Significant progress was made at the Fund Council (FC) and the Funders Forum (FF) meetings held in Montpellier earlier this month (5th to 7th April 2011). The new version of the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework (SRF), and the Joint Agreement (to be signed between the Consortium and the Fund) were both approved. These are two major steps forward in the process of CGIAR reform. These results, along with the constructive and positive mood that prevailed throughout the course of the discussions, are both welcome and encouraging.
CRPs approved
The two CRPs approved by the Fund Council at this meeting were; CRP 6 “Forests, Trees and Agroforestry: Livelihoods, Landscapes and Governance” and CRP 3.2 “MAIZE – Global Alliance for Improving Food Security and the Livelihoods of the Resource-poor in the Developing World.”
Praise was given for their high quality, innovation and achievable outcomes.
Provisional approval was also given to CRP 1.1 “Integrated agricultural production systems for the poor and vulnerable in dry areas”, along with recommendations for its improvement. This provisional approval reflects strong support from donors for agricultural production systems research addressing the needs of the most poor and vulnerable. There was recognition that such work is extremely relevant in the CGIAR reform, and should progressively become the focal point for the integration of commodity, policy, and natural resource research.
Other CRP updates
CRP 2 “Policies, Institutions, and Markets to Strengthen Assets and Agricultural Incomes for the Poor” was recognised for its strategic importance and will be reconsidered by the FC during their July 2011 meeting, following adjustments and improvements. Four other CRPs, already approved by the Consortium Board (CB), were also presented at the meeting by their proponents. One of which was a Gene Bank proposal submitted by the CB for the consideration and approval of the FC, and it was approved in part. Detail on the longer term needs of the Genebanks and a full CRP type proposal will be discussed in Brighton, UK, on the 13th -17th June 2011, in conjunction with the Global Crop Diversity Trust.
We sincerely congratulate the Centres and their scientists for their efforts in developing the CRPs in line with the CB recommendations and guidelines.