The Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) will be radically different from previous CGIAR annual meetings. Its overall purpose is to ensure agricultural research delivers development value. Rather than a ‘one-off’ event, GCARD encompasses a six-year process of comprehensive review of regional research priorities and development needs. This process will work in tandem with an integrated global review led by the Alliance of CG Centres, and will feed into a draft Strategic Results Framework for the CGIAR.
The consultation process will result in a refreshed set of agricultural research priorities by region; an evaluation of regional capacities and innovation mechanisms; identification of the specific needs of the poorest; and an outline of the best ways to improve the value of agricultural research.
The first GCARD event will be held in Montpellier, France in March 2010. It will have a very different look and feel from past events. Research topics will be framed by delivery against development challenges, and the event will be action-oriented and involve problem solving, rather than being a ‘talk shop’. Participants will include civil society, Southern and younger scientists as well as high-level government and international agency representatives. It will be much more outward looking.
So far, donor feedback has been very positive. Donors seem happy to see the CG working in new ways with its partners, with an open consultation informing the new strategy. The conference will provide a high-level platform to showcase the need for investment in agricultural research itself, as well as an environment that allows the poor to benefit from the products of this research.
Mark Holderness, Executive Secretary of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR), sums up the aims of the GCARD initiative:
Filed under: CGIAR Change Management, CGIAR Donor Workshop in London Apr09, GCARD
