Senior Expert for the Science Program Multifunctional Landscapes

The senior expert (SE) will focus on further development of landscape models and applying these in participatory landscape and community settings in case study sites of two CGIAR initiatives (MFS and NPS). Special attention will be given to capacity development in national agricultural research institutes and universities in the Global South. The SE will coordinate PhD and MSc student projects that are embedded in the MFS and NPS initiatives. Students enrolled in Wageningen University will be connected to team up with students from the Global South. Workshops and other learning events will be organised.

In collaboration with scientists from three CGIAR institutes (CIMMYT, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICRISAT), the research focus is on redesign of multifunctional landscapes dominated by mixed farming systems, and within these landscapes assessing and solving asymmetries across spatial scales and hierarchical levels to support benefit sharing. The landscape functions relate to agricultural production, socio-economic viability of farming and ecological health. These functions associated with multiple Sustainable Development Goals will be assessed at plot, farm and landscape levels. The vulnerability and resilience of these functions to climate change and socio-economic drivers will be estimated and opportunities for ecological restoration of agricultural landscapes and strengthening biodiversity will be explored. The benefits and costs caused by changes in land-use and management will be determined at these different levels and provide insight in the diversity of gains for communities involved. Results will feed into co-design processes of communities and other local stakeholders. Policies for fair sharing and equitability within communities and households will be proposed based on the public-private benefit framework.