A Revitalized CGIAR Approved

At the 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM08) in Maputo, Mozambique, the CGIAR Members adopted the proposal for a Revitalized CGIAR, the culmination of the Change Management Initiative. The reforms set out in the proposal will strengthen the CGIAR to better serve the billions of people who depend on agriculture. To learn more about the changes in store, download the full proposal, or read a 2-page summary in the Change Update AGM08 Special Edition, or watch A Revitalized CGIAR: The Video, a five-minute video explaining the key features of the reform model. A transition plan will be implemented to bring about the agreed changes over the course of 2009.

What Next? The Transition Phase Begins

Now that the proposal for a revitalized CGIAR is approved, we will enter into a transition phase. The CGIAR Members appointed a Transition Management Team (TMT) to oversee implementation of the agreed changes. The TMT provides monthly progress updates. Click here for the "TMT Updates".

Over the course of 2009, the Consortium of Centers and the new CGIAR Fund will be established. In addition to making changes to our structures, we will need to change how we work together, continuing to build a system mindset and strengthen our partnerships. Streams of work, deliverables and timelines to implement the transition are currently being developed by the TMT. These will focus on the key elements of the new CGIAR, namely the Consortium, Fund, Strategy and Results Framework, Mega-programs, Partnerships, the Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, accountability, monitoring and evaluation, positioning of the CGIAR, systemwide issues, and culture change and behavioral shifts.

During the transition, changes will be monitored to ensure that they meet the criteria of clear strategic focus; increased research output, outcome and impact; greater efficiency, effectiveness and relevance; simplicity and clarity of governance; enhanced decentralized decision making; and active subsidiarity to capitalize on complementarities between the Centers.

Why Change? Why Now?

As rural communities across the developing world feel the threat of climate change, sky rocketing food prices, and energy crises, CGIAR knowledge and technologies have never been more critical.

Growth in middle income countries is increasing food demand, while natural resources are over stressed and readily available arable land which could support increased food production is increasingly hard to find.

Meanwhile, the world of agricultural research has shifted dramatically. With the rapid growth of the national agricultural systems in Brazil, China, India and South Africa, the space that international research centers occupy has altered. Some national institutions challenge the ability of the CGIAR to partner equitably or meet their needs. The entry of strong new actors into the field of agricultural research is further challenging the role of the CGIAR as a major player in the world of international agricultural research.

The CGIAR may no longer be perceived as the critical provider of solutions for agricultural productivity, natural resource management or policy advice. As a result, CGIAR Center funding is not increasing in proportion to client needs.

If these trends continue, and the CGIAR does not adapt, the CGIAR will rapidly become irrelevant.

It is for these reasons that the CGIAR has launched a major change initiative.

The good news is that the CGIAR has never been more open to change.

With new leadership including a strong Alliance of Centers, the CGIAR is ready to develop a new vision and put it in place. The CGIAR leadership believes it is time to challenge the System’s sacred cows including multiple governance structures, donor sovereignty and center autonomy and take bold and strategic steps designed to reinvigorate the CGIAR and re-claim our leadership in international agricultural research.