Issues and opportunities for growing impact in Africa 

Sam MwangiRegional Evidence Advisor- Africa

Growing Impact: Key Issues

• Developing a shared understanding + vision on IMPACT• Responding to fundamental problems in development

articulation: basis for research• Relevant issues: Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries, Water,

Poverty, Urbanization, Trans-boundary Ecosystems, Climate/Disasters Vulnerabilities, SDGs, etc etc etc

• Where is the need?

InformationThe Evidence Base

InstitutionManaging/changing existing

practices

InnovationNew ways of doing things

ESPA is focused on People

Ecosystem

Political Economy

Institutions, Markets, …

People (Responsibilities)

Influence

(Rights)

Services

Externalities

(Shocks)

Environmental Change

Societal

ChangeDemographicChange

Suggested Actions..

• Leverage existing opportunities: Sub-national + National + Regional levels with Governments, Donors, Private Sector, Academia

• Demonstrate the opportunities for ecosystem-based planning and linked investments: Agriculture, Forestry, Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Resilient livelihoods, DRM

• Help design innovative approaches: by collaborating with the intended end-users of ESPA research

Projects Brief

• ALTER• Unravelling Biofuel Impacts on Ecosystem Services• EcoLimits• ASSETS: Attaining Sustainable Services from ES thru’

Trade-Off Scenarios• EcoPoor

Projects Brief

• CESEA: Coastal Ecosystem Services in EA• SPACES: Sustainable Poverty Alleviation from Coastal

Ecosystem Services• East African Great Lakes Observatory• Dynamic Drivers of Disease in Africa