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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Kate Ambler

Kate Amber is a Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions Unit. Kate’s research broadly focuses on interventions that can increase incomes for smallholders and other microenterprises in agrifood value chains, with a specific focus on the inclusion of women. This includes work on programming in fragile settings, innovations in agricultural finance, and regulatory solutions for food safety. 

Where we work

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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Research by country and region

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TOPIC

Governance

Governance refers to how power and authority are used to manage the collective affairs of a community, society, or nation. Institutions are the systems of formal and informal rules that enable the development of policies, cooperation, and innovation. While there is no singular definition of ‘good governance,’ it usually refers to governance systems that are capable of delivering on objectives, are socially inclusive, responsive to information and needs, efficient, and accountable to citizens.

Sound institutions and good governance—from the local to the global level—are central to the effective functioning of food systems, and more broadly to reducing rural poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and social inequality, as well as conserving natural resources. They are equally important for promoting civic participation in political affairs and mutual accountability between leaders and citizens. Poor governance can contribute to economic and social inequities, conflict and a lack of social cohesion, unsustainable and inefficient resource use, poor delivery of public services and infrastructure, and lack of accountability for governments and leaders, all of which can worsen food insecurity and poverty. Governance systems worldwide, meanwhile, are also under increasing pressure from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, debt and fiscal crises, climate change, and inequality.

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IFPRI’s governance research focuses on property rights, collective action, and service delivery, as well as government accountability and elevating the voices and inclusion of marginalized groups in governance, including women. Our work analyzes the role of institutions and governance arrangements, as well as the related policy processes, in promoting food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, resilience to climate change, social cohesion, gender equality, and environmental health. These include policies for strengthening property rights (including land tenure), inclusive and effective collective action, multi-stakeholder deliberations and platforms, pro-poor public investments and policies, and how to improve service delivery. IFPRI’s work also analyzes the political economy of climate change governance and food systems transformation.

governance

topics

Publications

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Journal Article

Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: Insights from two case studies in India

2025ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Chaturvedi, Rahul; Sanil, Richu
Details

Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: Insights from two case studies in India

This paper examines the complexities of commons governance, focusing on the role of multistakeholder platforms (MSPs) in addressing tensions among diverse decision-making centers. Drawing on the experiences of the Indian NGO Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) in Gujarat and Odisha, the study analyzes two MSPs operating at the block level, engaging communities, government, and private sector actors. Through surveys, interviews, and analysis of institutional reports, the research identifies key benefits of MSPs, including enhanced multi-stakeholder engagement, scale, and enabling conditions. It argues that MSPs can effectively support polycentric governance by facilitating inter-community collaboration, strengthening local voices, and building trust over time. The study also underscores the importance of external actors like NGOs in supporting community agency and fostering collaboration across different governance levels.

Year published

2025

Authors

ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth S.; Chaturvedi, Rahul; Sanil, Richu

Citation

ElDidi, Hagar; Rawat, Shivanyaa; Meinzen-Dick, Ruth; Chaturvedi, Rahul; and Sanil, Richu. Polycentric governance of commons through multi-stakeholder platforms: insights from two case studies in India. Environment, Development and Sustainability. Article in press. First published online on April 12, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04896-9

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Commons; Multi-stakeholder Processes; Governance; Stakeholders; Non-governmental Organizations; Collective Action

Language

English

Access/Licence

Limited Access

Links

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04896-9 Source record

Project

Policies, Institutions, and Markets

Record type

Journal Article

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Brief

National seminar on Regulations and Governance Issues in India’s Seed Sector: 26-27 September 2023, New Delhi

2024Dadlani, Narendra; Kumar, Anjani; Spielman, David J.
Details

National seminar on Regulations and Governance Issues in India’s Seed Sector: 26-27 September 2023, New Delhi

India has a very mature and vibrant seed sector with a wide network of public and private sector enterprises working closely together to make quality seeds available to farmers at affordable prices, ensuring seed security in the country. Ranked fifth in the global seed trade with a reported turnover of more than USD 6 billion, India is likely to double this figure by 2028 due to a healthy growth rate (CAGR) which is already faster than the global rate. With improved seed replacement rate (SRR) of major food security crops, better variety replacement rate (VRR) in most crops and a declining informal trade of farm saved seed (FSS), the industry is showing a strong upswing in its growth. Much of this progress can be at tributed to the continued scientific contributions of both the public and private sector which were assisted by the enabling policies of the government.

Year published

2024

Authors

Dadlani, Narendra; Kumar, Anjani; Spielman, David J.

Citation

Dadlani, Narendra; Kumar, Anjani; and Spielman, David. 2024. National seminar on Regulations and Governance Issues in India’s Seed Sector: 26-27 September 2023, New Delhi. IFPRI Program Note February 2024. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168571

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Regulations; Governance; Agricultural Sector; Seeds; Food Security; Economic Growth; Policies

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Seed Equal

Record type

Brief

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Brief

Strengthening women’s voice and agency in Nigeria: Evidence from a randomized control trial on women’s advocacy and men’s allyship trainings

2024Adida, Claire; Kosec, Katrina; Kyle, Jordan; Mo, Cecilia H.; Arriola, Leonardo; Adeyanju, Dolapo; Fisher, Rachel
Details

Strengthening women’s voice and agency in Nigeria: Evidence from a randomized control trial on women’s advocacy and men’s allyship trainings

This policy brief presents insights from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted across three states of southwestern Nigeria (Oyo, Ogun, and Osun), examining the effectiveness of advocacy and leadership training for women, along with allyship training for men (their husbands), in improving women’s voice and agency in community governance. With over 5,800 women participants across 450 communities, this study tested whether training women alone, as well as whether training them in tandem (though in separate sessions) with their husbands, can increase women’s political participation in local governance or the responsiveness of local leaders to women’s priorities. We show causal improvements in both when women are trained and chart out emerging policy lessons.

