No systems transformation without systems literacy: Insights from CGIAR

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dc.creatorEwell, Hanna
dc.creatorLenero, Eva Valencia
dc.creatorBailey, Arwen
dc.creatorWoltering, Lennart
dc.creatorSchiller, Katharina
dc.creatorHellin, Jon
dc.date2026-04
dc.date2026-02-17T06:44:53Z
dc.date2026-02-17T06:44:53Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T04:15:03Z
dc.descriptionCONTEXT Agri-food systems face complex and intertwined social, ecological, economic and political challenges, that call for transformation. Systems approaches can help navigate these complexities by helping to sweep in perspectives, identify entry points to improve situations of concern, and minimize trade-offs. This requires systems literacy: the capacity to understand, identify and operationalize suitable systems approaches for specific problem types. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we assess how CGIAR engages with and pursues systems thinking, as an example of a leading organisation driving change in agricultural research for development (AR4D), and explore the challenges for operationalizing systems thinking across the partnership. METHODS A qualitative approach was used combining a review of literature and semi-structured stakeholder interviews, ranging from current and past research staff, academics, and practitioners, to gather insights into the understanding and operationalization of systems thinking within the case study of CGIAR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that despite a commitment to food system transformation, to which systems approaches are inherent, systems thinking is underutilized in CGIAR. The results of the interviews point to limited systems literacy, with diverse interpretations of ‘systems thinking’, scattered adoption of systems approaches, and little intentional selection of different systems approaches for different problematic situations. They underscore an opportunity to better benefit from systems approaches by more intentionally engaging with various Systems approaches and fostering ‘systems literacy’, encompassing systems knowledge, governance and investment. SIGNIFICANCE Systems thinking offers practical methodologies and tools to improve the complex and interconnected challenges towards agri-food system transformation, yet its effective application would benefit from greater ‘systems literacy’ in AR4D.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/181652
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/26567
dc.languageen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceEwell, H.; Lenero, E.V.; Bailey, A.; Woltering, L.; Schiller, K.; Hellin, J. (2026) No systems transformation without systems literacy: Insights from CGIAR. Agricultural Systems 234: 104662. ISSN: 0308-521X
dc.subjectsystems thinking
dc.subjectar4d
dc.subjectsystems transformation
dc.subjectsystems literacy
dc.titleNo systems transformation without systems literacy: Insights from CGIAR
dc.typeJournal Article

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Instituto Internacional de Investigación del Arroz (IRRI)