Water scarcity is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. Sufficient water is necessary for adequate human health and is a prerequisite poverty reduction.

Yet, water quality and availability are highly variable around the world. Typically, the most extreme shortages are experienced by those least able to cope with them; the most impoverished inhabitants of developing countries.

In developing countries, water for agriculture - or the water used to grow the food needed - consumes 70 to 90% of the total water use. To have hope to meet the needs of a growing population - the global population set to double in the next 40 years - more food must be produced while using less water. There is no way around this.

The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) has taken on this challenge from a research perspective. CPWF is an international, multi-institutional research initiative with a strong emphasis on north-south and south-south partnerships. The initiative brings together research scientists, development specialists, and river basin communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America aiming to improve the productivity of water in river basins in ways that are pro-poor, gender equitable and environmentally sustainable.

The CPWF represents the largest, most comprehensive investment in the world on water, food and environment research. Through the paradigm of water productivity - developing ways to produce more food within limited water availability - it offers a new approach to natural resources management research within the CGIAR. The CPWF works together in with institutions, NGOs and community groups in partnerships which seek meaningful impact for the people who use the new innovations developed by scientific research.