The CGIAR supported by the World Bank, and in partnership with
the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB), organized a
field visit in Kenya for parliamentarians to check results and
observe the benefits of agricultural research for development.
Nineteen parliamentarians from 13 countries participated in the
visit from September 10-14. The delegation included
parliamentarians from Canada, Colombia, Finland, Iceland, India,
Liberia, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania and Uganda, in
addition to Tony Worthington, who was previously a member of
parliament in the United Kingdom. The Network, formed in 2000,
functions as an independent NGO whose 800-plus members from 110
countries represent themselves and their constituents. The Network
has local and regional chapters in (alphabetical order) East
Africa, India, Japan, the Middle East, North Africa, and West
Africa. The parliamentarians visited small-sized farms, and
familiarized themselves with the real-life impact of agricultural
research for development. They were introduced to the work of the
CGIAR Centers headquartered in Kenya (ILRI and ICRAF), as well as
that of other Centers with field operations there. The program
included on-the-spot observations, discussions with the
beneficiaries of CGIAR-supported research for development,
briefings by and dialogue with the staff of CGIAR Centers, and
interaction with civil society groups, local parliamentarians and
officials from the government, the World Bank and other
multilateral organizations. The parliamentarians paid a courtesy
visit to the Parliament of Kenya.
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