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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.

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Danielle Resnick

Danielle Resnick is a Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit and a Non-Resident Fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution. Her research focuses on the political economy of agricultural policy and food systems, governance, and democratization, drawing on extensive fieldwork and policy engagement across Africa and South Asia.

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Natural Resources and Resilience

Hagar ElDidi

Senior Research Analyst

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Bio

Hagar ElDidi is a Senior Research Analyst in the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit. Her research centers on institutional economics, particularly community-based governance of natural resources. Her work involves exploring the potential of behavioral games and experiential learning packages for sustainable governance of water resources; understanding important aspects of inclusive and effective multistakeholder platforms for governance of landscapes and natural resources; identifying water governance sustainability issues, including access and equity in irrigation; and gender.

Hagar holds a BA in economics from the American University in Cairo and an MSc in interdisciplinary studies in sustainability, with a specialization in ecological economics, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

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Publications

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana

2026Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; Zhang, Wei; Ringler, Claudia; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.
Details

Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana

The growth of dry season farming in Ghana is putting increased pressure on groundwater resources. Using mixed methods this paper examines the learning effect of an experiential groundwater resource game in Ghana’s Upper East Region that simulates real-life resource use and common-pool resource management dilemmas. Results indicate short and medium-term learnings associated with participation in the game. During the game, group interaction and communication improved cooperation and led to more sustainable game behaviours. The gender-specific analysis indicates that females and males may learn and respond differently to the game. Males exhibited more sustainable game behaviours with increased communication and rules whereas female groups showed more learning from round to round. The positive learning effects from the game persisted 12 months after the intervention. Debriefing and focus group participants mentioned lessons learned about the depletable and shared nature of groundwater resources and the importance of communication and collective governance. Participants also described selecting water conserving crops and creating community watering schedules to manage water use. Findings highlight the important role experiential learning games can play in increasing knowledge, motivation, and agency associated with sustainable natural resource use.

Year published

2026

Authors

Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; Zhang, Wei; Ringler, Claudia; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.

Citation

Blackmore, Ivy; ElDidi, Hagar; Obuobie, Emmanuel; Akuriba, Margaret; et al. 2026. Learning effects of an experiential groundwater resource game in north-eastern Ghana. Journal of Rural Studies 122(February 2026): 103975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103975

Country/Region

Ghana

Keywords

Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Africa; Water Management; Smallholders; Irrigation; Natural Resources Management; Experiential Learning; Groundwater; Small-scale Irrigation; Groundwater Management

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103975 Source record

Project

NEXUS Gains

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Multi-stakeholder platforms for enabling agroecological transitions: Configurations and lessons from seven agroecological living landscapes

2026ElDidi, Hagar; Navarrete, Angela; Piraux, Marc; Vall, Eric; Tristán, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi; Fuchs, Lisa Elena; Singh, Sonali; Frija, Aymen
Details

Multi-stakeholder platforms for enabling agroecological transitions: Configurations and lessons from seven agroecological living landscapes

Agroecological transition (AET) of agrifood systems is a multidimensional process involving diverse stakeholders. Participatory innovation and co-creation of knowledge are also at the heart of agroecology. Deliberately designed Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) are collaborative spaces conducive to driving this type of collaboration and change. However, how these processes are operationalized is poorly documented. This study contributes to filling this gap by highlighting how MSPs can be important vehicles for enabling AETs. As part of the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology, Agroecological Living Landscapes (ALLs) were set up as MSPs specifically focusing on co-creation of agroecological innovations. By examining different ALL configurations in seven countries, we analyze MSP attributes that can enable and shape AETs at different stages or “levels” of the transition pathway. We find that MSPs can advance different levels of the transition pathway simultaneously by working on multiple innovations involving various stakeholder coalitions. MSPs navigate complex environments, with diverse stakeholders playing multiple policy and non-policy roles to support AETs. The results also illustrate the intersection between MSP configuration and AET objectives, such as policy change, agroecology market support, and scaling adoption. Finally, we discuss the non-linear nature of AET pathways and political economy considerations for stakeholder engagement in MSPs.

