Objectives: The Inland Valley Consortium (IVC) is an eco-regional research partnership under the aegis of the West Africa Rice Development Association. Its aim is to adapt and develop, in concerted action and using an agro-ecological approach, suitable technologies and a knowledge base for integrated agricultural land use management and operational support systems for intensified but sustainable use of inland valleys in West Africa. Inland valleys, the most-upstream parts of river systems are a valuable but under-utilised asset, covering in total between 20 and 50 million ha in West and Central Africa. Rice in inland valley bottoms will easily yield 30 to 50 per cent more than in equal areas on uplands. In addition, lowlands have the option for either double-cropping or crop and livestock-diversification, both of which increase overall farm productivity. There are constraints however: inland valleys are generally densely vegetated, flooding may cause damage to crops and livestock and the wet environment is a host to several water-borne diseases (malaria, bilharzia and others).