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The IAI Directorate Report for July 2013 - June 2014 details the management of science network grants, including the Third Collaborative Research Network Program (CRN3) and the Small Grants for Collaborative Research in the Americas. It highlights interdisciplinary research on tropical dry forests, Andean biodiversity hotspots, and freshwater ecosystem risks. The report also outlines capacity-building seminars in Guatemala and Panama, the publication of a guide on urban climate responses in Latin America, and the IAI's strategic alignment with global initiatives such as Future Earth and IPBES.

The IAI's 2013-2014 report details the management of several research networks, including the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3) and the MacArthur Foundation project, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to global change. Key achievements include the development of a GIS-based climate assistant for the tropical Andes, the publication of a guide on urban climate responses in Latin America, and the establishment of strategic partnerships with IPBES, UNESCO, and Future Earth. The report also highlights the transition of the IAI's executive office to Montevideo and ongoing efforts to integrate social sciences into climate research to better inform policy decisions.

The Violence Prevention Forum (VPF), convened by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), serves as a multisectoral platform to bridge gaps between researchers, government, and NGOs to implement evidence-informed violence prevention in South Africa. An evaluation of the forum from 2015 to 2020 found that its non-membership, fluid structure and value-driven facilitation created a safe space for dialogue, leading to increased inter-sectoral trust and specific policy influences. Key achievements include informing the National Strategic Plan for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and contributing to a 2018 budget increase for the Department of Social Development. Despite these successes, the forum faces challenges regarding uneven provincial representation and the need for stronger formal links to government decision-making structures.

The paper assesses the South African TVET system's capacity to support a green transition, specifically focusing on the Green Hydrogen Economy. It evaluates the existing Centres of Specialisation (CoS) model and pilot programmes from Bambili Advisory and the National Business Initiative (NBI) to recommend a flexible, demand-led approach to green skills development. The authors argue for a 'capabilities approach' over narrow occupational competencies to ensure a just transition for youth.

The report examines how household methodologies that address gender inequalities can improve agricultural outcomes and household resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. It details three specific case studies: the Agricultural Support Programme (ASP) in Zambia, which focused on 'Farming as a Business'; the Household Gender Analysis for Gender Transformation in Ethiopia, which used participatory tools to visualize labor and privilege; and the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) in Uganda, which integrated individual visioning with coffee value chain development. The findings indicate that while these approaches successfully shift intra-household roles and improve joint decision-making, they often struggle to address structural inequalities such as land ownership and wider cultural norms without complementary external interventions.

The paper evaluates Phase I (2011–2015) of the CERC Advanced Coal Technology Consortium, noting that while it helped build mutual trust between the U.S. and China, administrative and technical differences across borders hinder effective cooperation. It recommends increasing private sector engagement, focusing on CCS demonstration projects, and consolidating resources to improve the performance of Phase II (2016–2020).

Brazil aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36.1 to 38.9 percent from a projected baseline by 2020, with a heavy focus on the agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU) sector as it is the country's largest emission source. The document evaluates three primary initiatives: the Action Plan to Prevent and Control Deforestation in the Amazon (PPCDAm), which has slowed deforestation but faces challenges from market demand for soy and beef and weak law enforcement; the Action Plan to Prevent and Control Deforestation and Fire in the Cerrado (PPCerrado), which targets a 40 percent reduction in deforestation by 2020; and the Low-Carbon Agriculture Plan (ABC Plan), which saw a significant increase in funded projects from five in 2010-11 to 5,038 in 2011-12. The author argues that policy effectiveness could be improved through better civil society engagement, enhanced monitoring and evaluation, improved inter-institutional coordination, and clearer long-term funding.

The Land Accelerator South Asia is a 16-week program launched in 2020 by WRI India to support entrepreneurs developing sustainable business models for the restoration of forests and farmlands in South Asia. The program provides mentorship, grants, and networking opportunities to help restoration businesses scale their environmental and social impacts.

The WWF's Food Waste Warrior curriculum uses student-led audits and wildlife-focused education to reduce food waste in U.S. schools. Piloted in Washington, D.C., the program emphasizes a hierarchy of prevention, donation, and diversion. Key findings include the effectiveness of student-led audits in reducing plate waste, the impact of on-site scratch cooking versus pre-packaged meals, and the barriers to food donation and composting in school settings.

The Hariyo Ban Program II (2016-2021) focused on enhancing resilience in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL) and Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) of Nepal. The initiative achieved significant biodiversity gains, including increases in tiger and rhino populations and the management of 970,524 hectares of biologically significant areas. Climate adaptation efforts reached 151,075 beneficiaries through the implementation of 78 local adaptation plans and eight integrated sub-watershed management plans. The program also improved livelihoods for 30,270 people through market-based enterprises and enhanced social inclusion by increasing women's representation in executive positions of natural resource management (NRM) groups to 50%. Governance was strengthened by improving the capacity of 291 NRM groups and supporting the formulation of over 60 policies and regulations. Key challenges included navigating Nepal's federal restructuring, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lack of formal policy frameworks for payments for ecosystem services (PES).