The Importance of Timely Analyses for Decision-Making during a Period of Crisis
Event Information
The USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security is excited to host a Webinar on the Importance of Timely Analyses for Decision-Making During a Period of Crisis within the framework of the Agrilinks Theme Month on the Impacts of High Food, Fuel & Fertilizer Cost. This webinar will provide a snapshot of a series of country analyses by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on the Impacts of the High Food, Fuel and Fertilizer Prices exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The event, which will feature interventions from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Fertilizer Development Center and AKADEMIYA2063, will also highlight the importance of these types of analyses for the decision-making process on the field.
This webinar will be recorded.
Speakers
Upendra Singh
Head of Research
IFDC
Dr. Upendra Singh, Vice President, Research, specializes in soil fertility and systems modeling. For more than 30 years, he has focused on the development and application of crop simulation models and decision support systems for agricultural research, development, and extension.
As a member of the International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Application, Singh played a major role in developing the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), which has been used by IFDC and other international organizations for more than 20 years. In addition, he was instrumental in developing the CERES-Rice model, the SUBSTOR-Aroids model, and the Phosphate Rock Decision Support System (PRDSS). Through these tools, users can make sounder, more environmentally sustainable decisions and provide effective technology transfer, particularly in developing countries.
In recent years, Singh has led research on quantifying ammonia volatilization and denitrification losses from flooded rice fields and the potential of fertilizer management practices, such as urea deep placement, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer. In addition, Singh is working with scientists, engineers, and farmers to develop and evaluate fertilizer products that improve nutrient use efficiency, recycle wastes and biomass, reduce nitrogen losses, and perform well under a variety of conditions.
Training is an integral part of Singh’s work. He has organized and conducted over 60 international training programs and workshops (more than 1,500 participants trained) in 28 countries.
Singh holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in soil science from the University of Hawaii and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from the University of the South Pacific.
Ousmane Badiane
Executive Chairperson
AKADEMIYA2063
Dr. Ousmane Badiane is an agricultural economist with over three decades of experience in academia and international development.
As Founder and Executive Chairperson of AKADEMIYA2063, he is leading a new and unique organization dedicated to mobilizing, enhancing and deploying African expertise to meet the data and analytical needs of evidence-based policy planning and implementation in Africa.
Before moving to AKADEMIYA2063, he served as Director for Africa at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for 15 years, where he led the Institute's Strategy and Partnerships in the area of policy research, capacity building, and communications in Africa.
Dr. Badiane equally served at the World Bank as Lead Specialist for Food and Agricultural Policy for the Africa Department, acting as a key advisor to the regional leadership team. During his time at the World Bank, he led the preparation and implementation of investment operations ranging from US$5 million to US$150 million. He took leave from the World Bank in 2004 to join IFPRI as Senior Advisor to the African Union's Secretariat to support the implementation of the New Partnership for African's Development (NEPAD).
Dr. Badiane spent 10 years on the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies faculty as an adjunct professor of Economic Development in Africa from 1993-2003.
A Distinguished Fellow of the African Association of Agricultural Economists, he has served on the board of trustees and advisory committees of various organizations and initiatives. Dr. Badiane was the recipient of the Africa Food Prize in 2015 in recognition of his contributions to Africa's agricultural growth and development efforts.
James Thurlow
Senior Research Fellow
IFPRI
James Thurlow is a development economist whose research focuses on the interactions between policies, economic growth and poverty, primarily using computable general equilibrium and micro-simulation modeling. Past research focuses on evaluating public investments and policies; rural, regional and urban development; and climate change and other external risks. He has worked with governments and researchers throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, and in Bangladesh, Peru, Tunisia and Vietnam.
Chris Hillbruner
Division Chief, Analysis and Learning
USAID Bureau for Resilience and Food Security
Alan Tollervey
Agriculture Team, Research and Evidence Division
EU Research at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
FCDO commissions and funds agricultural research to develop new agriculture technologies; test interventions and delivery mechanisms; and develop a deeper understanding of the context that influences the success of investments in agriculture development. Dr. Tollervey has 30 years of policy and programming experience in fisheries, agriculture, and rural development programs in Asia and Africa. Dr. Tollervey has a PhD in Marine Biology from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and a Masters in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science from Stirling University.
Related Resources
Webinar Recording
Presentation Chat Transcript
Q&A Log
Webinar Presentation Slide Deck
Event Registration Information
Theme Month Event
Agrilinks & IFPRI
