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ICARDA News International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012 Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG Website: www.icarda.org
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CGIAR
“Visioning Workshop for Change”
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As
rural communities across the developing world feel the heat of climate
change, sky rocketing food prices, and energy crises, the CGIAR's
knowledge and technologies have never been more critical. Growth in
middle income countries is increasing food demand, while natural resources
are over-stressed and readily available arable land which could support
increased food production is non-existent.
Meanwhile, the world of agricultural research has shifted dramatically. But CGIAR Centers' funding is not increasing in proportion to client needs. If these trends continue, and the CGIAR does not adapt, then it will rapidly become irrelevant. It is for these reasons that the CGIAR has launched a major change initiative. The CGIAR leadership believes that it is time to address the System's multiple governance structures by reviewing challanges and make it more efficient, donor sovereignty and center autonomy and take bold and strategic steps designed to re-invigorate the CGIAR and re-claim its leadership in international agricultural research. To address the challenges, the CGIAR organized a "Visioning Workshop for Change" at the ILRI campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2-4 April. Dr Scott Christiansen represented ICARDA at the workshop. Over 40 participants representing donor countries, NARS, the Science Council, the Secretariat and Centers attended the workshop. Observers participated only on the second day of the meeting to provide feedback that would allow the Change Steering Team and Working Group 1 (WG1) to revise the vision they presented. Suffice it to say there were significant inputs that will require changes to the proposed vision. There are four WGs: (1) Visioning and Development Challenges; (2) Partnerships; (3) Governance and (4) Funding Mechanisms. There is a timeline for each of the WGs and the results are expected to be presented at the next Annual General Meeting of the CGIAR at the end of 2008. |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire
developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean;
and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water,
improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and
goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central
and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for
the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage
legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of
the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
(www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and
regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international
research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable
development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition
and health, and protecting the environment.