Basin Leader MeetingTopic Working Groups: The Basics

Sophie Nguyen Khoa & the Challenge Program Management Team,

Challenge Program on Water and FoodVientiane, Lao PDR

18 January 2011

What is a TWG? What it is not?

• Community of people sharing interest on a topic• A mechanism to foster learning & produce outputs across basins (e.g. synthesis, IPG)• An interface between the CPWF and the global community• Diverse and wide range of models for implementation• An iterative learning process

• Topic in one basin - even though of high interest from the basin perspective• A one-off initiative like a study tour in several basins• Additional funding to do your research in your project/basin• A blueprint to do cross-basin research • A ‘command & control’ approach

Cross-basin learning

Cross-basin learning through

TWGs

BDC

CPWF with TWG CPWF without TWG

• More than 6 basin research programs• More synthesis outputs• Contribution to key messages at program and global level• Enhanced cross-basin learning, fasten progress• Increased exchange between CPWF & global community

• A set of basin research programs• Lack of synthesis research, outputs • Difficulty to draw program & global messages from basin outputs-outcomes• Focus on basin research & implementation

What is a TWG in Practice? (WHO)

• A Core Team- TWG Leader (min. of 30 days/yr)- MT-contact person: TWG MT-Lead- Basin champions - Possibly external experts

• A Larger Community- Interested people within the CPWF- Interested people outside the CPWF

What is a TWG in Practice? (HOW)

• Role of the TWGL with core team in demonstrating that it’s worth engaging in it (buy-in, engagement) – build on the added-value of the TWG

• Needs to be inspiring• Internal and external communication• To be discussed with you…

First set of Topic Working Groups

• Resilience of water & food systems (Resilience)• Multiple-Use of water (Multiple-Use)• Global Drivers of change (Global Drivers)• Learning to Innovate (L2i)

Criteria for selection: - interest in the majority of CPWF basins- potential for impact beyond basin level

Strengths vs. Challenges

• Innovation • Built on interest• Flexibility, adaptability• Diversity (size, scope, etc.)• Seeking commonalities amongst numerous and

various approaches/methods applied (e.g. Multiple-Use TWG)

• …

How could a successful TWG look like?

• Growing bigger: more people joining the group (within and/or outside the CPWF)

• Attracts interest in the global community, profile on the global agenda

• Attracts extra funding as a result of growing interest

• Model or results used by other programs such as CRP5

CGIAR CRP5 Draft Proposal

Emerging Topics

• Benefit sharing mechanisms• Research to Policy (Africa)• Spatial analysis• Modeling• RWM• Other emerging topics from the BL meeting

(open space for further discussion on Thu)

A role for the BLs

• BLs are part of this mechanism • Interface between the TWGLs and the championing

project teams• Contribute to internal communication e.g. report

on interest and new ideas of project teams • Contribute to motivating and getting buy-in from

project teams• …

How would this translate into your BDC?What, Who & How?

• What?: which topics in your basin? Including emerging topics

• Who?: who are the potential champions?• How?: how to make this happen, how to keep the

momentum and how to support champions- What is the role of the Basin leaders?- What is the role of the project teams?