CGIAR Members Endorse Reform
In an emphatic display of commitment to international
agricultural research for development, the Members of the CGIAR
unanimously agreed to move ahead with far-reaching reforms, aimed
at preparing the organization for a new era of achievement and
impact through collaborative science. This was the chief outcome of
a one-day business meeting held on December 8 in Washington,
D.C.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Bank Managing Director
Speaking on behalf of World Bank President Robert Zoellick,
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Bank Managing Director, opened the
meeting with remarks that underscored the historic significance of
the occasion. “It will shape the future not just of the CGIAR but
of developing country agriculture,†she said.
Participants also viewed a brief video on the origins of the
CGIAR, which featured a conversation between Norman Borlaug, 1970
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and father of the green revolution and
Robert McNamara, the President of the World Bank at the time of the
creation of the CGIAR. The key message was that, just as these
visionary leaders joined forces to meet the agricultural challenges
of the last century, the CGIAR must now renew its fruitful marriage
of agricultural scientists with investors in development to
confront even greater challenges of the new millennium.
Katherine Sierra, CGIAR Chair (left) and Ren Wang, CGIAR
Director (right)
CGIAR Chair Katherine Sierra offered a panoramic view of the reform
process, explaining why it was necessary, how it has progressed
over the last two years and where it is going in the coming months.
She then called on CGIAR Members to endorse a joint resolution,
which spells out the four key principles on which the reforms
rest:
- A harmonized approach for supporting and
conducting research through a dual structure, which consists of a
Consortium of CGIAR Centers and a new CGIAR Fund
-
Management for results in accordance with the
Strategy and Results Framework (SRF) and portfolio of Mega Programs
that derive from the SRF
-
Effective governance and efficient
operations for better provision and use of resources
-
Strong
collaboration and
partnerships with and among funders, implementers,
and users of SRF research as well as other external partners
supporting the SRF
After hearing the perspectives of other leaders in the reform
process, CGIAR Members endorsed the CGIAR Joint Declaration
affirming the principles of the new CGIAR.
Members pledge to increase support to the
CGIAR
Various Members – including Australia, Belgium, the European
Commission, the Netherlands and Norway – not only endorsed the
joint declaration but pledged to increase their support as the
reform agenda gets implemented. Â In their comments, the Members
conveyed genuine excitement about the CGIAR and confidence that it
will succeed in building on an already impressive record of
achievements.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that, after
years of generous support for many major initiatives with the
Centers, it plans to join the CGIAR Fund and could further boost
funding (currently at US$400 million during 2009-2013), as it
receives new proposals.
Much to do ahead
While Members felt proud of the CGIAR’s accomplishments and
the change initiative so far, they also recognized that important
and challenging work lies ahead to make the reform a success. The
new CGIAR will need to be nurtured and guided in the months and
years to come. They emphasized, in particular: the importance of
getting the Mega Programs right; ensuring a sharp focus on gender
across programs; and enhancing partnerships and stakeholder
engagement. Members made it clear that the spirit of Borlaug and
McNamara — invoked at the outset of the meeting — will,
continue to guide the CGIAR as it confronts the challenges that lie
ahead.
Webcasts of the Business Meeting
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Bank Managing Director (left) and
Katherine Sierra, CGIAR Director (right)
One highlight from this session was an announcement by the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation that, after years of generous
support for many major initiatives with the Centers, it plans to
join the CGIAR Fund and could further boost funding (currently at
US$400 million during 2009-2013), as it receives new proposals.
Various Members – including Australia, Belgium, the European
Commission, the Netherlands and Norway – not only endorsed the
joint declaration but pledged to increase their support, contingent
in some cases on implementation of the reforms. Members’ comments
as a whole conveyed genuine excitement about being part of the
CGIAR and confidence that it will succeed in building on an already
impressive record of achievement.
But like the proud parents of a newborn, Members also recognized
that much difficult and important work lies ahead and that the
reformed CGIAR will need to be nurtured and guided in the months
and years to come. They emphasized in particular the importance of
getting the details of the Mega Programs right, of ensuring a sharp
focus on gender across programs and of following through on the
commitment to enhance partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
Despite their cautionary notes about next steps, however,
Members made it clear that the spirit of Borlaug and MacNamara,
having been invoked at the outset of the meeting, would continue to
preside over the CGIAR as it confronts the challenges that lie
ahead.
Key portions of the proceedings of the Business Meeting were
recorded and are now made available via webcast. These
include:
Click
here for all 2009 Business Meeting documents.
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