Year published

2026

Authors

ElDidi, Hagar; Navarrete, Angela; Piraux, Marc; Vall, Eric; Tristán, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi; Fuchs, Lisa Elena; Singh, Sonali; Frija, Aymen

Citation

ElDidi, Hagar; Navarrete, Angela; Piraux, Marc; Vall, Eric; Tristán, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi; et al. Multi-stakeholder platforms for enabling agroecological transitions: Configurations and lessons from seven agroecological living landscapes. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. Article in press. First published online on September 12, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2556433

Keywords

Agroecology; Food Systems; Multi-stakeholder Processes; Policy Innovation

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2556433 Source record

Project

Agroecology

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: Insights from two case studies in India

2025ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Chaturvedi, Rahul; Sanil, Richu
Details

Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: Insights from two case studies in India

This paper examines the complexities of commons governance, focusing on the role of multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) in addressing tensions among diverse decision-making centers. Drawing on the experiences of the Indian NGO Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) in Gujarat and Odisha, the study analyzes two MSPs operating at the block level, engaging communities, government, and private sector actors. Through surveys, interviews, and analysis of institutional reports, the research identifies key benefits of MSPs, including enhanced multi-stakeholder engagement, scale, and enabling conditions. It argues that MSPs can effectively support polycentric governance by facilitating inter-community collaboration, strengthening local voices, and building trust over time. The study also underscores the importance of external actors like NGOs in supporting community agency and fostering collaboration across different governance levels.

Year published

2025

Authors

ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Chaturvedi, Rahul; Sanil, Richu

Citation

ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth; Chaturvedi, Rahul; and Sanil, Richu. 2025. Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: insights from two case studies in India. Environment, Development and Sustainability 27(12): 29797–29823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04896-9

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Commons; Multi-stakeholder Processes; Governance; Stakeholders; Non-governmental Organizations; Collective Action

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04896-9 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

Blogs

No olive branch: Natural resource destruction and prospects for restoration in Gaza and the West Bank
Issue Post
 | 
October 15, 2025

No olive branch: Natural resource destruction and prospects for restoration in Gaza and the West Bank

By Hagar ElDidi, Ryan Nehring, and Claudia Ringler

Addressing the war’s heavy toll on olive trees.

Understanding and supporting collective action in natural resource management through experiential learning games: Examples from three continents
Event Post
 | 
July 23, 2025

Understanding and supporting collective action in natural resource management through experiential learning games: Examples from three continents

By Hagar ElDidi, Thomas Falk, Juan Felipe Ortiz-Riomalo, Franziska Auch, Wei Zhang, and Upeksha Hettiarachchi

Fostering cooperative stewardship.

Playing the right game: A decision tree for choosing approaches to strengthen water governance
Research Post
 | 
March 13, 2024

Playing the right game: A decision tree for choosing approaches to strengthen water governance

By Thomas Falk, Vishwambhar Duche, Richu Sanil, Pratiti Priyadarshini, Hagar ElDidi, Ruth Meinzen-Dick, and Bryan Bruns

Fostering cooperative natural resource management.

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Events

Groundwater: Potential and Pitfalls for Africa
IFPRI Policy Seminar

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March 20, 2023, 8:00 – 9:30 am

Groundwater: Potential and Pitfalls for Africa

Virtual Event: March 20, 2023 – 8:00 AM- 9:30 AM EST. This event will discuss the African Ministers’ Council on Water’s (AMCOW) groundwater program with case studies on the benefits of groundwater development as well as institutional advances in several African countries.

World Water Week 2022
IFPRI at External Event

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August 23 to September 1, 2022

World Water Week 2022

Virtual Event: August 23, 2022 – 7:00 AM to September 1, 2022 – 12:20 PM EDT. IFPRI is participating in World Water Week 2022, the leading conference on global water issues.

Beyond COVID-19: Recommendations from Five Years of Policy Research in Egypt and Directions for the Future
IFPRI Program/Country Event

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December 8, 2020, 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Beyond COVID-19: Recommendations from Five Years of Policy Research in Egypt and Directions for the Future

Recommendations from five years of policy research in Egypt and directions for the future.

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