IFPRI Podcast

International Food Policy Research Institute

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 50 countries. It is a research center of CGIAR, a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development.

  1. Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career

    5d ago

    Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career

    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Inequality within and outside the household: Reflections from Agnes Quisumbing’s career June 24, 2026 Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Agnes Quisumbing has made major contributions to research on intrahousehold allocation, poverty and economic mobility, women’s empowerment, and the design and implementation of gender-sensitive agricultural programs. Stemming from her long-standing interest in inequality, Agnes’s work on gender, property rights, and women’s empowerment examines how inequality within the household intersects with broader societal inequalities. Join us for this policy seminar highlighting Agnes’s research contributions, which will bring together colleagues and collaborators to examine the research and policy impact of her work. The event will feature a panel discussion of her legacy, as well as a keynote address from Agnes and reflections from Dan Gilligan, Director of IFPRI’s Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion Unit, and Purnima Menon, IFPRI’s Director of Strategy and Partnerships, IFPRI. Opening Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Keynote Reflections Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion: Reflections on Agnes’s Contributions to Research and Policy Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Maria Floro, Professor Emerita, College of Arts & Sciences, American University Markus Goldstein, Vice President and Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development Jemimah Njuki, Director, Gender, Women and Civil Society, African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Closing Remarks Purnima Menon, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, IFPRI Moderator Hazel Malapit, Senior Research Coordinator, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/inequality-within-and-outside-the-household-reflections-from-agnes-quisumbings-career/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

    1h 36m
  2. Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets?

    Jun 23

    Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets?

    IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar Weather, Money, and Shifting Bets: What’s Driving Food Commodity Markets? Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) June 23, 2026 Global food commodity markets are entering a new phase in which traditional indicators may no longer provide a clear view of market dynamics. While supply conditions for key crops appear quite promising, a closer look reveals a more complex picture—shaped by climate risks, macroeconomic pressures, and shifting market behavior. Join us for this seminar that will bring together insights from market monitoring, macro analysis, and transportation to examine what is driving food commodity markets today—and where to expect future sources of risk and uncertainty. Presentations will unpack the conditions driving agricultural market behavior, and GEOGLAM will provide updates on crop conditions and the evolving threat from El Niño. The discussion will focus on the growing linkages between commodity markets and energy and transport markets and on renewed investor interest in agricultural commodities, the role of market speculation, and how to interpret these signals in today’s markets. Overview of Macroeconomic Prospects John Baffes, Senior Agriculture Economist, Development Economics Prospects Group, World Bank Overview of Crop Conditions and Emergence of El Niño Brian Barker, Principal Faculty Specialist, Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland; Co-Lead, GEOGLAM Crop Monitors (AMIS) Panel Discussion Kona Haque, Former Head of Research, ED&F Seth Meyer, Director and Associate Professor, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri Mads Frank Markussen, Head of Freight Research, CM Navigator Concluding Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI Moderator Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/weather-money-and-shifting-bets-whats-driving-food-commodity-markets/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

    1h 31m
  3. Engines of Growth in Fragile Contexts: Launching the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership

    Jun 10

    Engines of Growth in Fragile Contexts: Launching the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership

    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Engines of Growth in Fragile Contexts: Launching the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership Organized by IFPRI and United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) June 10, 2026 Fragile and conflict-affected settings account for a growing share of global poverty. Roughly 2 billion people live in these areas, accounting for 25% of the world’s population but 72% of the world’s extreme poor. At the national level, many fragile economies struggle to sustain growth, create jobs, and recover from repeated shocks. Yet even amid conflict, climate stress, and political instability, some communities continue to adapt, work, trade, and invest. For these “islands of resilience,” local livelihoods, skills, trust, and collective action support local economic activity that connects to broader growth trajectories. Understanding these dynamics can help identify how strategic support can strengthen resilience, recovery, and livelihoods in at-risk economies. Join us for this event marking the launch of the IFPRI–UNU-WIDER research partnership, which will work with local partners to generate evidence on the engines of growth that sustain economic activity amid fragility. This seminar will bring together researchers, donors, policy stakeholders, and implementation partners to discuss why some local economies remain resilient under stress, what evidence is needed to guide investment and programming, and how policy can support locally grounded pathways to economic recovery. This event was supported by the CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security Program. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by CGIAR funders through the CGIAR Trust Fund. For more information visit: https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-porfolio-2025-2030/food-frontiers-and-security/. Welcome Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Patricia Justino, Director, UNU-WIDER Presentations from IFPRI and UNU-WIDER Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Patricia Justino, Director, UNU-WIDER Panel Discussion: Unlocking Local Economies for Resilient Recovery Maya Ragab, Head of Programmes, Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) Elizabeth Radin, Senior Director of Research, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Luis Felipe López-Calva, Global Director, Prosperity Vertical, World Bank Group Closing Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Moderator Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/engines-of-growth-in-fragile-contexts-launching-an-ifpri-unu-wider-research-partnership/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

