November 2003 Kenya Hosts AGM03 CGIAR Annual General Meeting 2003 (AGM’03) - the first to be held in Africa - was hosted by the Government of Kenya and held at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON). The meeting brought together nearly 1,000 stakeholders, who share a commitment to promoting growth and sustainable development in Africa. Gulf Cooperation Council Joins CGIAR At the Annual General Meeting 2003, the Gulf Cooperation Council (formally known as The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf) joined the CGIAR by acclamation. Cassava Production in Nigeria The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (Shell) announced a $20 million sustainable development partnership in Nigeria. The cassava project will be implemented by IITA, a key partner with the Government of Nigeria in implementing the Nigerian Presidential Cassava Initiative. New ISNAR-IFPRI Alliance At AGM'03, the CGIAR requested that the Boards of ISNAR and IFPRI carry out a transfer of governance and relocation of ISNAR's programs to IFPRI. This move will further strengthen agricultural research and innovation in developing countries. The new ISNAR program will relocate to Africa in Addis Ababa under IFPRI governance. CGIAR Ministerial Roundtable - African Agricultural Research and Development: Designing the Way Forward A highlight of AGM’03 was a CGIAR Ministerial Roundtable co-hosted by H.E. Kipruto arap Kirwa, Minister of Agriculture, Kenya, and H.E. Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation, Canada. Designed as an open forum, the Ministerial Roundtable brought together public leaders and leading development practitioners to discuss how to enhance the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture in Sub- Saharan Africa. Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture 2003 “Fulfilling the Promise: the Role for Agricultural Research” was the theme of the 2003 Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture delivered by Susan Whelan, Canadian Minister for International Cooperation at AGM’03. World Food Situation: IFPRI Analysis IFPRI presented its new report, Food Security: New Risks and New Opportunities at AGM’03. The findings are illuminating, and call for urgent actions now. Challenge Programs Gather Momentum: Gates Foundation Awards $25 million Grant to HarvestPlus In a significant development and vote of confidence for the Challenge Program concept, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a $25 million grant to HarvestPlus (formerly known as the Biofortification Challenge Program). CGIAR Science Awards 2003 Every year, a much-anticipated highlight of the Annual General Meeting is the announcement of winners of CGIAR Science Awards. This year was no different, except that the occasion was made all the more memorable with Hon. Moody Awori, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya, presenting the awards to the winners. CGIAR Communications Awards 2003 Outstanding journalism and communications awards were also highlights of this year's Annual General Meeting. Innovation Marketplace '03 Celebrates Spirit of Innovation The Innovation Marketplace ’03 was launched in Nairobi to promote, expand, and strengthen relationships with civil society while catalyzing innovation across the CGIAR system. Parliamentarians and CGIAR: Strengthening our Partnership with a Vital Constituency In an effort to increase awareness and visibility among this vital constituency, two CGIAR briefings were held recently in Ottawa and in New Delhi. IRRI Wins Green Apple An innovative, IRRI-led research project to prevent pesticide misuse garnered Britain’s Green Apple Environmental Award. Indonesian President Thanks CIFOR The importance of CIFOR’s research received the Presidential seal of approval at CIFOR’s 10th Anniversary celebrations at Indonesian President Megawati’s Palace in Bogor. ICRAF's 25th Anniversary The World Agroforestry Centre celebrated its 25th anniversary by hosting a conference “World Agroforestry and the Future.” CGIAR Information Managers Consortium How to better grasp the new opportunities offered by the ongoing knowledge revolution was the topic debated and acted upon by CGIAR Information Managers at their annual meeting held at ISNAR. CGIAR System Office Workshop System Office unit representatives met in Washington, DC, to develop complementary business plans and implement a performance management system. CIMMYT Hosts World Bank Managers for Study Visit Twenty-one World Bank managers traveled to Mexico in October to explore joint World Bank-CGIAR activities. At CIMMYT, they witnessed first-hand how scientists are developing a new generation of wheat- and maize-based technologies that will help nourish, clothe, educate, and sustain a burgeoning world population well into the next century.