A Call for "Cycle Two" Pre-Proposals

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research invites all interested parties to develop pre-proposals on any of the following ideas for Challenge Programs: (a) climate change, agriculture and food security; b) high-value crops (fruits and vegetables); and (c) combating desertification (dryland degradation).

Pre-proposals may be developed and submitted by any organization capable of managing a major international agricultural research program. These must be submitted via email no later than September 10, 2007, to the following address: cppreproposals@cgiar.org.

For more information, click on the following links:

• Background
• Instructions for Submitting Pre-Proposals
• Evaluation and Selection of Pre-Proposals
• Challenge Program Process Timeline

Background

Four years ago, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) launched a series of new programs as part of a far-reaching effort to enhance the effectiveness and impact of its research investment. Called “Challenge Programs,” or CPs, these have the following characteristics:

• Address complex issues of great global and/or regional significance.
• Involve high impact research relating to CGIAR goals.
• Work through broad partnerships involving a wide range of institutions
• Are independently governed
• Are committed to achieving specific objectives within an agreed time frame.

CPs involve at least two CGIAR Centers and two developing country national agricultural research systems (NARS). Four CPs are currently being implemented. Click here for detailed descriptions of the CPs and other related information. Initial indications from pilot programs showed that the CPs are fulfilling their purpose. The CGIAR has therefore decided to embark on a second cycle with the aim of advancing the new CGIAR system priorities.

CGIAR issued a call in November 2006 for CP concept notes to generate ideas for the second cycle.

Instructions for Submitting Pre-Proposals

The CGIAR has approved the three topics listed below, based on the recommendation of its Science Council:

Topics	Concept Notes (in pdf format)
Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
High-Value Crops - Fruits and Vegetables
Combating Desertification (dryland degradation)

The CGIAR invites all interested parties to submit pre-proposals (with a maximum length of 15 pages) on any of these topics.

Who can participate: Pre-proposals on any of the three topics listed above may be developed and submitted by any organization capable of managing a major international agricultural research program.

Submission of pre-proposals: These must be submitted via email no later than September 10, 2007 to the following address: cppreproposals@cgiar.org .

Inquiries about the development of pre-proposals may also be sent to the above email address.

Evaluation and Selection of Pre-Proposals

Evaluation of pre-proposals: The CGIAR Science Council will evaluate the pre-proposals based on a set of criteria organized under five major headings:

These criteria were drawn from the process and guidelines for CP development approved by the CGIAR. Click here for the process and guidelines for CP development.

Selection of Pre-proposals

Following evaluation of the pre-proposals, the Science Council will send its recommendation to the CGIAR Executive Council, which will make the final selection.

Successful applicants will be invited to develop full proposals. Funding may be available for this purpose, so organizations submitting pre-proposals should include a plan and budget (two pages) for full proposal development.

Challenge Program Process Timeline