CGIAR

CGIAR

            ‘CGIAR’ was originally the acronym for the ‘Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research’. In 2008, CGIAR redefined itself as a global partnership. To reflect this transformation and yet retain its roots, ‘CGIAR’ was retained as a name.  CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future.

            CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources. It is carried out by 15 Centers, that are members of the CGIAR Consortium, in close collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector.

            In May 1971, 18 countries and organizations, convinced that agricultural science was a powerful tool for combating hunger, joined forces in the CGIAR. Other governments and institutions rallied to the idea and membership grew rapidly. Over the years CGIAR membership became more diverse. More countries in the developing world joined as well as other development agencies and foundations.

Year	Countries & Organisations as members
1971	Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Inter-American Development Bank,  International Development Research Center, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank,  Ford Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation,  Rockefeller Foundation
1972	Australia, Japan
1974	United Nations Environment Programme
1975	Italy, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia
1976	New Zealand
1977	Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Commission of the European Communities
1978	African Development Bank
1979	Ireland, International Fund for Agricultural Development
1980	Mexico, Philippines, OPEC Fund for International Development
1981	India, Spain
1984	Brazil, China, Finland
1985	Austria
1991	Luxembourg, Korea
1993	Indonesia
1994	Russian Federation, Colombia
1995	Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Romania, Syria
1996	Côte d’Ivoire
1997	Pakistan, Republic of South Africa, Portugal, Peru, Thailand
1998	Uganda
2002	Israel, Malaysia, Morocco, Syngenta Foundation
2003	Gulf Cooperation Council
2005	Turkey

What do CGIAR do?

CGIAR  collaborate with research and development partners to solve development problems by:

1. Identifying significant global development problems that science can help solve;
2. Collect and organize knowledge related to these development problems;
3. Develop research programs to fill the knowledge gaps to solve these development problems;
4. Catalyze and lead (putting research into practice, and policies and institutions into place), to solve these development problems;
5. Lead, monitor and evaluate, share the lessons and best practices discovered;
6. Conserve, evaluate and share genetic diversity; and
7. Strengthen skills and knowledge in agricultural research for development around the world.

The CGIAR

CGIAR Consortium

The CGIAR Consortium is an international organization that, together with the CGIAR Fund, advances international agricultural research for a food secure future by integrating and coordinating the efforts of those who fund research and those who do the research. Consortium is a legal entity under international law with its own chief executive officer and board. The Consortium integrates research across Research Centers, avoiding duplication, joining up efforts, and streamlining funding.

The CGIAR Consortium integrates the research of the 15 centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium:

• To increase the effectiveness and relevance of the work of the CGIAR;
• To enhance the impact of the research by setting common objectives and planning concerted action; and
• To take advantage of opportunities for the CGIAR to become more relevant, more effective, and more efficient.

The CGIAR Consortium coordinates CGIAR Research Programs across Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium and partners:

• Brings together thousands of scientists for multidisciplinary research on problems in poor and under-served agro-ecosystems;
• Links farmers and national agricultural research and innovation systems with the network of Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium and other global research networks; and
• Holds genetic resources for agriculture in trust for current and future generations.

What does the CGIAR Consortium do?

The CGIAR Consortium develops and carries out research programs to address complex development issues related to agriculture. Donors fund these strategic research programs by contributing to the CGIAR Fund. The CGIAR Consortium allocates funds from the CGIAR Fund according to research priorities, and is accountable financially and operationally for how the funds are used. The CGIAR Consortium also provides services to make Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium cost efficient.

The main functions of the CGIAR Consortium are to:

1. Work with Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium, donors, and partners to develop the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework for the Funders Forum to approve;
2. Work with donors and the CGIAR Fund Council to get funding for CGIAR Research Programs and to run the Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium;
3. Work with Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium to develop and manage CGIAR Research Programs;
4. Monitor the performance of the Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium and take action if necessary;
5. Develop, manage, and operate common services for Research Centers which are members of the CGIAR Consortium;
6. Lead communication and advocacy for international agricultural and natural resources research for development in international fora.

Over four decades the number of Research Centers supported by the CGIAR grew from four to fifteen. The research, initially concentrating on breeding better staple food crops, expanded to cover natural resource management, food production, and ecoregions. The 15 Research Centers generate and disseminate knowledge, technologies, and policies for agricultural development through the CGIAR Research Programs. The CGIAR Fund provides reliable and predictable multi-year funding to enable research planning over the long term, resource allocation based on agreed priorities, and the timely and predictable disbursement of funds. The multi-donor trust fund finances research carried out by the Centers through the CGIAR Research Programs

CGIAR Fund

The CGIAR Fund is a multi-donor trust fund that finances CGIAR research guided by the Strategy and Results Framework.

The CGIAR Fund is administered by the World Bank, as Trustee, and governed by the Fund Council, a representative body of Fund donors and other stakeholders. The Fund Council is the decision-making body of the CGIAR Fund. It also appoints the Independent Science and Partnership Council, a panel of leading scientific experts who provide independent advice and expertise to Fund Council members. This advice is used by the Council to approve CGIAR Research Programs and allocate resources to them. To receive funding, CGIAR Research Programs must set out their expected achievements and provide verifiable targets against which progress can be measured and monitored. By linking funding to results, the Fund gives donors better value for money and ensures that research translates into tangible benefits for the poor.

Independent Science and Partnership Council 

The Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) advises Fund donors on major science issues. Expert scientific advice gives the CGIAR the edge in harnessing the best of global science. The ISPC is a panel of world - class scientific experts chosen by the Fund Council to provide independent advice. Where there is no conflict of interest the ISPC also responds to requests for advice from the Consortium. As the ISPC reports to the Fund Council it is also an important link between donors and the Consortium on scientific issues.

Independent Evaluation Arrangement

The CGIAR Independent Evaluation Arrangement (IEA) is the totality of the provisions of the CGIAR Policy for Independent External Evaluation which was adopted by the Fund Council and became effective on 1 February 2012. The policy addresses the independent external evaluation of the CGIAR as a whole, and of its ongoing and completed policies, programs, and institutional entities, in particular the CGIAR Research Programs. Independent evaluation ensures that all parts of the CGIAR system are held accountable for their performance.

CGIAR Research Programs

It has been recognized for more than a decade that the ever more complex issues facing agricultural research for development require an innovative approach to research. No single research institution working alone can address the critically important issues of global climate change, agriculture, and food security and rural poverty. The ambitious new CGIAR Research Programs tackle the cross-cutting issues in agricultural development across the globe.

CGIAR Research Programs align the research of 15 Research Centers and their partners into efficient, coherent, multidisciplinary programs. These realize the full potential of collaborative research for tackling complex development issues.

Research Programs to improve yields and profits of crops, fish, and livestock

1. CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals;
2. CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes;
3. CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish;
4. CGIAR Research Program on Maize;
5. CGIAR Research Program on Rice;
6. CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas; and
7. CGIAR Research Program on Wheat.

Research Programs to improve sustainability and environmental integrity, adapt to and mitigate climate change

1. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security;
2. CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry; and
3. CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems.

Research Programs to improve the productivity, profitability, sustainability, and resilience of entire farming systems

1. CGIAR Research Program on Integrated Systems for the Humid Tropics;
2. CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems; and
3. CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems.

Research Program to improve policies and markets

1. CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets.

Research Program to improve nutrition and diets

1. CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health.

Courtesy: http://www.cgiar.org