The Executive Council (ExCo) is a subsidiary body of the Consultative Group. Its functions are to:

• act on behalf of the Group between AGMs on matters delegated to it by the Group, and carry out the functions specified in its Rules of Procedure as set out in the Annex to the Charter;
• facilitate the Group's decision making by reviewing major policy issues and submitting recommendations for consideration by the CGIAR;
• provide oversight during implementation of the Group's decisions;
• review and extend or curtail, as appropriate, the terms of CGIAR committees;
• periodically consider ways in which the CGIAR could improve its dialogue with civil society organizations and the private sector;
• report regularly to the Group, using electronic and other means;
• assign specific tasks and responsibilities to the Secretariat;
• establish ad hoc committees, study groups, or task forces to assist the council in carrying out its functions by reviewing and reporting on specific issues within a stated time frame.

The ExCo is a committee of shareholders, expanded to include stakeholders, incorporating perspectives from all components of the CGIAR System. The CGIAR Chair serves as ExCo Chair, and a Co-Chair is elected by ExCo for each of its meetings.

The ExCo consists of (a) non-rotating members (CGIAR Chair, Cosponsors hosting a CGIAR System governance unit, the Chairs of CBC, CDC, Science Council, and GFAR), and (b) rotating members representing geographic and functional constituencies. Each rotating ExCo member serves for a period of two consecutive years, supported by an alternate member. Each rotating member and alternate are identified by the constituency concerned.

The CGIAR established a 21-member Executive Council at AGM2001 to act on behalf of the Group on matters delegated to it by the Group. The Council will facilitate decision-making by the Group, provide oversight during the implementation of the the Group's decisions, and ensure continuity between annual general meetings.

The Executive Council, with the CGIAR Director as its Executive Secretary, is a committee of stakeholders, incorporating perspectives from all components of the CGIAR. It is made up of non-rotating and rotating members and will set up subcommittees (such as programs and finance) to facilitate its work.

The work of the Executive Council - brief, face-to-face meetings, or virtual communication based on "new age" modes -- will lead to clarity, focus and speed in decision-making. It will result in a cost-effective re-organization of the CGIAR System's workload.