A conceptual flash flood early warning system for developing countries is described. The system uses rainfall intensity data from terrestrial microwave communication links and the geostationary Meteosat Second Generation satellite, i.e., two systems that are already in place and operational. Flash flood early warnings are based on a combination of the Flash Flood Guidance method and a hydrological model.

Researchers of ICARDA are slowly improving towards participatory and community-based approaches to incorporate users’ perspectives. This not only increases the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural research, but delivers what farmers want. Development of integrated crop-livestock production systems in the low-rainfall areas of West Asia and North Africa has shown the importance of the community approach in the sustainable management of collective property resources, such as rangelands and water. This approach has been widely adopted by national programs in dry areas.

Relying entirely on survey information and personal exchanges with over 70 scientists from within the CGIAR network, this working paper attempts to achieve a better understanding of the scope of social learning related efforts undertaken in CGIAR and main issues of relevance to more current efforts, such as that planned by the CGIAR program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). A wide range of methods was identified, where groups of people learn in order to jointly arrive at solutions to pressing food security problems.