    1h 55m
  4. Financing Social Protection in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

    Apr 30

    Financing Social Protection in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Financing Social Protection in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Co-organized by IFPRI and the CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations April 29, 2026 Social protection and safety net programs have expanded significantly across many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the last two decades. Despite this progress, the expansion and coverage of these programs remain uneven, leaving nearly 2 billion people in LMICs without access to social protection. Innovative financing mechanisms and domestic funding have helped some LMICs make important strides in expanding their social protection programs, but fiscal constraints prevent other countries from doing so. These challenges are becoming more pronounced amid reduced international development aid and the effects of regional and global shocks, even as such shocks necessitate the expansion of social safety nets to protect poor and vulnerable populations. This policy seminar will discuss lessons learned from countries and organizations that have implemented large-scale social protection programs. It will bring together government representatives, practitioners, and researchers to share important insights and global, regional, and national statistics related to financing social protection and safety net programs. Welcoming Remarks Daniel Gilligan, Director, Poverty, Gender and Inclusion (PGI), IFPRI Global Experience and Lessons on Financing Social Protection and Safety Net Programs in LMICs Ugo Gentilini, Lead Economist, Social Policy (MENAAP region), World Bank Cases and Experiences from Africa Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI Panel Discussion: Lessons and Experiences from Selected Countries Raafat Shafeek, Assistant Minister for Social Protection and Executive Director, Takaful and Karama Program, Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS), Egypt Asmita More, Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), Gadchiroli, Govt. of Maharashtra, India Lynette Ochuma, Ag. Secretary, Directorate of Social Development (DSD), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), Kenya Buthaina Al-Iryani, Social Policy & Public Finance Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ival Cummings-John, Social Development Advisor, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Closing Remarks Clemens Breisinger, Director, CGIAR Science Program on Policy Innovations Moderator Melissa Hidrobo, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/financing-social-protection-in-low-and-middle-income-countries/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

    1h 31m
  5. A Narrow Strait, Global Consequences: Hormuz Strait and Fertilizer Markets

