For the first time since it was founded in 1971, the CGIAR has adopted a charter to enhance and strengthen its efficiency. "The Charter of the CGIAR System" was adopted by acclamation at the 2004 Annual General Meeting of the CGIAR held in Mexico City.

"The CGIAR Charter was drafted through a transparent and participatory process that began in Nairobi last year" commented Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director and Executive Secretary, CGIAR Executive Council. "We made full use of the Internet, posting successive drafts and comments received from CGIAR stakeholders. We can all be proud of the document," he added.

The Charter sets down the roles, responsibilities and functions of the main organs of the CGIAR. These include the Consultative Group itself, the 15 international agricultural research centers that conduct a research agenda endorsed and financed by the Group, a Science Council, and a virtual System Office. An Annex to the Charter contains the Rules of Procedure of the main organs. Notably, the Charter outlines in detail the conditions and responsibilities of CGIAR membership.

A fine-tuning group chaired by Franklin Moore (USAID) included Afework Aklilu (African Development Bank), Per Pinstrup-Andersen (Chairman, CGIAR Science Council) and John Vercoe (representing the 15 CGIAR Centers).

At its founding in 1971, CGIAR was an informal association, established without a charter, rules of procedure, or conditions and procedures for membership. As the Group grew larger, and the research portfolio expanded and became more complex, the need for structure and consistency was recognized. As part of this process, the CGIAR noted the need for a comprehensive and uniform approach to its conduct of business, and the CGIAR Secretariat was tasked with drafting the charter for review and approval by the Group.

Click here for the full text of the Charter