Key services of the CDC Secretariat are to administer CDC meetings and to coordinate activities with the Center Board Chairs Committee (CBC) and the Center Deputy Director Committee (CDDC). In 2003 the following major meetings were organized and followed up by the CDC Secretariat:

1. The CDC met at ISNAR for a two day retreat to discuss a set of inter-Center related issues dealing with structure and governance of the CDC and the CGIAR. The overarching goal of the discussion was to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the CDC, in order to better position itself for work with its partners in the CGIAR. This ultimately would enhance the ability of the Centers to meet the goals of the individual Centers and the collective mission of the CGIAR. During this meeting, several key documents were produced including a Code of Conduct for the CDC and a Code of Conduct for the Challenge Programs. In addition, the group agreed to form a Future Harvest Alliance Office (FHAO) and drafted TORs for an Executive Officer and the CDC System Office Representative. The CDC agreed that the SO Representative would be the past CDC Chair, unless he or she planned to leave the System after his/her tenure. In this case, the CDC ExCom would appoint an alternate.

2. The CDC met again at ISNAR in May, which included a two day joint meeting with the Center Board Chairs. The meeting focused on ways to better coordinate and harmonize efforts (including governance and shared programs) in order to make positive contributions to the evolutionary changes in the CG System. The two Committees drafted a joint statement that was then presented at ExCo IV in Paris immediately following the meeting.

3. The CDC met for a third time prior to AGM03, both alone and one day with the CBC. During this meeting major decisions were made to streamline efforts in resource management and public awareness, and budget decisions were taken for the funding of CDC-sponsored programs and activities for 2004. Special presentations and discussions also were held with the Executive Committee of the CDDC, the Executive Director of Association of International Agricultural Research Centers (AIARC), the Program Leader for the Gender and Diversity Program, a presentation from the CIO, and a separate meeting was held with the Chair and Director of the CGIAR.

All meetings required appropriate preparation of materials and logistical oversight, including the production of documentation. Following each meeting, minutes were prepared by the Executive Secretary and cleared through the CDC Chair.

The CDC Secretariat in collaboration with other SO units in 2003

• The CDC provides oversight and partial funding for several SO units. The role of the CDC Secretariat is to facilitate the work of the CDC in this regard, assist with budget preparation and implementation, and provide backstopping assistance, when designated. In 2003, the CDC Secretariat worked with the CDC Chair to further streamline and improve the reporting mechanisms for financial monitoring of CDC sponsored programs.
• The CDC Executive Secretary provided backstopping assistance for the External Review of both Future Harvest and the Gender and Diversity Programs (the later to be concluded during the May meeting of the CDC and CBC at ICARDA).
• The CDC Secretariat and the CGIAR Secretariat established a strong base for working together to successfully hold the first ever Members and Centers Day prior to AGM03.