    Apr 23

    A Narrow Strait, Global Consequences: Hormuz Strait and Fertilizer Markets

    IFPRI-AMIS Seminar Series | IFPRI Policy Seminar A Narrow Strait, Global Consequences: Hormuz Strait and Fertilizer Markets Co-organized by IFPRI and Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) April 23, 2026 Fertilizer markets have entered a phase of heightened uncertainty, where geopolitical risks intersect with highly concentrated production, energy dependence, and fragile logistics. These risks are no longer hypothetical. The Strait of Hormuz represents a critical chokepoint for fertilizer trade, with around 35 percent of global urea flows, over one quarter of ammonia trade, just above 20 percent of phosphates, and roughly 45 percent of global sulfur exports transiting the Strait. Ongoing restrictions on maritime traffic through Hormuz underscore its role as a key pressure point in global fertilizer supply chains. Even partial or temporary disruptions can reverberate through markets, while a prolonged or intensified disruption would pose serious challenges for securing adequate nutrient supplies ahead of future cropping seasons. Moreover, even in the event of an easing or reopening, restarting production, logistical normalization, and contract re‑alignment would take time, delaying a full recovery in supply flows. This IFPRI-AMIS seminar looks ahead to assess how fertilizer markets may evolve under these conditions. Drawing on the latest market intelligence and trade analysis, speakers will examine transmission channels from constrained shipping and elevated insurance risks to energy‑driven production costs, price volatility, and regional supply vulnerabilities. The discussion will focus on implications for major importing regions, risks to fertilizer affordability and application decisions, and potential knock‑on effects for agricultural production and food security, as well as policy and market responses to strengthen preparedness in an increasingly uncertain global environment. Opening Remarks Monika Tothova, Senior Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Secretary Landscape of Fertilizer Markets Delphine Leconte-Demarsy, Fertilizer consultant, Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Changes in Fertilizer Trade Flows Shawn Arita, Associate Director and Associate Research Professor, Agricultural Risk Policy Center, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Panel Discussion Africa: Maria Wanzala, Director of Policy, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) Brazil: Joana Colussi, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University India: Shalender Singh, Chief Manager, Marketing, Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited United States: Veronica Nigh, Chief Economist, The Fertilizer Institute Concluding Remarks Joseph Glauber, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/a-narrow-strait-global-consequences-hormuz-strait-and-fertilizer-markets/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

    1h 32m
  6. Data in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVE

    Apr 17

    Data in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVE

    Policy Seminar | IFPRI Policy Seminar Data in Action: Getting Ahead of Crises: Launch of the Next Generation HungerMapLIVE Co-organized by IFPRI and the World Food Programme (WFP) | Convening alongside the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings April 17, 2026 As global food security challenges intensify, using timely and reliable data to forecast food insecurity and malnutrition crises can prevent emerging shocks from escalating into humanitarian crises. This high‑level event brings together the World Food Programme, IFPRI and key partners for the launch of World Food Programme’s next‑generation HungerMapLIVE platform. Designed to strengthen global early warning systems, this latest generation incorporates richer indicators, enhanced forecasting, subnational modeling, advanced analytical capabilities and AI-enabled insights that help policymakers, researchers, and practitioners better anticipate and respond to food security and nutrition risks. Please join us for this debut and live demonstration of the latest HungerMapLIVE platform and a discussion on how timely data enables rapidly improving approaches to forecasting and early warning. The HungerMapLIVE platform will be inaugurated by The Honorable Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director. A distinguished panel of experts will subsequently examine: New innovations to support more accurate early warning, including the responsible use of AI as an analytical enabler Approaches to filling existing data gaps The urgent need for sustained investments in strong data ecosystems to ensure sound food security and nutrition analytics Opportunities for deeper collaboration to support smarter and earlier decision-making The event will also feature remarks from policymakers and representatives of multilateral and regional development banks who rely on early warning systems to inform their operations, policies and investments. Welcome Remarks Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Opening Remarks on the Global Hunger Crisis and the Case for Faster, Data-Driven Action The Honorable Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP) Launch of HungerMapLIVE Introducing HungerMapLIVE and live demonstration: Jean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Spotlights – AI x Food Security Forecasting Yanyan Liu, Senior Research Fellow in the Markets, Trade, and Institutions, IFPRI Philipp Zimmer, Researcher, World Bank Group High-Level Panel Discussion: From Early Warning to Early Action Moderated by Kyriacos Koupparis, Head, Early Warning and Forecasting Unit, World Food Programme (WFP) Shobha Shetty, Global Director, Agriculture and Food, World Bank Laura Rojas Sánchez, Chief of the Disaster Risk Management Unit at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Dan Gilligan, Director of the Poverty, Gender, and Inclusion, IFPRI Jean-Martin Bauer, Director, Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, World Food Programme (WFP) Moderator Charlotte Hebebrand, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, IFPRI More about this Event: https://www.ifpri.org/event/data-in-action-getting-ahead-of-crises-launch-of-the-next-generation-hungermaplive/ Subscribe IFPRI Insights newsletter and event announcements at www.ifpri.org/content/newsletter-subscription

    1h 17m

About

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Established in 1975, IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 50 countries. It is a research center of CGIAR, a worldwide partnership engaged in agricultural research for development.