CGIAR Finance Committee Reports
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Item Report of the CGIAR Finance Committee to the 2001 Mid Term Meeting(Internal Document, 2001-05-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the CGIAR Finance Committee presented by Committee Chair Robert Thompson at the 2001 Mid Term Meeting in Durban. The report included the year 2000 US$331 million financial outcome, composition of funding by source and type, and timeliness of disbursements by investors. The 2001 financing plan and 2002 financial planning assumptions were also detailed.Item Report of the Eighteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 2000-10-01) CGIAR Finance Committee; MacGillivray, IainReport of the eighteenth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington on October 21 and 26, 2000 in conjunction with ICW 2000, Iain MacGillivray of Canada presiding. Funding from CGIAR donors in 2000, given the diminishing dollar value of several European currencies, was likely to be $330-$335 million. There were continued problems with timeliness of disbursements. ISNAR and ILRI were below approved financing plans. The same funding of $340 million was projected for 2001, and as the basis for the 2002. The Committee allocated World Bank funds for 2001.The Committee endorsed the business plan for a new inter-center public awareness and resource mobilization organization based on Future Harvest, and considered that this finished its work on a long term financing framework. The Committee endorsed a proposal to move toward a uniform approach by centers and donors for determining indirect costs. It heard a report on measures to improve management of center cash resources and investments. The World Bank would resume the committee chairmanship.Item Report of the Seventeenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 2000-05-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the seventeenth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Dresden, Germany on May 20 and 25, in conjunction with the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting 2000. The work of the Committee was reported to MTM 2000 by Committee Chairman Iain MacGillivray. The formal minutes were circulated at the end of the meeting, and annexed to the report of MTM 2000. The Committee recommended confirmation of 1999 funding at its actual level of $330 million, $10 million short because of a default by the European Commission. A financing plan for 2000 was also recommended at a level of $340 million, with an adjustment package in response to the European Commission crisis., and allocation of the World Bank contribution. For 2001 the Committee recommended a plan in the same context, with the World Bank contribution limited to 11% in view of special European Commission make-up action in 2000.The Committee endorsed the creation of a combined CGIAR/Future Harvest organization to implement the proposed longer-term financing strategy, and authorization of interim steps including development of a business plan and of a governing mechanism for the combined organization. The Committee reviewed several aspects of CGIAR financial policies: indirect costs, liquidity management, the accounting manual, internal audit procedures, and financial systems.Item Report of the Sixteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1999-10-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the Sixteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington, DC on October 23 and 28, 1999 in conjunction with CGIAR International Centers Week 1999. The Committee held a joint session on October 24 with the Oversight Committee chaired by the Chairman of the CGIAR. The report was presented to ICW 99 by Committee Chair Alex McCalla.The Committee reviewed the status and expected financial outcome of 1999. There were continued problems with late disbursements of funds by members. It reviewed IARC finance plans for 2000 following consultation with TAC, noting funding problems of several centers and systemwide programs. The Committee recommended a flat program of $340 million, cautioned centers to adjust to donor decisions, and warned of the payments backlog at the European Community. It proposed an allocation of the 2000 World Bank contribution. The Committee continued the development of a longer term financing framework, and a supporting strategy for resource mobilization and public awareness. It broadly endorsed the draft paper, "A Longer Term Financing Strategy for the CGIAR," prepared by The Conservation Company. Continuing its discussion of CGIAR financial policy issues, The Committee focused on internal audits, financial systems and guidelines, and indirect costs at CGIAR Centers.The Finance Committee started a policy of rotating its chairmanship by electing Canada for a one year term following the retirement of McCalla in January 2000.Item Report of the Fifteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1999-05-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the Finance Committee presented to the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting in May 1999 by Committee Chair Alex McCalla. The committee reviewed a draft of the CGIAR Financial Report for 1998. It received an update on the 1999 financial plan, confirmed the plan, and approved disbursement of the second tranche of World Bank funds. The Committee recommended approval of a funding target for 2000 identical to the projected 1999 result of $340 million.The Committee noted circulation to centers of a final draft of a proposed CGIAR accounting policy manual bringing the CGIAR in full compliance with US non-profit