CGIAR Chairman's Letters
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Item Chairman's Letter on Decisions to be Taken at MTM2001(Internal Document, 2001-05-01) Johnson, IanLetter by CGIAR Chairman Ian Johnson to attendees at the upcoming 2001 Mid Term Meeting on the four recommendations of the Change Design and Management Team to be decided on at that meeting. The attachment 'The Case for Agricultural Research in the 21st Century' mentioned in the final paragraph is entered separately.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ian Johnson to CGIAR Members(Internal Document, 2000-10-01) Johnson, IanLetter dated October 13, 2000 from CGIAR Chairman Ian Johnson to CGIAR shareholders on issues on the agenda at International Centers Week 2000. The Chairman proposes the establishment of a change management group to oversee the implementation of decisions made.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin on the Meeting of the Consultative Council, May 20, 2000(Internal Document, 2000-05-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated May 22, 2000 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members immediately prior to the 2000 Mid Term Meeting. The letter reported on the Consultative Council meeting held two days earlier. TAC Chair Emil Javier also presented a companion paper to TAC's vision statement He articulated seven planks of CGIAR strategic planning (one added at the meeting) and the concept of the CGIAR heartland.Council members broadly supported the presentation, particularly its approach to the management of natural resources. They were comfortable with the TAC suggestion of task forces, but thought that priority setting should not be based exclusively on a geographic perspective. The Council agreed to ask the CBC and CDC to develop an action plan, organizational options, and potential financial arrangements. It recommended that the Group adopt the seven elements of strategy, also called "planks," and the definition of a CGIAR heartland.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin on the Meeting of the Consultative Council, April 10, 2000(Internal Document, 2000-04-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated April 20, 2000 to members of the CGIAR, Board Chairs, Center Directors, TAC, and the Chairs of CGIAR Committees from the Chairman of the CGIAR, Ismail Serageldin, reporting on a meeting of the Consultative Council held in Rome on April 10, 2000. The Council reviewed TAC's draft paper on the vision of the CGIAR. It endorsed the broad principles of the vision draft, but suggested that the strategic choices facing the CGIAR should be defined more sharply. It wished a narrowed and focused research agenda, specific guidelines to the centers on utilizing the new science, detailed information on the operation of proposed task forces, reemphasis on the relationship with partners and clients, and inclusion of the goal of reversing environmental degradation. The revised vision paper, supplemented by additional materials from TAC, would be considered at a Consultative Council meeting on May 20, 2000,. The Council would make recommendations for consideration by the CGIAR at MTM 2000.The Council also considered CGIAR finances and its own composition. It received a report on the recruitment of CGIAR Director to replace Alexander von der Osten as Executive Secretary.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Center Directors and Board Chairs(Internal Document, 2000-02-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated February 11, 2000 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Center directors and Board chairs on the default by the European Commission on its $16 million 1999 pledge to the CGIAR. The letter described efforts to ensure more stable EC funding in future, and to mitigate the effects on the work of CGIAR Centers. An attached table shows special allocations to Centers approved by the CGIAR Finance Committee to help cope with the shortfall.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members(Internal Document, 1999-10-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated October 8, 1999 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members describing the agenda set for International Centers Week 1999 and the topics to be covered under the meeting's theme 'Reducing Poverty through Cutting Edge Science.' The letter also announced the World Bank Board of Directors' approval of a US$ 50 million contribution to the CGIAR in fiscal 2000, and discussed procedures for setting terms of reference and selecting a successor for the Executive Secretary of the CGIAR, Alexander von der Osten.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members(Internal Document, 1998-12-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated December 8, 1998 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members announcing the World Bank Board of Directors' adoption of a budget of the Development Grant Facility including an unchanged provision of US$ 45 million for the CGIAR in fiscal 1999.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members(Internal Document, 1998-09-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated September 11, 1998 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin addressing the concerns of CGIAR Members' about the future of World Bank funding of the CGIAR. The World Bank Board had postponed to October 20 its decision on Fiscal Year 1999 funding of the Development Grant Facility which includes Bank support to the CGIAR and a number of other grant programs. The Chairman said this would be a difficult decision. Although cuts were possible, he foresaw continued Bank support for the CGIAR.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Members(Internal Document, 1998-04-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated April 9, 1998 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR members in preparation for the mid term meeting in June. The Chairman explained his change of position in the World Bank from Vice President of Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) to Vice President, Special Programs.The letter previewed topics to be addressed at MTM98: biotechnology, climate change, the CGIAR System Review, and external reviews of CIMMYT, IFPRI, and IRRI. Serageldin also called attention to the need to address the moratorium on granting intellectual property rights for germplasm held in designated collections at IARCs, and its implications.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Heads of Delegation(Internal Document, 1997-05-01) Serageldin, IsmailMay 9, 1997 letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to heads of delegation to the CGIAR, in preparation of discussions at the mid term meeting later that month. The Chairman described the outcome of a stakeholders consultation on biotechnology he had convened in April to review the state of the art and the opportunities for CGIAR research. The letter addressed staff reductions at CIAT, ICRISAT, and IRRI, and urged donors to increase support to older centers. It also announced the members names of the panel that would be conducting the third System Review of the CGIAR.