The Jakarta Preparatory Meeting for the Global Forum

"The spirit in which the preparatory meeting for the Global Forum was conducted, and the substance of the discussion at the meeting, demonstrated creative interaction between the CGIAR and other segments of the global agricultural research system," said Ismail Serageldin in his post-MTM letter to heads of delegation.

Much of the praise for the outcome of the meeting goes to the main players, in particular to William Dar who was selected chair as a last-minute replacement for Cyrus Ndiritu (Kenya) who was unable to attend. William Dar represented the Philippine NARS and is Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI). The meeting's keynote was struck by Abdelmajid Slama, the Director of IFAD's Technical Division, who gave the opening remarks. IFAD has been catalytic in facilitating a series of meetings and consultations on how to strengthen NARS-CGIAR partnerships. The participation of TAC chair Donald Winkelmann gave rise to a lively discussion of the CGIAR's future priorities and strategies.

The Jakarta preparatory meeting was, in a way, an unusual and exciting event. NARS from the four regions, NGOs and private sector representatives freely exchanged views, compared priorities and problems, discovered how much they had in common and where their principal differences exist.

A pattern of global agricultural research cooperation emerged from the meeting and with it the prospect for joint formulation and sharing of a future common agenda based on the relative strength of each actor. At the end of the meeting, the emergence of a truly global system which Chairman Serageldin had urged, seemed closer to practical reality. It was obvious that the Jakarta meeting had not only strengthened interaction between NARS and CGIAR but had also catalyzed consultation among NARS, with NGOs and with the private sector. The role of regional and subregional groupings was emphasized, and--perhaps for the first time--broad contacts were established among regions.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Africa which have strong subregional organizations (SROs) are setting up consultative mechanisms at the regional level. The Near East (WANA) and Asia-Pacific which already have regional organizations, are in the process of enlarging their membership and strengthening their mandates.

The NARS concurred with the goals of the CGIAR and stressed the priority on increasing productivity and agricultural production. They also emphasized the continuing need for more training, particularly in advanced research technologies, and access to databanks, in cooperation with universities. A need was felt for closing the growing gap in electronic communications between NARS and the centers.

The regional fora will draft an Operation Framework for NARS-CGIAR partnerships for presentation at the Global Forum, including a first set of specific research activities for implementation during 1998 and 2000. In this first phase, activities are likely to focus on upgrading and strengthening existing collaborative programs, but new programs could also be initiated. Case studies on best practices will be conducted as part of the partnership activities and are expected to raise the level of collaborative experience.