Year published

2024

Authors

Adida, Claire; Kosec, Katrina; Kyle, Jordan; Mo, Cecilia H.; Arriola, Leonardo; Adeyanju, Dolapo; Fisher, Rachel

Citation

Adida, Claire; Kosec, Katrina; Kyle, Jordan; Mo, Cecilia H.; Arriola, Leonardo; Adeyanju, Dolapo; and Fisher, Rachel. 2024. Strengthening women’s voice and agency in Nigeria: Evidence from a randomized control trial on women’s advocacy and men’s allyship trainings. IFPRI Policy Note December 2024. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168449

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Women; Women’s Empowerment; Gender; Governance; Policies; Training

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Project

Fragility, Conflict, and Migration

Record type

Brief

Blogs

From crisis to recovery: How CGIAR’s BRIGHT Survey can catalyze evidence-based policy reforms in Sri Lanka
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 20, 2024

From crisis to recovery: How CGIAR’s BRIGHT Survey can catalyze evidence-based policy reforms in Sri Lanka

By Derek Headey, Joanna van Asselt, Olivier Ecker, and Jean Balié

Research can shape a new government’s decision-making.

Six synergies to consider for groundwater governance
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 11, 2024

Six synergies to consider for groundwater governance

By Ruth Meinzen-Dick and Bryan Bruns

Advantages of “both/and” solutions.

Knowledge, motivation, and agency for groundwater governance
IFPRI Blog
 | 
December 06, 2024

Knowledge, motivation, and agency for groundwater governance

By Ruth Meinzen-Dick and Bryan Bruns

Collaborative approaches for a fragile resource.

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Events

Food for All: International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

March 22, 2022, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Food for All: International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture

Virtual Event: March 22, 2022 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM EDT. This event features a panel discussion on global governance, food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, and gender.

Can agricultural policies deliver better value for money for people, the planet, and the economy?
IFPRI Policy Seminar

 | 

February 2, 2022, 9:30 – 11:00 am

Can agricultural policies deliver better value for money for people, the planet, and the economy?

Virtual Event: Feb 02, 2022 – 09:30 AM to 11:00 AM EST. This policy seminar will present a summary of the latest IFPRI-World Bank research findings and feature speakers discussing the need for more rapid adoption of technological solutions that foster less emissions-intensive productivity growth across developed and developing countries alike.

Innovation for Agribusiness (InovAgro) Project Impact Evaluation Results Dissemination Workshop
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

October 28, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Innovation for Agribusiness (InovAgro) Project Impact Evaluation Results Dissemination Workshop

Virtual Event: OCT 28, 2021 – 02:00 PM to 03:30 PM CAT. This workshop will disseminate the results of the impact evaluation of the InovAgro project's interventions. 

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News

October 07, 2024 | Press Release

Steven Were Omamo joins IFPRI as the new Director of the Development Strategies and Governance Unit

IFPRI is pleased to announce that Steven Were Omamo joins IFPRI as the new Director of the DSG Unit.

July 02, 2024 | Press Release

Global crisis: 1.7 billion people in urban and peri-urban areas face food insecurity

New UN report highlights urgent need to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems for global food security and nutrition.

February 27, 2024 | In the News

What’s driving the farmer protests sweeping Europe? (CNN)

Senior research fellow Danielle Resnick was interviewed by CNN on the reasons behind farmers’ protests throughout Europe. Resnick says, “These protests reflect some complex political economy dynamics, especially as European governments are trying to navigate the fiscal and climate crisis. Farmers have a lot of grievances, but one that they noted was their own returns on investment has really shifted over […]

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Our experts

Purnima Menon

Purnima Menon

Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, Markets,
Trade, and Institutions, Nutrition, Diets, and Health, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion

Steven Were Omamo

Steven Were Omamo

Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG); Acting, Director for Africa, Development
Strategies and Governance

Thomas Falk

Thomas Falk

Research Fellow, Natural
Resources and Resilience

Katrina Kosec

Katrina Kosec

Senior Research Fellow, Poverty,
Gender, and Inclusion

Ryan Nehring

Ryan Nehring

Associate Research Fellow, Natural
Resources and Resilience

Durjoy Dey

Durjoy Dey

Research Analyst, Development
Strategies and Governance

Hagar ElDidi

Hagar ElDidi

Senior Research Analyst, Natural
Resources and Resilience

Soyra Gune

Soyra Gune

Research Analyst, Nutrition,
Diets, and Health

Edward Kato

Edward Kato

Senior Research Analyst, Natural
Resources and Resilience