World Agroforestry Centre
The World Agroforestry Centre (a brand name used by the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, ICRAF), is an international institute headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and founded in 1978 as "International Council for Research in Agroforestry". The Centre specializes in the sustainable management, protection and regulation of tropical rainforest and natural reserves. It is one of 15 agricultural research centres which makes up the global network known as the CGIAR. The Centre conducts research in agroforestry, in partnership with national agricultural research systems with a view to developing more sustainable and productive land use. The focus of its research is countries/regions in the developing world, particular in the tropics of Central and South America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Africa, Eastern Africa and parts of central Africa. In 2002 the Centre acquired the World Agroforestry Centre brand name, although International Centre for Research in Agroforestry remains its legal name and it continues to use the acronym ICRAF.
The World Agroforestry Centre’s research is organized around six science domains. These span trees to farms, landscapes and global issues. • Domestication, utilization and conservation of superior agroforestry germplasm. • Maximizing on-farm productivity of trees and agroforestry systems. • Improving tree product marketing and extension for smallholders. • Reducing land health risks and targeting agroforestry interventions to enhance land productivity and food availability. • Improving the ability of farmers, ecosystems, and governments to cope with climate change. • Developing policies and incentives for multi-functional landscapes with trees that provide environmental services. Underpinning all our research is a strong commitment to improving science quality, accelerating impact, enhancing partnerships and increasing operational efficiency. By focusing on these areas, the Centre will be better positioned to tackle the challenges of poverty, food security and environmental degradation.We work in five regions across sub-Saharan Africa (southern, west and central, and eastern) Asia (south, east and southeast), and Latin America. All of these regions share the interconnected problems of poverty, hunger and environmental degradation to varying degrees and offer opportunities for agroforestry interventions. However, large differences exist in the challenges and opportunities for agricultural development among the regions, as well as in the differing roles that agroforestry can play to meet them.The Board of Trustees oversees the work of the World Agroforestry Centre. Members of the Board ensure that the Centre has a clear approach to achieving its mission and that an appropriate management structure and control systems are in place.The World Agroforestry Centre Senior Leadership Team is responsible for implementing the Centre’s 2013-2022 Strategy and day-to-day operations of the Centre.Senior scientists at the World Agroforestry Centre come from an array of disciplines including forestry, agriculture, economics, soil science and social science. Their high-level skills and expertise ensure that the Centre has the capacity to conduct quality research on the diverse roles of trees in agricultural landscapes, and to use this research to advance policies and practices that benefit the poor and the environment.