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Cosponsors and Stakeholders Group(Internal Document, 1996-10-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated October 16, 1996 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to those planning to attend the Cosponsors' Meeting and the Stakeholders' Consultation at International Centers Week 1996. The Chairman offered his views about the upcoming Third System Review, based on preparations made by the Oversight Committee. He suggested that the review team take the mission as given, and examine how to strengthen the Group's performance in carrying it out. The team should also identify the scientific challenges and give its opinion of the quality and relevance of center science. The review should be conducted by independent strategic thinkers, and be completed in a reasonably short period without sacrifice of quality.An attached note by the CGIAR Secretariat characterizes the background, purpose, scope, and schedule of the Review.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Heads of Delegation(Internal Document, 1996-06-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated June 28, 1996 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to heads of delegation to the CGIAR thanking them for their help in bringing the 1996 Mid Term Meeting to a successful conclusion, and transmitting a document entitled 'Modifications in the CGIAR Financial Arrangements.'This attachment reviewed the reform of financial arrangements in 1994 and 1995, described the steps taken at MTM 96, and outlined proposals for further improvement. It described a changed approach to the distribution of World Bank funds, and the use of 1997 as a transitional year toward full implementation of the modified arrangements. The new process and schedule for decisionmaking were set forth.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Board Chairs and Center Directors(Internal Document, 1996-02-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated February 12, 1996 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR Center Board Chairs and Center Directors urging attention to the decline since 1991 in the percentage of center board members from developing countries. This was inconsistent with the character of the CGIAR as a fully North-South system.The Chairman requested a review of entries in the CGIAR Candidate Information System to identify suitable board candidates from developing countries, and asked cooperation from center board chairs and center directors in reversing the trend.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to TAC Members(Internal Document, 1996-01-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated January 29, 1996 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to TAC members prior to a meeting between the Chairman and TAC members on February 1 and 2, 1996. Serageldin suggested an agenda covering future strategic directions, TAC's role and effectiveness, and CGIAR priorities and strategies.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Heads of Delegation(Internal Document, 1996-01-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated January 26, 1996 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to heads of CGIAR delegations, which was distributed throughout the Group. The Chairman announced that Pakistan and Syria would be joining the CGIAR. He urged donors to confirm and pay their contributions to the 1996 research agenda promptly, and requested increased funding for systemwide programs on livestock and alternatives to slash and burn. He also argued against diversion of donor funds to activities outside of the agreed research agenda.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Center Directors(Internal Document, 1996-01-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated January 29, 1996 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Center Directors on progress in securing funding for the 1996 research agenda, attaching his letter to heads of delegation of January 26 which is in a separate record.Serageldin expressed caution about full funding for 1996, given the difficulties faced by the United States Government, and made a pitch against diversion of CGIAR donor funds to activities outside of the research agenda.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Heads of Delegation(Internal Document, 1995-08-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter dated August 8, 1995 from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to heads of delegation to the CGIAR, appealing to members to expedite financing of the US$ 299 million 1996 research agenda approved at the 1996 Mid Term Meeting. The Chairman affirmed the World Bank's commitment to provide 15 percent of CGIAR funding once those funds were received.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Heads of Delegation(Internal Document, 1995-04-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR heads of delegation, board chairs, center directors, and the TAC chairman and executive secretary. The letter referred to the decision during the Lucerne Ministerial level Meeting in February 1995 to establish an independent impact assessment function. To accomplish this, Serageldin proposed creating a small impact assessment group, and suggested its functions and mode of operation, to be defined more precisely at MTM95. He requested that names of potential members be sent to the cosponsors.Item Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to Heads of Delegation, September 26, 1994(Internal Document, 1994-09-01) Serageldin, IsmailLetter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin to CGIAR heads of delegation, board chairs, center directors and the TAC chairman and secretariat, leading up to ICW94. Serageldin described the work of various ad hoc and standing bodies in preparation for International Centers Week 1994 and the Ministerial-level Meeting being planned for early 1995. He also announced that as a result of additional funding by donors and matching funds from the World Bank, the 1994 core program was fully funded.Item Preparatory Consultation for MTM94 on Strategic Issues: A Summary Report(Internal Document, 1994-04-01) Serageldin, IsmailSummary report of a consultation on strategic issues called by CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin in Washington, DC, on April 13, 1994. Participants were the Finance and Oversight Committee members, chairs of TAC, the CBC and CDC, and the executive secretaries of TAC and the CGIAR. The purposes was to provide guidance to the chairman on issues most relevant to the agenda of MTM94. The Chairman distributed the report under a letter of April 18, 1994 to heads of delegation, regional representatives, IARC directors and board chairs, and TAC members as part of the preparation for the meeting. Among the issues addressed were reaffirmation that the research agenda of the CGIAR should drive funding, not the reverse, and of the priorities endorsed through the 1994-1998 MTP process; the urgency of a response to the financial crisis; improvements in the funding modalities of the CGIAR, and steps toward a rededication of donors to the goals of the CGIAR at a Bellagio type meeting in early 1995.Agenda document at the CGIAR meeting in May 1994.