CGIAR’s governance and management structure distributes strategic direction, governing and advisory functions among several entities, reflecting the diversity of stakeholders within the CGIAR System and the critical importance of ensuring that the voices of our partners inform our actions and decisions.
Built on a strong partnership between CGIAR’s Funders and Centers, our governance and management structure focuses on enabling Centers and CGIAR System.
Partners to conduct high-quality research for development based on a solid foundation of clearly defined roles, responsibilities and accountabilities.
CGIAR System Council
The System Council has strategic oversight for the vision, direction, impact, continued relevancy, adequate governance, and programmatic performance of the Integrated Partnership in a rapidly changing landscape of food land and water systems research for development. The System Council ensures appropriate resources to support the delivery of the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework while ensuring the adequate assurance of use of funds.
Integrated Partnership
The Integrated Partnership is a federated group of Centers and the CGIAR System Organization, united by common values and principles, and committed to achieving, through integration and coordination, synergies that enhance the Centers’ individual and collective contributions to fulfilling the purpose of the CGIAR System.
CGIAR System Organization
The System Organization is the international organization governed by the Charter of the CGIAR System Organization, with its organs being the Integrated Partnership Board and System Management Office. Read more.
CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board
The CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board is the governing body of the System Organization and of the Integrated Partnership. Its composition, function and operational procedure are outlined in the Charter of the CGIAR System Organization. Read more.
CGIAR System Management Office
The System Management Office, headed by the Executive Managing Director, shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the System Organization, for supporting the System Council, the Integrated Partnership Board and the General Assembly of Centers, and for facilitating integration and collaboration within the Integrated Partnership. Read more.
General Assembly of the Centers
The General Assembly of the Centers is a forum for CGIAR Research Centers to discuss issues related to the CGIAR System. Its roles are set out in Article 5.6 of the Charter of the CGIAR System Organization. Read more.
Partnership Forum
The Partnership Forum provides stakeholders who actively support the CGIAR System with a forum to express their views on CGIAR’s operations. Its scope and frequency are set forth in the CGIAR System Framework.
Integration Framework Agreement
On February 22, 2023, the CGIAR Integration Framework Agreement (IFA) was approved by the boards of all One CGIAR Centers and signed by their Board Chairs.
The IFA, developed by Center Boards and CGIAR leadership, was created to confirm and clarify the path to One CGIAR. Its successful completion paves the way for a united CGIAR to move forward with confidence.
As called for in the IFA, an independent review of CGIAR’s unified governance arrangements was undertaken during 2023. The overall process was overseen by the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance, and the review carried out by an external specialist consultant firm, Morrow Sodali.
- CGIAR Unified Governance Review – Final Report
- CGIAR Unified Governance Review – Annex 2 to the Final Report
Based on Morrow Sodali’s report, a set of proposed texts to implement the recommendations was developed through a consultative and multi-stakeholder process. The Memorandum setting out these texts was approved by all IFA Parties and the System Council in December 2023, for implementation in 2024.
The recommendations were implemented in 2024 by changing and updating the CGIAR System Framework and the Charter of the CGIAR System Organization. The changes come into effect on 1 October 2024.
2025 CGIAR Governance Calendar
See and download the latest version of the 2025 Governance calendar here.