accounting standards. The CGIAR Secretariat had initiated studies of center practices in accounting for indirect costs, and of opportunities to reduce the impact of currency fluctuations on center income, with final reports expected by ICW99.Item Report of the Fourteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1998-11-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the Fourteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington, DC on October 23-24, and 30, 1998 prior to and during CGIAR International Centers Week 1998. Committee Chair Michel Petit reported at ICW98. The slides he used are in Attachment 1. This written version was circulated the following month. The meeting concentrated on strategic financial issues, using a paper prepared by the CGIAR Secretariat (Attachment 2). It decided to focus on four clusters of issues: resource needs, external financial environment, resource mobilization, and financial management. Among its conclusions were the need for risk reduction, a search for new public and private sector donors, and the need for new methods of financing strategic initiatives and intercenter programs.The report also covers the estimated outcome for 1998 (Attachment 3), the 1999 financing plan as reviewed by TAC and the CGIAR Secretariat (Attachments 4 and 5). The Committee asked donors to make a special effort to make up shortfalls identified for several centers and commodities, as well as most of the Africa based centers. It also considered requests for special assistance from CIMMYT, CIP, and ICRAF, and the use made by ICRISAT and ICARDA of special assistance provided previously. The World Bank contribution was allocated 11% on a matching basis, and the balance for other purposes, including $5 million for strategic initiatives such as the Central Asia program and others to be identified.Item Report of the Thirteenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1998-06-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the thirteenth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Brasilia on May 23 and 28, 1998, concurrently with the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting 1998. The report was delivered orally to MTM98, and this written version was circulated later. The slides used in the presentation, a resource monitoring report for 1998, and an update of1998 financing are attached. A draft of the 1997 CGIAR Financial Report was also attached, but has been omitted. The final version of that report is in a separate document. The meeting included a joint session with the CGIAR Chairman and the Oversight Committee.The Committee reviewed the outcome in 1997, and noted that two centers were significantly different from the financing plan, ICRAF above, and ILRI below. It also considered a review of funding trends for the period 1994-1997, with particular attention to the allocation of unrestricted funding and the tendency of donors to place limitations on this funding.In reviewing progress in 1998, the Committee confirmed a lowering of the target figure, and reviewed its earlier decisions on the allocation of the World Bank contribution, consisting of matching funds, special allocations to ICRISAT and ILRI, provision of partnership funds and the System Review, and a set-aside for reserves and special needs including ICARDA, systemwide genetic resources functions, and Central Asia and the Caucasus.Facing the first year of the new system of three year rolling medium term plans, the Committee found the estimate of $405 million for 2001 optimistic, and recommended reducing that target for 1999 from $372 million to $335-$345 million. It foresaw allocating World Bank funds to match contributions of other donors at the same rate as in 1998, 11% of up to $300 million. The role of the Finance Committee was discussed. The Committee met with the chair and several members of the system review panel.Item Report of the Eleventh Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1997-12-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the eleventh meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Cairo, Egypt on May 24 and 27, 1997 during the Mid Term meeting of the CGIAR. The Chairman, Michel Petit, presented the results of the meeting to the CGIAR at MTM97. The written version was circulated later, with the slides used in the presentation attached.The report covered the 1996, 1997, and 1998 financing plans, and the Committee's review of TAC's recommendations for 1998-2000 medium term plans. The Committee reviewed the draft CGIAR finance report for 1996, and commended it as a model for the future. It directed special attention to the problem of late payments by donors. The Committee allocated additional 1997 funds to ICRISAT, ILRI, and ICARDA and several systemwide programs which were underfunded, and completed the allocation of the World Bank contribution for 1997.The Committee approved TAC's recommendations for $400 million to finance center medium term plans for 1998-2000, but decided to explore a no growth scenario as well. It recommended a reduction to $335-$340 million from TAC's suggested $350 million for the 1998 planning figure. It decided that a substantial share of the World Bank contribution would be allocated on a matching basis.Item Report of the Twelfth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1997-12-01) CGIAR Finance Committee; Petit, MichelReport of the twelfth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington, DC on October 25 and 29, 1997 during International Centers Week. The Chairman, Michel Petit, presented the results of the meeting to the CGIAR at ICW97. The written version