Group
of Eight Summit Endorses CGIAR
The recently-announced 2004 G-8 Action Plan provides
a strong boost to CGIAR, and focuses on three priorities:
· Ending famine in the Horn of Africa
· Raising agricultural productivity
· Promoting rural development in food insecure countries
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statement, G-8 Action Plan:
We are united in our belief that famine is preventable
in the 21st century. Famine, food insecurity and
malnutrition have many complex causes, and defeating
them will require a global partnership between
the governments of affected countries, donors,
international institutions, the private sector,
and non-governmental organizations. We renew our
commitment to help build this partnership, particularly
in Africa, where more than 200 million people
remain threatened by famine or food insecurity.
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"We are delighted that the G-8 Action Plan recognizes
the imperative of reducing hunger, poverty and environmental
degradation," said Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman
and World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development.
"It is a significant endorsement of CGIAR's successful
track record in mobilizing science in the service of
poor farming communities who live on the fringes of
the global economy."
Acting individually and collectively, G-8 Members agreed
to "support work of the CGIAR and others that will
channel more effectively resources allocated to research
and development of drought, pest, and disease-resistant
staple crops for use in developing countries."
The Plan encourages "CGIAR to increase its efforts
in Africa, and increase funding for Challenge Programs
on 'Water and Food' and those others which benefit Africa,"
and calls on the CGIAR to "Develop at least three
new projects with the African Agricultural Technology
Foundation."
"Agricultural development is central to the sustainable
agenda," said Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director.
"The G-8 Action Plan will help us to catalyze new
partnerships, North and South, at global, regional,
national and local levels that will help us deliver
global public goods that directly benefit poor people."
Other areas identified for support include the International
Food Policy Research Institute's "Strategic Analysis
Knowledge Support System,", New Rices for Africa
(NERICAs) and the Pan Africa Cassava Initiative and
Global Cassava Partnership.
On the challenges of boosting agricultural productivity
and rural development in food insecure countries, especially
in Africa, the Action Plan drew attention to the outcomes
of the successful IFPRI 2020 Vision Conference held
in Uganda.
Recognizing that the challenges are multifaceted, the
Action Plan calls for reforms of domestic agricultural,
social, economic, and development policies with the
full participation of civil society.
In addition, the G-8 statement supports fully the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the
principles and goals set out in the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).
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