Integrating Ecosystem Solutions into Policy and Investments (IES):

Focal Regions and Innovation Fund

IES Theory of Change Engage and align with public, civil society and

private sector partners in each region who create or re-frame water and ecosystems investments or implementation strategies

Integrate WLE research to assess the long-term impacts, risks and trade-offs of these investments and strategies

Strengthen the capacity of decision makers, WLE partners and regional and national organizations

Draw out lessons learned on sustainable intensification for cross-regional application

Review of IES Focal Region Steps

Focal Region Progress

Process to roll out four focal regions approved in March Review of SC approved concept notes by regional

stakeholders completed All concept notes adapted into open calls for EOIs All four focal region calls issued Two calls closed – over 200 EOIs received with very

positive feedback from CO, SC external and regional partners

On track to receive over 400 EOIs across the four focal regions

Strong review process put in place

Focal Region Progress Continued

Impact Pathways being developed following from CCAFS model to build coherence with existing flagships and within IES

Focal Region teams being hired Integration of gender and ecosystems Writeshops to be held in October and

November Contracting in November and December Projects to commence in January and

initially run for two years with potential to move into second phase

Writeshops Each writeshop runs for 4-5 days

Objectives Significant progress on proposals and workbooks Jointly develop impact pathways Common understanding of WLE and its goals Develop relationships across teams and cross project

engagement Understand how projects fit into global and regional impact

pathways Understand the support provided by the Focal Region

team and program team Understand coordination mechanisms, reporting

mechanisms, roles and responsibilities and processes

Writeshops Continued

Outputs Project impact pathways Revised regional impact pathway Draft proposals Clear process for finalizing proposals Understanding of other projects, inter-

connections and potential areas of collaboration

Understanding of opportunities that WLE provides at program and regional levels

Writeshop Dates and Locations Greater Mekong:

• Vientiane, Lao PDR – 13th to 17th October

Nile and East Africa:• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 21st to 24th October

Volta/Niger:• Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - 4th to 7th November

Ganges• Kathmandu, Nepal – 11th to 14th November

Innovation Fund Three innovation funds selected by three members of the SC and two members of MC along with Andrew

17 Countries covered:• Burkina Faso, Ghana, Peru, Kenya, Tanzania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria,

Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam

7 WLE Center Partnerships: CIAT, IFPRI, CIRAD, ICRAF, IWMI, Biodiversity, WorldFish (WF)

22 External Partners: The Nature Conservancy, Natural Capital Project, Nairobi Water Fund, Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania, Kings College London, Stockholm Resilience, Centre, SNV World, Washington State University, Univ. Minnesota, INERA, University of Development Studies, University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMASS); University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), L’Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP), COWAS, Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC), Niger Basin Authority (NBA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund, (WWF), Pakistan Water Partnership (PWP) and International Human Rights Observer (IHRO)

Innovation funds will be aligned with IES impact pathway and existing flagships to integrate and avoid overlap

Innovation Fund Titles: Targeting agricultural innovation and

ecosystem service management in the Northern Volta - Biodiversity

Finding common ground: bringing together ecosystem services, agricultural productivity and smallholder livelihoods in landscape planning – CIAT

A generic ABM framework for complex ecosystem service analyses in WLE focal regions - IFPRI