The production of the Healing Wounds monograph is one of the Marketing Group's first major collaborative activities. Led by Suren Varma of ICARDA, the production includes contributions from twelve of the Centers. Healing Wounds was formally launched in Kabul on Feb. 24, 2005. H.E. Obaidullah Ramin, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food, from Afghanistan officially released the Healing Wounds report on behalf of President Karzai. Also present were Dr Serge Verniau, FAO Representative and Dr. Adel El-Beltagy, Director General, ICARDA. Follow-up events are being organized by Centers for Berlin, Nairobi, Rome, New Delhi and Tokyo. These may take the form of press conferences, seminars, and round-table discussions. Press releases have also been distributed, an article was published in New Scientist, and Canadian national radio did a feature show interviewing scientists about three cases. More publicity is expected over the course of 2005. READ MORE.

Related Links:

The Healing Wounds press release and full monograph can be accessed from http://www.cgiar.org/publications/

Read the New Scientist article at :
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524831.000

China Exploring opportunities for stronger relations with China is a marketing Group priority as a result of an original request from the DDGs. As a result the CGIAR has worked with The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) to establish and promote a "China-CGIAR China" seminar in Beijing on April 4, 2005 entitled "Agricultural Research for Development in the 21st Century: Opportunities for Strengthening the China-CGIAR Partnership." Senior representatives from CAAS, the Chinese Academy of Forestry Science, the Chinese Academy of Fishery Science and the Ministry of Agriculture will address the meeting. Francisco Reifschneider, CGIAR Director and Masa Iwanaga, Director General, CIMMYT will address the group on opportunities for further partnerships. CIMMYT, ICRISAT, ICRAF, IFPRI, ILRI, IPGRI, and CIP will also make presentations and participate in a technical dialog. A CGIAR information booth will be set up and Center publications distributed to seminar participants. Media outreach highlighting current and future opportunities for expanded partnerships is planned. In addition, a report focusing on CGIAR-China partnership activities, including a section on opportunities for increased CGIAR-China collaboration in the future, is nearing completion.

Focus on Europe

EFARD: European Forum on Agricultural Research & Development: As part of our Focus on Europe initiative for 2005 we will be highlighting the CGIAR work at the EFARD Forum in Zurich April 27-29, 2005 . The CGIAR is supporting the forum. Ian Johnson, CGIAR Chairman will make a keynote address and speakers include Pamela Anderson, CIP incoming Director General. A workshop on CGIAR partnership opportunities will highlight the Challenge Programs. A substantial CGIAR exhibition will be prominently placed and we are continuing to explore options for media activities.

The World Bank's Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) European Forum will be held June 13-14, 2005 in Paris. As in past years, the event has helped to highlight the CGIAR and Center research achievements to a key subsection of European donors, those working on environmental and sustainable development issues. A breakfast briefing on a topic still to be determined will be held and CGIAR and Center publications will be displayed and distributed at the event.

Peru Parliamentarians : As part of the Marketing Group's outreach to Parliamentarians, CIP and IFPRI are taking the lead in organizing a briefing for Peruvian Parliamentarians on May 10 and 11, 2005 in Lima. Under the umbrella theme, "Impactos y desafios de los Centros del CGIAR en la reduccion de la pobreza y el mejoramiento ambiental en el Peru (The Impacts and Challenges of CGIAR Centers in the Reduction of Poverty and in the Improvement of the Environment in Peru), seven Centers will highlight their activities in Peru. Given Peru's strong support to the CGIAR, the briefing will serve as a dynamic platform for participating CGIAR Centers and Peruvian Parliamentarians to discuss pressing national development issues as well as explore opportunities for future collaboration. An exhibition showcasing Center research will be held at the Congreso de la Republica, and on the 2nd day, Parliamentarians will view CIP activities in La Molina.

This event follows successfully Parliamentarians briefings in:

• Paris
• Uganda
• UK
• Canada
• India

They were all supported by the Marketing Group. Each event provided an opportunity to brief a critical and influential audience on key issues of concern to the CGIAR and build relations. Each event was addressed by either the CDC Chair or a Director General speaking on behalf of all Centers collectively.

Japan Forum, Tokyo, Japan, July 14-15, 2005: This International Symposium titled "Perspectives of R&D for Improving Agricultural Productivity in Africa -What and how can Japan contribute to Africa?" is being organized by the Japan Forum on International Agricultural Research for Sustainable development (J-FARD) under the auspices of CGIAR. It will be held at U Thant Conference Hall, United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan. Objectives include: reviewing agricultural research in Africa, and suggesting future roles and priorities in agricultural research for Japanese institutions.
A focus on Japan is another Marketing Group priority. The Japan Forum will include CGIAR speakers and a media program will be developed.

Member Perception Survey: Following input from the Marketing Group Executive Committee, a CGIAR member perception survey was developed. Caliber Associates, a independent company, will conduct the survey on behalf of the CGIAR in late March. It is part of the new CGIAR Performance Measurement System for Centers which is piloted this year. For future years, a more complex stakeholder survey is under exploration and input from communications practitioners within the system is welcomed.