Introduction

The World Agroforestry Centre's polices effectively raise the awareness of staff with regards to certain issues, explain and provide a systematic approach to complex and emerging issues; apply a coherent, institutional wide approach; take appropriate action through best practices; provide a mechanism to hold the Centre and staff accountable for certain activities; and provide a shield against legal action. At present, we have the following policies in place.

Our policies and guiding documents

Research ethics

The pursuit of our mission requires carrying out research that involves people and the environment, and this has consequences, both directly through the research activity and indirectly through the results. We therefore have ethical considerations to take into account when planning and implementing research. This policy sets out the principles and standards the World Agroforestry Centre has adopted to guide our work.

Research Data Management Policy (RDM)

The purpose of the RDM Policy is to provide both the Centre’s commitment to research data management and the framework for its practical implementation. The Centre’s goal is to be the producer, provider and custodian of high-value data that promotes the understanding and adoption of agroforestry practices. ICRAF does this in an open and transparent manner, allowing data to be found and used effectively and efficiently by a global community whose efforts are aligned with the CGIAR Principles on the management of Intellectual Assets, and in consistent with the aims of public-funded research

Intellectual Assets Policy

The pursuit of our mission requires generating data and knowledge products of many types, including: books, papers and briefs, databases, maps, models, software and data archives. All of these are essentially international public goods. They also represent intellectual property (IP) that has to be managed and disseminated if they are to lead to changes in the lives of the rural poor. 

This Policy provides the general framework for the management of intellectual assets at World Agroforestry Centre. It is complimented by a serious of guidelines on genetic resources, publications, authorship and data management

This policy is intended to guide World Agroforestry Centre researchers on invasive species to prevent, avoid and mitigate the negative effects to biodiversity and human enterprise of their introduction, both intentional and unintentional.

Genetic resources

World Agroforestry Centre researchers are working with germplasm from a wide range of tree species, the majority of which are indigenous. In addition, the Centre also maintains a significant collection of germplasm materials, which is managed through its Genetic Resources Unit. Because the germplasm work is carried out largely with farmers and partner organizations, this document outlines the principles and protocols that will guide our researchers.

Indigenous and traditional knowledge

In our work we conduct research and development with rural communities and interact with indigenous or traditional knowledge held by those communities, either incidentally or planned. This policy aims to outline how we work with Indigenous and traditional knowledge, and the steps taken to ensure best practices are followed.