Inga Jacobs-Mata
Strategic Program Director – Water, Growth and Inclusion
Areas of expertise
Migration Laws Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus Corporate water stewardship GovernanceBefore joining IWMI, Inga Jacobs-Mata was the research group leader for the integrated water solutions group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa, where she managed a transdisciplinary team of researchers working on the co-development of integrated water solutions in South Africa and throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Inga was also the Executive Manager: Business Development, Marketing and Communications at the Water Research Commission, South Africa.
Current projects
Latest news for Inga Jacobs-Mata
eLandCare mobile app to improve agricultural field decisions in Ethiopia
In remote areas with little internet access, eLandCare helps Ethiopia’s agriculture officers collect data offline and apply conservation guidance to plan climate-resilient interventions ...
Do national weather forecasts help farmers make daily decisions?
In Zambia’s Chisamba district, IWMI-trained agriculture officers convert jargon-heavy weather forecasts into practical advice farmers can use to plan crops and manage water ...
November-December 2025 Research Journal Roundup
Roundup of research, journal and other academic articles from November and December 2025 ...
Kenya set to make irrigation a driver of development
IWMI supports Kenya’s public sector to build evidence-driven, inclusive and climate-resilient irrigation systems aligned with the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan ...
A roadmap for solar irrigation expansion in Ethiopia
When policies are coordinated and financial mechanisms are in place, solar irrigation could lift climate pressures and secure a more resilient future for millions of farmers ...
Kenya and IWMI partner to boost irrigation
As Kenya faces worsening drought conditions, a new partnership between IWMI and the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is set to accelerate efforts to expand irrigated land, improve food ...
Climate finance must prioritize women’s access to water
With gender-inclusive water access, time once lost to water collection becomes time women can use to earn a more stable income ...
Equity and inclusion must guide water solutions
At the 2025 CGIAR Gender Conference, IWMI underscored that the future of water security depends on scaling equity as effectively as climate-smart innovation ...
IWMI’s Inga Jacobs-Mata honored as one of 2025’s Top Agri-Food Pioneers
The World Food Prize Foundation recognizes IWMI’s Director of Water, Growth and Inclusion for her leadership in empowering farmers and businesses across East and Southern Africa ...
Ethiopia and Kenya to benefit from solar-powered technologies
The Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project in Ethiopia and Kenya aims to strengthen food systems and improve climate resilience ...
IWMI pilots index-based flood insurance in Zambia
This groundbreaking approach to insurance can help farmers receive payments faster after disasters and become more climate resilient ...
Science-backed solutions buoying water security in East Africa
IWMI and global partners commune during CGIAR Science Week to improve water security ...
Latest publications by Inga Jacobs-Mata
Report
Water and Soil Accelerator Co-Creation Workshop: summary report
International Water Management Institute | December 30th, 2025
Journal Article
Pathways for accountability in intergovernmental water-climate conferences
PLOS | December, 2025
Report
Needs assessment to enhance public-private partnerships in smallholder irrigation development and management in Ethiopia
International Water Management Institute | July 4th, 2025
