World Bank Hosts CGIAR Annual General Meeting 2006

More than 750 CGIAR Members, research managers, scientists and development specialists, including a sizable group of representatives from civil society organizations, or CSOs, participated in the CGIAR’s Annual General Meeting 2006, which was held at the Washington Hilton and the World Bank in Washington, DC.

The landmark event included the first CSO-CGIAR Forum, which was planned as part of an overall effort to enhance CSO partnerships. These are vital for making research and development more effective and for generating greater impact in the reduction of poverty and hunger and in the improvement of natural resource management.

Global climate change and its effects on agriculture were the central theme of the plenary session on Centers’ and Members’ Day. The presentations and discussions reflected growing awareness that agricultural research is critical for helping developing countries cope with rising temperatures, more frequent drought and flooding, and other projected impacts of climate change. The keynote speakers were Martin Parry of the UK Meteorological Office, who chairs a task group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Cynthia Rosenzweig of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who also serves on an IPCC task group; and Robert Ziegler, Director General of the International Rice Research Center (IRRI).

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz addressed the opening session of AGM06, underlining the need to achieve sustainable agricultural growth and the importance of the CGIAR’s contributions. He also remarked on the potential of high-value agricultural products, which are key to accelerating poverty reduction, and he called for renewed efforts to better enable Africa to fulfill its huge development potential. “It is critical that we maintain our focus on agriculture,” he said, and “the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Vice Presidency is important for ensuring that the work of the CGIAR is integrated into Bank programs worldwide.”

Mr. Wolfowitz joined Katherine Sierra, CGIAR Chair and Vice President of the Bank’s Sustainable Development Network, as well as former CGIAR Chairs in presenting the high-profile CGIAR Science Awards. They then opened the AGM06 exhibit, visiting the displays and conversing with participants. The exhibit included more than 50 stands, showcasing the work of the CGIAR-supported Centers, Challenge Programs and their partners as well as selected entries in the CGIAR’s 35th anniversary photo competition.

Another highlight of the meeting was the Crawford lecture, which was delivered by Madame Anne-Marie Lizin, President of the Belgian Senate. Entitled “Food for All: A Challenge of the 21st Century,” the lecture stressed that poverty reduction worldwide is essential for confronting a wide range of related issues, including the achievement of peace and security, improved governance and environmental protection. “The CGIAR is an indispensable partner in these efforts,” she said. Click here for the Crawford Lecture Photo Gallery.

Before the lecture, Gold Mercury International announced that the CGIAR is the winner of its prestigious Cooperation and Development Award 2006. Katherine Sierra and CGIAR Director Francisco Reifschneider received the award, which is granted to individuals, companies and organizations that promote trade and investment in developing economies to raise the living standards of local people. The award forms part of Gold Mercury’s long tradition of recognizing major achievements in addressing the challenges of global governance.

Francisco Reifschneider and Kathy Sierra accept the Gold Mercury Award from Nicolas De Santis, Secretary General of the Gold Mercury International Advisory Board.

In his annual update on the CGIAR, Francisco Reifschneider emphasized that, although official development assistance (ODA) to agriculture has declined dramatically, the CGIAR’s share has increased. In 2006, CGIAR Members are expected to contribute more than US$500 million – the single largest investment in generating global public goods for the benefit of poor agricultural communities.

Highlights and main decisions taken in the annual business meeting of the CGIAR were as follows:

• 2007 Financing Plan approved at the level of $513 million.
• Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program given the go-ahead for a 3-year second phase.
• Outcomes of the CSO-CGIAR Forum, the centerpiece of the Stakeholder Meeting, were presented and agreements reached on next steps for strengthening partnerships with CSOs.
• First CGIAR Member Coordination Forum held, in which Members shared funding policies and agreed on next steps with this initiative.
• Confirmed that AGM07 will be held at Beijing, China, on December 3-6, 2007.