Letter from CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin on the Meeting of the Consultative Council, April 10, 2000

Letter 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.