CGIAR Business Meeting 2009, Washington, DC, December 8, 2009: Summary Record

The Members of the CGIAR met in Washington, DC December 8, 2009 and displayed their commitment to international agricultural research by agreeing to move ahead with far-reaching reforms, aimed at preparing the organization for a new era of achievement and impact through collaborative science. The reforms call for the establishment of a new Consortium of the CGIAR Centers and a new CGIAR Fund. The Consortium will unite the 15 Centers under one legal entity and provide a single entry point for the Fund to contract Centers and partners for research products. The new Fund will harmonize donor contributions to improve the quality and quantity of funding available, engender greater financial stability, and reverse the trend toward restricted funding. It will also focus research investment to priority areas and harmonize reporting requirements. A strategy and results framework will link the two pillars of the new model through a collective research agenda that sets out the shared focus of funders and researchers. The strategy will be implemented through a portfolio of “mega programs”: large-scale research initiatives centering on key development issues and designed to achieve major impact.This summary record of the meeting contains: statements of support from Members and the Joint Declaration endorsed at the meeting.