Innovation Lab for
Irrigation and Mechanization Systems (ILIMS)
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Welcome to the Quarterly Newsletter | |
ILIMS, funded by USAID and led by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, generates research-based evidence to support the growth of vibrant irrigation and mechanized systems and improved agricultural water management in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Nepal, Guatemala, Honduras, and other Feed the Future countries. | | |
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Opportunities through irrigation
ILIMS was honored to be visited by Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID's Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security Ann Vaughan in July. During her visit, Vaughan discussed that farmers are losing 90% of their crops because the rain simply doesn't come where it once did, and that we need to lean into irrigation to help farmers deal with climate change. We thank Vaughan and U.S. Global Leadership Coalition for the visit and bringing attention to the ways in which irrigation can provide sustainable, collaborative solutions.
We look forward to researching the ways in which irrigation and mechanization can provide smallholder farmers an avenue of resilience, as well as opportunity for economic wellbeing, nutritional health, and gender equality.
Read below to learn more about our Request for Applications (RFA) announcements, sub-award partners, new deputy director and more!
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Announcements
ILIMS announces new Deputy Director
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Dr. Jude Cobbing, new ILIMS Deputy Director | |
ILIMS hires new Deputy Director Jude Cobbing | |
ILIMS is pleased to introduce its new Deputy Director, Jude Cobbing!
Cobbing is a water resource and environmental specialist with over 23 years of experience across the public, research, non-profit, and private sectors. He has worked extensively in groundwater resource assessment, water supply and sanitation in low-income areas, environmental project management, and groundwater strategy development. His global work connects groundwater management to water supply, food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. Welcome, Jude!
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Get to know Jude Cobbing in the latest episode of the
Water for Food podcast!
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Program Coordinating Committee Formed
ILIMS has formed its Program Coordinating Committee (PCC). The PCC ensures ILIMS work fills knowledge gaps by assessing current research, aligning stakeholder needs, and setting the research agenda accordingly. We look forward to the expertise on this project and grateful for the PCC's commitment and guidance.
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Partnerships
ILIMS recently announced several new sub-award partners.
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A solar pump provides energy to a water pump | |
Unlocking the carbon market for smallholder farmers | TetraTech seeks to create a carbon modality framework for smallholder farmers, thereby broadening access to solar irrigation technologies. | |
NEW! TetraTech: Carbon Credit Assessment: Carbon credit modalities for co-benefits in scaling irrigation and mechanization
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NEW! Catholic Relief Services: Assessment of irrigation and mechanization in Honduras and Guatemala: experience and potential for smallholder farmers
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NEW! International Management Institute: Transforming small-scale irrigation and mechanization services with sustainable and inclusive incentives, co-investments, and market system partnerships
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ILIMS is seeking Request for Applications (RFA) for research funding in five areas:
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Details on research areas, priority countries, funding amounts available, and deadlines can be found in the RFA details. An account is NOT required to view RFA details, and will only be requested for application. Applications should be submitted via the online portal at https://irrig-mech.piestar-rfx.com/opportunities. Please share with your networks! | | |
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ILIMS leads session at World Water Forum on inclusive solutions for smallholder farmers | During the World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia, May 19-24, ILIMS Director Nicole Lefore led a session to examine inclusive and scalable solutions to improve food production by smallholder farmers (women and men). Recognizing the benefits offered by small-scale irrigation, as well as continued challenges to sustainable expansion, the session shared case-studies of high potential practices and technologies from recent projects across regions, such as rainwater harvesting, low-cost irrigation equipment and methods, approaches to governing water resources as irrigation expands, and complementary services that need to be bundled to enhance opportunities throughout irrigated value chains. The session outcomes included reflections and lessons relevant for strengthening programs, policies and investments as more countries prioritize support for irrigated small-scale production. | | |
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Webinar on small-scale irrigation and mechanization of sorghum and millets | ILIMS Research Project Manager Anthony Delaney presented with Water for Food Research Program Manager Ankit Chandra during the International Conversation on Sorghum and Millets, presented by Sorghum United, May 20. Delaney gave an overview of the innovation lab, while Chandra presented his research on Survey of Approaches/Business Models for Mechanization in Smallholder Irrigated Agriculture in India. | | |
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International Delegation on Drought and Resilience | On July 30th, Research Program Manager Anthony Delaney presented to a delegation from 20 countries on ILIMS's project of contributing to smallholder agricultural resilience through irrigation and mechanization. The delegation, made up of leaders in water and agricultural management, visited Lincoln, Nebraska and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute as part of a tour arranged by the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program and the Institute of International Education. | | |
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USAID visits Water for Food and ILIMS
WATER FOR FOOD
| Ann Vaughan, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau of Resilience, Environment, and Food Security at the U.S. Agency for International Development, recently visited the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln to speak with DWFI and other agricultural leaders about the intersections of their work and USAID’s mission to support global stability and prosperity by advancing global food security. USAID provided funding for DWFI's Feed the Future Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems. | |
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AUG. 11-15, 2024 - IWA WORLD WATER CONGRESS
Toronto, Canada
AUG. 25-29, 2024 - WORLD WATER WEEK
Stockholm, Sweden
SEPT. 2-6, 2024 - AFRICA FOOD SYSTEMS SUMMIT
Kigali, Rwanda
OCT. 13-17, 2024 - AFRICA WATER WEEK
Cairo, Egypt
OCT. 29-31, 2024 - WORLD FOOD PRIZE
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
NOV. 11-22 - COP 29 UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
Baku, Azerbaijan
DEC. 2-13, 2024 - UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute
2021 Transformation Dr, Ste 3220
Lincoln, NE 68508
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