Dr Kathleen Colverson joined ILRI as Senior Scientist for Gender, (September 2012). Since then she has assumed two additional roles, Theme Leader for Livestock and Fish, and Program Leader for Livelihoods, Gender, Impact and Innovations. Given the importance of gender work for ILRI’s mandate, and indeed for the entire CGIAR, I have decided to refocus Dr Colverson’s role. Gender research is in high demand both at ILRI and across the CG system, and Kathleen would like to return to basic gender research as a contribution to ILRI’s strategic plan.

Dr Colverson has therefore resigned as Program Leader of LGI and will return to being a Senior Gender Scientist full time, but based in the United States.

The following transition is effective immediately:

• Dr. Isabelle Baltenweck is appointed as interim Program Leader for Livelihoods, Gender, Impact and Innovations (LGI) until further notice;
• Dr Colverson will continue to supervise the gender team of scientists and research assistants;
• Dr Colverson will share administrative duties as Gender Theme Leader of the Livestock and Fish CRP with Dr. Alessandra Galie, gender scientist at ILRI, and will continue to provide research leadership and reporting in the LaF CRP;
• Dr Colverson will continue to serve on the CG Gender Network as the principal gender scientist for ILRI, and assist with providing research findings to the Network;

Over the past year, a strong gender team has been built for ILRI, including approval of the Livestock and Fish Gender research strategy by the Consortium, gender scientists hired and trained, and research publications generated. The newly created LGI program within Integrated Sciences has been stabilized and expanded, and is now functioning smoothly. All these actions demonstrate an increasing ability of LGI to deliver on ILRI’s mandate, and I am confident that Dr Baltenweck can continue to deliver as her predecessor has done. We thank Dr Colverson for her leadership of LGI and look forward to her continuing that leadership in ILRI’s gender work.

Jimmy Smith, Director General