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CGIAR: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Nourishing the Future through Scientific Excellence
More on the Alliance
Biographies of the Directors General
Interactive map of the Centers

More on the Alliance

 The Alliance is a Center-driven coalition. By joining forces to enhance impact and deliver better, more rapid results, it enables the Centers and their partners to make the most of available resources and multiply their success for the benefit of the poor in developing countries.

Adding value

The Alliance adds value to Center undertakings by:

  • reinforcing joint action on major global issues central to the CGIAR mission
  • promoting collective action on administrative matters to save time and money
  • enabling Centers to speak and negotiate authoritatively on common concerns
  • offering an effective mechanism to help Centers to continually upgrade their performance

The Alliance adds value to CGIAR operations by:

  • increasing the impact of research activities through collective action on key themes, enabling complex problems to be tackled effectively through synergies
  • facilitating dialogue among CGIAR Members and the Centers and promoting needed reforms
  • enhancing corporate spirit and action to strengthen the reputation of the whole System
  • ensuring that donor resources are used as effectively as possible

Tackling Complexity

One of the most important lessons learned over the past decades is that there are no 'silver bullets' that will meet the challenges ahead, including achieving the Millennium Development Goals. In the context of growing complexity, projects and programs must provide comprehensive solutions based on holistic approaches, and must have the scope to address development on all levels.

Ambitious international targets demand a higher level of impact. Significant and strategic partnerships, such as the Alliance of the CGIAR Centers, are essential to producing this impact.

The Alliance of the CGIAR Centers conceives, implements and governs the collective work of the independent Centers, within the framework of an agreed set of principles and operating policies. The leadership of the Alliance consists of two bodies, the Alliance Board and the Alliance Executive. Both are supported by the Alliance Office.

The Alliance Board

The Alliance Board is made up of the Board Chairs of each Center member of the Alliance. The Alliance Board provides overall governance and strategic oversight for the Alliance's activities. It is the Alliance body that has specific conflict resolution responsibilities in the event of conflict within the Alliance. A conflict resolution mechanism has been put in place by the Alliance Board to facilitate this task.

The Chair of the Alliance Board is elected by his/her peers for a two–year term.

The Alliance Board organizes and implements, in collaboration with the CGIAR Secretariat, an orientation program primarily for new Board members of CGIAR Centers. In 2005, the Alliance Board, in partnership with the CGIAR Secretariat, commissioned a stripe review of corporate governance of CGIAR Centers and is monitoring the Centers’ implementation of the Stripe Review’s key recommendations.

The Alliance Executive

The Alliance Executive is made up of the Directors-General of each of the Centers that are members of the Alliance. It is the body which makes the decisions necessary to the smooth functioning of the Alliance. These decisions concern both programmatic and administrative issues.

The Chair of the Alliance Executive is one of the Directors General of the 15 Centers, elected for a one-year term by his/her peers. The AE Chair may serve no more than two one year terms.

An Alliance Deputy Executive-Science and an Alliance Deputy-Executive-Finance work with Center scientists and administrative staff to implement relevant decisions of the Alliance Executive.

Resources

 

Summaries of Meetings