was circulated later, with the slides used in the presentation attached.The Committee reviewed the estimated outcome for 1997, and noted that 14 centers were closer to their funding targets than at MTM97. ILRI remained seriously underfunded, ICLARM and ISNAR faced small shortfalls, while ICRISAT and IRRI had carried out major staff reductions. All commodities except livestock and fish were funded at their research agenda targets. The Committee expressed serious concerns about slow disbursement by donors, only 46% through the third quarter, which had significant costs to centers. It noted a continued decline in the proportion of unrestricted funds.The CGIAR Secretariat reported the prospects for 1998 funding, and the TAC Chairman offered comments. The Finance Committee recommended that donors make a special effort to cover shortfalls in livestock and water research. It heard appeals for special funding from ICRISAT, ILRI, ICARDA, IIMI, IITA and WARDA. It decided on immediate action to help ICRISAT and ILRI, and requested full proposals from ICARDA and IIMI for TAC review. It allocated the World Bank contribution for the year, with $30 million of the $45 million total used to match grants from other donors.The Finance Committee and the Oversight Committee met jointly with the Chairman of the Third System Review. The Finance Committee also considered funding for Central Asia and collaboration with the private sector.Item Report of the Ninth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1997-05-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the ninth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 19, 1996 in conjunction with the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting, 1996. The results of the Committee meeting were reported to MTM96 by the chairman, Michel Petit. The formal minutes, which included the outcome of discussions in the CGIAR, were circulated later.The Committee focused on results in 1995, 1996 financing in the light of a prospective $20 million shortfall, and the funding requirements of the 1997 research agenda. The Committee acted to find additional support on the order of $8 to $9 million to IARCS expecting the most serious funding gaps in fiscal 1996. The Committee proposed, and the Group adopted, modifications to financing arrangements, notably the decentralization of financing decisions to centers and donor members, with the World Bank shifting from partial gap filling to reinforcing member support.Annex 1 contains a summary of the new arrangements, and includes a proposal by the German delegation which was not adopted, and an overview of the annual process of financial decisionmaking in the CGIAR.Item Report of the Tenth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1997-05-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the tenth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington, DC during CGIAR International Centers Week, 1996. The Chairman, Michel Petit, presented the results of the meeting to the CGIAR,. This written version was circulated later.The report covers the 1996 and 1997 CGIAR financing plans. It describes the steps taken to mitigate the impact of underfunding of the 1996 research agenda by about $20 million as of MTM96, including a rescue package for the hardest hit centers, CIAT, ICRISAT, IITA, IRRI, and CIMMYT.Application of new financing arrangements in 1997 is described. TAC brought to the Committee's attention issues of congruence between CGIAR priorities and funding patterns. TAC identified problems in germplasm enhancement, systemwide programs in livestock, genetic resources, and water, and contractions faced by larger, older centers. (A summary report of a meeting of a specially convened TAC subcommittee 22-24 September 1997 is in Annex 1. It includes approval of transfers of complementary funding to the agreed agenda.) With help from several donors, the Committee moved to reduce, but could not eliminate, these problems. Since 1997 was a transition year the World Bank contribution was allocated in part to ease the transition for centers particularly dependent on Bank financing. The Committee emphasized that its proposed level of $325 million for the research agenda for 1997 was not a ceiling but an estimate. Annex 2 contains the slides used to present the report at ICW96.Item Report of the Seventh Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1996-03-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the seventh meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Nairobi, Kenya during the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting, May 1995. Committee Chair Michel Petit reported on the outcome at the same meeting. This written version was circulated later for information.The Committee meeting reviewed the draft CGIAR 1994 financial report and the status of the 1995 financing plan. It discussed the financial requirements of the 1996 research agenda with the TAC Chair, including possible methods of adjustment should the funding offered at ICW95 fall short of the requirement of $299 million. A particular issue was relative priority within the research matrix given that much of the proposed increase consisted of former special projects. Mr. Winkelmann said TAC would address relative priority within the matrix in case of need.The Committee supported introduction of a three year rolling medium term plan for CGIAR financial planning, and asked the TAC, CGIAR Secretariat and centers to propose a schedule at ICW. Creation of a CGIAR foundation, and funding of programs in Eastern Europe were further discussed.Item Report of the