to 16, 2026

World Food Forum ’26

The World Food Forum (WFF) flagship event is a global platform that drives action to transform agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment. Bringing together all stakeholders, it serves as a dynamic space for turning ideas into actions, scaling solutions and forging synergistic partnerships. By uniting diverse voices and fostering cross-sectoral and […]

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

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September 30, 2026, 9:30 – 12:00 pm

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

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 sense of control and efficacy—drawing on a novel set of survey tools developed and tested across 18 countries through the initiative. Partners will discuss what […]

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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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