Tapping Talent

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics hosted this year's Gender and Diversity Associates Jamboree of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Themed "Going for great in 2008," the jamboree celebrated the achievements so far by Centers supported by the CGIAR and prepared them for the next round of challenges. Over 40 participants from 14 CGIAR Centers joined in, providing a mix of research, human resources and management staff .

CG Center "shoppers" negotiating for policies, tips tools and resources on offer at the Gender & Diversity Market Place

The jamboree highlighted collaboration with other CGIAR bodies by dedicating a full day to a review of System-level reforms, innovations and resources. This featured a video presentation by CGIAR Chair Kathy Sierra and live videoconferences with Acting CGIAR Director Fionna Douglas and CGIAR Alliance Executive Chair Emile Frison. Participants also benefited from sessions with Information and Communication Technologies and Knowledge Management (by videoconference), Central Advisory Service on Intellectual Property, and Strategic Advisory Service on Human Resources.

"It should be important to the whole CGIAR that we think about the gender dimensions of our work," said Sierra. "We need to get people from a full array of backgrounds and histories into the System to open it up. There is talent everywhere in the world, and we should be able to tap into that talent that is embodied in women."

Participants were treated to an innovative diversity market place. Centers displayed their G&D best practices and had the opportunity to "sell" and "buy" new ideas and resources from one another. The market place demonstrated great creativity and how much the Centers have to share.

"Everything I have seen in this marketplace today shows that we are making genuine progress in the CGIAR," said Vicki Wilde, G&D Program leader.

Other exciting features of the jamboree included special clinics for G&D associates focused on cross-cultural communications and designed to strengthen their roles as change agents in their Centers.

In 2008, the G&D Program will conduct a Systemwide human resources survey to measure progress on G&D, as follow up to its 2003 benchmarking report (available at www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org/publications/WP40HRsurvey.pdf). This review will help the CGIAR take stock of G&D staffing and trends. Meanwhile, the G&D Program will continue to monitor Center goals and deliver G&D services designed to support their achievement.

For more information, visit the Gender & Diversity website www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org.