Rachael McDonnell
Deputy Director General – Research for Development
Research team
Water data scienceWater, climate change and resilience
Water, food and ecosystems
Water, growth and inclusion
2008-2018 International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dubai. Head of Climate Change Modeling and Adaptation, Principal Researcher Water Governance and Policy 1992-2013 University of Oxford Water group, with various roles including Course Director for MSc Water Science, Policy and Management.
Current projects
Latest news for Rachael McDonnell
Pakistan Water Week 2025 builds consensus on making water security a national priority
Experts warn that fragmented approaches to water, food and climate are failing and call for integrated solutions to achieve national resilience ...
Digital innovation to bridge Africa’s water data divide
IWMI co-hosts Pan-African symposium on digital solutions for water management in Ethiopia, exploring how open data and digital tools can chart a water-secure future for the continent ...
IWMI and DWFI partner on Cambridge Sustainability Commission on Water for Food FuturesÂ
The new partnership aims to advance innovative approaches and policies to ensure a more secure future for global water and food systems ...
How AI can revolutionize water research and management in Africa
At the first Global AI Summit on Africa, IWMI joined leaders, policymakers and innovators from more than 95 countries to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence to scale existing water ...
Science-backed solutions buoying water security in East Africa
IWMI and global partners commune during CGIAR Science Week to improve water security ...
Pakistan launches drought monitoring system to combat climate risks
IWMI and the Pakistan Meteorological Department have launched PakDMS, a real-time drought monitoring and early warning system designed to strengthen drought forecasting and support climate resilience. Supported by FCDO and ...
CGIAR launches Drought Action Catalyst to strengthen global resilienceÂ
New platform focuses on connecting communities with scalable solutions to build resilience and manage drought risks ...
Rethinking responses to the world’s water crises
IWMI's Rachael McDonnell contributes to reframing the responses to mitigating the world’s water crises using a ‘beyond growth’ framing ...
India Water Week 2024 underscores collective action for water security
The forum explored the role of partnerships, technology and community engagement in securing India’s water resources ...
Severe drought drops water level to historic low on the Paraguay River, a regional lifeline
Rachael McDonnell comments on the cycles of flood and drought as climate change intensifies ...
IWMI’s Morocco Resilience Days Forum charts course for climate adaptation
The four-day forum leveraged IWMI’s research on resilience and solidified scientific collaboration with local partners ...
IWMI’s new strategy shows the way forward for collective action on water security
Strategy 2024–2030 sets course for the next stage of the organization’s research and innovation journey ...
Latest publications by Rachael McDonnell
Journal Article
Drought resilience demands urgent global actions and cooperation
Springer | February, 2025
Journal Article
Science–practitioner partnerships for sustainable development
Nature Portfolio | June 11th, 2024
Contact
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