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June 1-15, 2001
Dr. Ponce represents southern countries in
CGIAR meeting
by Junelyn S. dela Rosa
Bureau of Agricultural Research Director
Eliseo R. Ponce represented the Southern Countries during
the 2001 Mid-Term Meeting of the Consultative Group
on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in Durban,
South Africa on 23-25 May 2001.
The meeting was part of South Africa’s
Agricultural Research Week and was presided by CGIAR
Chairman Dr. Ian Johnson.
In the meeting, Dr. Margaret Catley-Carlson,
chairperson of the Change and Design Management Team
(CDMT) presented four major policy decisions that redefines
CGIAR's role for the 21st Century.
The first proposed change was for CGIAR
to incorporate a programmatic approach to research planning
and funding to complement existing approaches and initiate
the formulation and implementation of Challenge Programs.
Secondly, it was proposed that CGIAR has
to meet once a year rather than the usual practice of
meeting three times a year. Likewise, CGIAR was asked
to create an Executive Council, which will report and
carry out responsibilities that are delegated by the
group. The Interim Executive Council will consist of
the co-sponsors, the CGIAR director, members of the
current Oversight and Finance Committees, and the Committee
of Board Chairs, Center Directors Committee, Technical
Advisory Committee (TAC), Non-Government Organization
Committee, Private Sector Committee, and Global Forum
on Agricultural Research.
The Interim Executive Council is to function
from May to October 2001 and to be dissolved upon the
appointment of the Executive Council during the 2001
Annual General Meeting.
Third, the TAC is to be transformed into
a Science Council and fourth is for CGIAR to establish
a System Office. The System Office, various Centers
and Future Harvest should develop a single, integrated
communication strategy for coherent communication and
fund raising.
The Interim Executive Council held its
first meeting during the last day of MTM 2001. The members
agreed that the Council will present proposals for approval
by the CGIAR at its annual general meeting in October
2001. The proposal will focus on the composition of
the Executive Council and its working procedures; the
process of development, preparation and implementation
of Challenge Programs; the creation of a Science Council,
based on the recommendations of a task force established
by the Interim Executive Council; and the functions
and modalities of the System Office.
The group also discussed research agenda
and funding. It approved the extension of the 2001-2003
Medium Term Plans to 2004. On funding, the group decided
that the financial planning target for 2002 should be
set at $340 million and the 2001 CGIAR financing plan
should be confirmed at the approved level of $340 million.
There were also program presentations
and panel discussions on climate change, water management
and impact of disease on livestock production and trade.
Updates from Future Harvest (by Geoff Hawtin and Hubert
Zandstra), Genetic Resources Policy Committee (by Geoff
Hawtin), Global Forum on Agricultural Research (by Raj
Paroda), Integrated Natural Resources Management (by
Joachim Voss), Millennium Ecosystem Project (by Merry
Williams) and Regional Priority Setting (by Emil Javier
and Raj Paroda) were also emphasized during the three-day
activity. Dr. Emil Javier, one time University of the
Philippines president is Chairman of the Technical Advisory
Committee of CGIAR and member of the Interim Executive
Council.
In a brief farewell ceremony, Dr. Ian
Johnson presented a scroll to Dr. Guido Gryseels, executive
secretary of the impact assessment evaluation group,
to express CGIAR’s appreciation of his contributions
to TAC and Standing Panel on Impact Assessment. 
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