CGIAR System

Vision

A world with sustainable and resilient food, land, and water systems that deliver diverse, healthy, safe, sufficient, and affordable diets, and ensure improved livelihoods and greater social equality, within planetary and regional environmental boundaries.

Mission

To deliver science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis.

CGIAR System Council

The CGIAR System Council is the strategic decision-making body of the CGIAR System that keeps under review the strategy, mission, impact and continued relevancy of the System as a whole.

CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board

The CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board is the governance body of the  CGIAR System Organization and is responsible for providing dynamic leadership and governance for CGIAR in the delivery of its mission, and for appointing and overseeing the Executive Managing Director.

Executive Management

CGIAR is led by an Executive Managing Director (EMD).

The EMD works with the Global Leadership Team across the CGIAR Systems, forging new linkages and partnerships, in pursuit of an innovative, vital, and coherent agenda, and playing the key role of ensuring unified and coordinated leadership, decision-making and oversight of CGIAR research to deliver, with partners, measurable success.

General Assembly of the Centers

The General Assembly of Centers is a forum for CGIAR Research Centers to discuss issues relevant to Centers, including those related to the CGIAR System and CGIAR System Organization, it is therefore an important linking mechanism for the CGIAR System as a whole.

Integration Framework Agreement

On February 22, 2023, the CGIAR Integration Framework Agreement (IFA) was approved by the boards of 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 integrated CGIAR. Its successful completion paves the way for a united CGIAR to move forward with confidence.

See How we Work for more information on CGIAR’s Governance model.

The CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board, as the governing body of both the CGIAR System Organization and the Integrated Partnership, provides dynamic leadership and governance to advance CGIAR’s mission. This includes the appointment and oversight of the Executive Managing Director.

The Integrated Partnership Board is accountable to the CGIAR System Council (“System Council”) for overseeing the implementation of the Integrated Partnership’s vision, strategic direction, partnership strategy, governance and financial and programmatic performance. It is also accountable to the General Assembly of Centers for governance of the Integrated Partnership, particularly in areas elevated for integration or coordination.

The Integrated Partnership Board’s functions are described in Article 8 of the Charter of the CGIAR System Organization.

Note: The Board of the CGIAR System Organization was known as the CGIAR System Board prior to October 2024, and as the CGIAR System Management Board prior to September 2020. This earlier terminology is therefore used in titles of earlier meetings and documents.

Useful Documents

Governing instruments and procedures

• Charter of the CGIAR System Organization
• CGIAR System Framework
• Code of Conduct for CGIAR Governance Officials
• IPB Rules of Procedure
• Terms of Reference for Chair of the Integrated Partnership Board
• Terms of Reference for Vice Chair of the Integrated Partnership Board

Participation in the deliberations of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership Board is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the CGIAR System Organization (“Charter”), the legal instrument governing the CGIAR System Organization.

The System Council appoints the voting members of the Integrated Partnership Board and sets key performance indicators to assess the Integrated Partnership Board’s performance, with input from the General Assembly of Centers.

The Integrated Partnership Board’s deliberations are informed by the participation of Active Observers, comprised of two System Council voting members, one representative of the Independent Science for Development Council, and the Chair or Co-Chairs of the General Assembly of Centers. All Integrated Partnership Board members and Active Observers shall act in good faith in the interests of the CGIAR System.

Voting members of the Integrated Partnership Board shall be appointed for a term of up to three years and may be reappointed. The maximum number of years a member may serve is six years. In the event there are extenuating circumstances that require extension beyond the six-year term, a member may be reappointed for an additional term not to exceed one year. The remuneration of the Integrated Partnership Board’s voting members and any rules regarding their perquisites are determined by the System Council. 

For services to the Integrated Partnership Board, voting members receive an annual gross honorarium of USD 28,000 for a 35-day commitment per year. The IPB Vice Chair receives up to USD 32,000 for a 40-day commitment, and the IPB Chair receives up to USD 40,000 for a 50-day commitment. This honorarium covers time spent serving on Center or Alliance governing boards to which IPB members are appointed, for which no additional compensation is provided. Any days worked beyond the annual commitment cap will not be compensated; however, members may contribute additional, non-remunerated time beyond the specified maximum.

The Member Profile for the Integrated Partnership Board can be found here.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is a standing committee of the Integrated Partnership Board established to provide strategic guidance to and coordinate effective functioning of the Board and its standing committees, ensuring alignment with the Board’s mandate and the broader objectives of the CGIAR System as detailed the terms of reference available here.  The Steering Committee consists of the Board Chair, Vice Chair and Chairs of the standing committees.

Science, Innovation, Impact and Partnership Committee

The Science, Innovation, Impact and Partnership Committee is a standing committee of the Integrated Partnership Board supporting the Board in its oversight of strategic direction, the Science Portfolio, partnership strategy and engagement, and monitoring and evaluation as detailed the terms of reference available here.  The Board members serving on the committee are Rachel Chikwamba (Chair), Patrick Caron, Jessica Fanzo and Segenet Kelemu.

Resource Mobilization, Private Sector Engagement, Communications and Advocacy Committee

The Resource Mobilization, Private Sector Engagement, Communications and Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Integrated Partnership Board supporting the Board in its oversight of the fundraising strategy, resource mobilization plans, and communications and advocacy strategies and high-level action plans as detailed the terms of reference available here.  The Board members serving on the committee are Nick Austin (Chair), Shenggen Fan, Celso Luis Moretti, and Enrica Porcari.

Governance and People & Culture Committee

The Governance and People & Culture Committee is a standing committee of the Integrated Partnership Board supporting the Board in its oversight of IPB operations, executive leadership, and People & Culture, including Gender, Diversity and Inclusion, strategies and high-level action plans as detailed the terms of reference available here.  The Board members serving on the committee are Dhesigen Naidoo (Chair), Ramesh Chand, and Mauricio Lopes.

Audit, Finance, and Risk Committee (IPB-AFRC)

The IPB-AFRC is a standing committee serving the Integrated Partnership Board in the areas of capacity and performance of internal audit, delivery of independent external audit, financial reporting process, financial performance and the integrity of financial information, systems of risk management, internal control framework, ethics and business conduct framework, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and codes of conduct as detailed in its terms of reference available here.  The committee is comprised of experts in the relevant fields and is chaired by a member of the Board.

Composition