1. Recommendations for Gender Integration in the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework

The Strategy Team had informed you about its work so far with three Progress reports. In pursuit of developing an evidence-based and results-oriented strategy for the CGIAR system as a whole and related "Mega-Programs" we engaged over the past two months in various background research activities and consultations.

Progress Report Number 4 to the Alliance is now posted on the Alliance communication internet site:
http://alliance.cgxchange.org/strategy-and-results-framework-and-mega-programs

2. Climate Change and Security in Africa (March 2009)

As science has revealed the speed and scope of climate change, we have begun to realize that it holds potentially serious implications for international security. This desk-based report takes stock of the rapidly increasing literature on the security impacts of climate change. It tries to highlight the areas of agreement among analysts, and note where opinions diverge. The overall aim of the report is to assess, as objectively as possible, the existing evidence on the 'security threat' of climate change in Africa, and to determine which sectors and regions are most likely to suffer from the conflict impacts of climate change.

Read more :
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2009/climate_change_security_africa.pdf

3. Women entrepreneurship in Central America

The Regional Unit for Technical Assistance (RUTA) targets those segments of the population that are strategic for reducing poverty and increasing well-being in rural areas, which validates the support it offers to women in Central America in the development and strengthening of their enterprises. The consolidation of women enterprises depends on highly diverse factors, particularly the surrounding economic environment, market access, availability of public goods and services consonant with their needs and characteristics, the enterprise's individual and group organizational, productive, and managerial capabilities, and gender limitations, among others.

4. New Booklet for Participatory Research in Southeast Asia

CIAT recently published a booklet on participatory approaches for helping small farmers tackle problems of low-input agriculture in remote upland areas of Southeast Asia. Designed primarily for development professionals, the booklet provides a wealth of ideas, practical tips, and basic tools for getting started. This is the latest in the 'CIAT in Asia Research for Development Series.

Two other titles available are:

1. " Developing Forage Technologies with Smallholder Farmers in Southeast Asia-How to Select the Best Varieties to Offer Farmers "

2. Developing Forage Technologies with Smallholder Farmers in Southeast Asia-How to Grow, Manage and Use Forages.

http://isa.ciat.cgiar.org/catalogo/producto.jsp?codigo=P0229

5. Drought-proof rice for African farmers (April-June 2009)

Drought is particularly devastating to Africa's rice production since almost 80% of the region's rice area is rainfed. This article provides information about the Research institutes, donor agencies, and community representatives collaborating to develop drought-tolerant rice for African farmers.

6. United Nations - Climate Change Conference (Dec 7-8, 2009)

What is the greenhouse effect and global warming?

The most recent assessment report from the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that the earth's average temperature has risen by 0.74 degrees in the period from 1906 to 2005, and that the average temperature will continue to rise. The greenhouse effect is a natural mechanism that retains the heat emitted from the earth's surface. The earth's average temperature is at the moment around 14 degrees celsius (57 degrees fahrenheit). If the natural greenhouse effect did not exist, the average temperature would be around minus 19 degrees celsius (minus 2 degrees fahrenheit).

Read more:
http://en.cop15.dk/climate+facts/background+articles/what+isthe+greenhouse+effect