Eighth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1996-03-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the eighth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington, DC, on October 28 and November 2, 1995, during International Centers Week 1995. Committee Chair Michel Petit reported on the outcome at the same meeting, and this written report was circulated later for information. The report covered the 1995 and 1996 financing plans, and guidelines for the preparation of the 1997 research agenda. In 1995, the Committee granted a request from CIMMYT to keep proceeds from the devaluation of the Mexican currency, but was unable to compensate CIAT for the cost of revaluation of the Colombian currency. For 1996, the Committee considered the implications of the new financial arrangements, determined an allocation of the World Bank contribution with a small reserve for contingencies, and suggested a planning level of 4%-8% below the financial plan for the year for CGIAR approval at ICW95. The Committee endorsed a process and schedule for the preparation of 1998-2000 plans for the system.Item Report of the Fifth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1995-04-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the October 1994 meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee. The committee reviewed 1994 and 1995 funding, as well as a preliminary financing plan for 1995 and TAC's planning for 1996. It also continued its review of new financing arrangements.Committee Chairman Michel Petit reported the results of this meeting to ICW94. This document, a complete written report, supplemented by CGIAR Secretariat circulars spelling out the decisions of the committee in detail for the centers, was distributed as an agenda document at the meeting of the CGIAR in May, 1995.Item Report of the Sixth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1995-04-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the sixth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Lucerne, Switzerland in February 1995 after the end of the Ministerial level meeting. Committee Chair Michel Petit reported on this meeting at the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting in May 1995. This written version was circulated in advance. An update by the CGIAR Secretariat on the 1995 financing plan is appended.Under the heading of follow up to the Ministerial-level Meeting, the Committee discussed plans for the approval of the 1996 research agenda and related funding requirements at MTM95, development of a longer term financial strategy, financing of new CGIAR activities in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and fundraising among nontraditional, nonpublic sources. Also on the agenda were the status of the 1995 financing plan, and requests from CIAT and CIMMYT for relief from the impact of revaluation of local currency in Mexico and Colombia.Agenda document at the CGIAR meeting of May 1995.Item Report of the Fourth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1994-09-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeSummary of proceedings of the fourth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, September 15-16, 1994. The Committee reviewed the status of the 1994 Stabilization Program, funding requirements for 1995, and the operational implications of the proposed new financing arrangements.Annexes include a summary of estimated funding for 1994, and of support for the 1994 research agenda from the World Bank and other donors. A cover memorandum describes the set of committee reports placed before ICW94 participants. Agenda document, CGIAR International Centers Week, October 1994.Item Report of the Third Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1994-05-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteePreliminary report of the third meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in New Delhi on May 21, 1994. It was distributed for information of the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting which began on May 24, 1994. The final version of the report is not available. The Committee concluded from its study of cost control measures by IARCS, that further savings in costs would need to come from inter-center collaboration.Item Report of the Second Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1994-04-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeReport of the second meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held at FAO headquarters in Rome in March, 1994. Annexes summarize donor grants to centers for 1993 and 1994, and the allocation of the World Bank contribution for 1994.Agenda document, CGIAR Mid Term Meeting, May 1994.Item Report of the First Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee(Meeting Report, 1993-10-01) CGIAR Finance CommitteeThe CGIAR Finance Committee held in its first meeting on October 20-21, 1993 prior to International Centers Week. This report of the outcome of the meeting, labeled a "Discussion Draft" was prepared for the consideration of the donors at ICW. It addresses the shortfall in funding, and calls for a financial strategy to address resource mobilization in the longer run. The report proposes a change in the role of the World Bank as balancing donor. There are also a comment on the TAC review of center medium term plans for 1994-1998, and an appraisal of funding prospects for 1994 and methods of coping with the likely shortfall.The Committee also proposed a change in its terms of reference (revised draft in Annex A) and laid out a work program. Members of the Committee are listed in Annex B.Agenda document, CGIAR International Centers Week, October 1993.