Harnessing research for development to tackle wicked problems - Water Scarcity, Livelihoods and Food Security - page 50

(a) (b)

Hub

Hub

(c) (d)

Figure 3.1 The network weaving model the CPWF used for building innovative small
world networks of food and water research and development: a) scattered
clusters; b) hub-and-spoke network; c) multi-hub small world network; and
d) same multi-hub network with the network weaver removed.
Source: Authors' original data.

network (Figure 3.1b). This is better, but the structure is unstable because if the
network weaver (pentagon) leaves, the network reverts to scattered clusters.
Now we add new links to people and projects in other basins (triangles,
Figure 3.1c). The structure is much more robust and can withstand losing the
weaver (Figure 3.1d). The effect of the weaver changed interaction patterns to
a network from which innovations are much more likely to emerge. Such
resilience was demonstrated in the closing of CPWF. As discussed in Chapter
4, the CPWF went through a transformation due to CGIAR reform. The
CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) into which