Climate Food and Farming - Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships (CLIFF-GRADS)

Project description

Climate, Food and Farming - Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships (CLIFF-GRADS) is a joint initiative of CCAFS Low Emissions Development research and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA). CLIFF-GRADS builds the capability of early-career scientists and graduate students from developing countries to conduct applied research on climate change mitigation in agriculture with the goal of expanding knowledge and experience in quantification of agricultural greenhouse gases and food loss and waste. Since 2011, a large number of students have received grants and have gone on to hold important positions in research institutions and governments.

Activities

Food loss and waste CLIFF-GRADS students performing an experiment on the lunches served at the 5th Global Science Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Bali, Indonesia. Read more about the experiment here. (Photo: Alpha Seven)

See a list of publications authored by CLIFF-GRADS students.

During their tenure at the host institutions, grant recipients learn to evaluate agriculture-related options for reducing GHG emissions and consider productivity and livelihood consequences. The techniques studied may include (but are not limited to) remote sensing, economic surveys, and measurement of greenhouse gas emissions. Topics depend on the students' and host institutions' interests. CLIFF-GRADS also generates novel climate change research on smallholder farming systems and facilitates South-South knowledge exchange.

Expected outcomes

Building students’ research skills in the field of GHG mitigation in agricultural systems.
Increasing students’ capacities to understand, investigate, and implement low emissions development.
Building students’ professional networks in the field of low emissions development.

Gender and youth

In recognition of the importance for gender equity in science and policy-making, CLIFF-GRADS aims to award at least half of all fellowships to women.

Partners

Research projects are hosted by CCAFS and GRA members and partners.

More information

For more information, please contact project leader Ciniro Costa Jr (c.costajr@cgiar.org).

Funding & Aknowledgement

Beginning in 2018, funding for CLIFF-GRADS is provided by CCAFS and the GRA with support from the Government of New Zealand. Funding for research in food loss and waste is supported by CCAFS donors and the United States government through USAID.

From 2011-2017, CCAFS administered CLIFF in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Ecology of the University of Copenhagen and the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University.

All CLIFF Networks and CLIFF-GRADS recipients should acknowledge sponsors in publications. Recommended text:

CLIFF-GRADS: This work was undertaken as part of the Climate, Food and Farming and Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships (CLIFF-GRADS) program, an initiative implemented by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) with support from their donors.
CLIFF Network: This work was undertaken as part of the Climate, Food and Farming (CLIFF) Network, an initiative of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). CCAFS is carried out with support from the CGIAR Trust Fund and through bilateral funding agreements. For details please visit https://ccafs.cgiar.org/donors.