Partnerships
and Regions

“South Asia has the energy, imagination and know-how to transform its food systems and meet the challenges of the climate crisis.”

Temina Lalani-Shariff

Regional Director, South Asia

South Asia (SA) faces unique challenges in a climate crisis. As one of the world’s most densely populated regions – home to one-quarter of humanity – it is faced with the urgent task of ensuring food and nutrition security for billions, while overcoming deep inequalities, environmental degradation and climate risks such as heatwaves, floods and drought. At the same time, the region holds immense potential through its biodiversity, food traditions, heritage crops and advanced innovation.

Building on 50 years of trusted partnerships and cooperation, CGIAR in 2022 established a Regional Office for South Asia and a new portfolio of Initiatives in South Asia that aim to respond to escalating threats to food, land, and water systems. Research and innovation are now coordinated under a new Regional Integrated Initiative, on Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA).

In mid-2022, TAFSSA and other related Initiatives were introduced through a series of stakeholder dialogues in Nepal, India and Bangladesh, providing the opportunity to collaborate with partners, affirm common objectives and co-create the research and innovation agenda. Results from the Initiatives are projected to positively impact livelihoods, productivity, and health for tens of thousands of smallholder farmers, indigenous fishers, and food-insecure families over the coming three years.

In its first year, TAFSSA worked with partners to produce several pivotal pieces of research, including outputs such as agrifood systems assessments, mapping exercises, business models and climate information services that will help guide activities through 2024, and progress food systems transformation across the region.