1. Formal Opening: President Suharto formally opened the meeting in a ceremony at Merdeka Istana, his official residence. He expressed his full support for the work of the CGIAR and urged continued international support for agricultural research.
2. Chairman's Opening Address: Opening the business meeting, CGIAR Chairman Ismail Serageldin noted that the 25th anniversary of the first meeting of the CGIAR (May 19, 1971) was on the eve of MTM96. The Group acclaimed the vision and the foresight of the CGIAR's founders with a round of applause.
Mr. Serageldin reviewed the achievements of the CGIAR and outlined the major challenges of the future. He emphasized the need for commitments to the Research Agenda to be maintained. In this connection, he outlined a new system of incentives for encouraging entrepreneurship, flexibility, transparency, and accountability in resource mobilization and allocation.
He stressed, as well, the need for the CGIAR to work in close collaboration with partners in a global agricultural research system.
[Note: The full text of Mr. Serageldin's address was available in Jakarta and will be included in the Secretariat's "Summary of Proceedings and Decisions" of MTM96.]
3. Farewell to Tim Rothermel: The Group paid warm tribute to Tim Rothermel, who had served as the UNDP Cosponsor representative for ten years and was attending a Mid-Term Meeting in that capacity for the last time. A resolution was unanimously adopted recording the Group's appreciation of Mr. Rothermel's efforts, and a scroll with the text of the resolution was presented to Mr. Rothermel by Mr. Serageldin. Mr. Rothermel responded with characteristic warmth.
4. New and Potential Members: Pakistan and Syria were admitted to CGIAR membership by acclamation. Representatives from Morocco, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sri Lanka attended MTM96 as observers. Welcoming them to the meeting, Mr. Serageldin expressed the hope that all four countries would soon join the CGIAR.
5. Partnerships: The Group received reports from: a preparatory meeting held in Jakarta for a Global Forum on the CGIAR Partnership Initiative that included NARS, universities, NGOs, and private sector institutions; and from the NGO Committee and the Private Sector Committee. The reports were discussed in the context of the momentum toward development of a strong, global research system, and of preparations for a Global Forum as part of the CGIAR 25th anniversary celebration during ICW96. Clear positioning of the CGIAR within the global system and obvious signs of mutual trust between the CGIAR and its partners were commended by the Group.
6. CGIAR Research Strategy: TAC's recommendations on priorities and strategies were discussed and broadly endorsed, with modifications to give greater attention to networking and training, as a framework for medium-term planning.
To facilitate in-depth discussion of TAC's proposals, the main TAC report as well as connected studies were discussed both in plenary and in parallel sessions. The topics initially discussed in parallel sessions were reports on:
The TAC Chair and his colleagues were commended for the transparency which characterized both the criteria used by TAC in determining priorities and strategies and the process by which TAC arrived at its conclusions and recommendations. As well, TAC was commended for its serious effort to integrate poverty considerations in its analysis.
It was recognized that the product prepared by TAC was a milestone in the effort to move toward a more consultative and transparent process and which should be built upon as the process moves forward through the preparation of Center business plans.
Among the broad points emphasized during the discussion were:
The Group endorsed initiation of 1998-2000 business planning by the Centers.
7. 1996 Funding: At the commencement of MTM96, there was widespread concern that the Research Agenda, which required support of $300 million as approved at ICW95, would be underfunded by some 6 percent (approximately $20 million), while some $47 million in funding remained outside of the Agenda. Mr. Serageldin urged that self-discipline be imposed by both Members and Centers so that, through redefinition and/or reclassification of funding outside of the Agenda, monies could be identified to fund the Agreed Research Agenda. Through a process of consultation involving Center Directors and TAC, activities consistent with the Agenda have been identified with relevant funding contributing toward closing the funding gap.
A number of Centers faced serious financial shortfalls which had to be addressed. During the course of the MTM, discussion with Members resulted in additional resources being made available to meet the minimum Center requirements. The exceptional efforts of Denmark, as well as those by Japan, Australia, and France, and the partial drawing down of reserves previously set aside, will go a long way toward solving the problem. Thus, while the concerned Centers will still have to curtail spending, a crisis has been avoided.
These two steps-redefinition and/or reclassification of funding and additional resources provided by the Members-will close the funding gap, thus facilitating implementation of the 1996 Agenda.
8. 1997 Research Agenda and Funding: The Group endorsed the substance of the 1997 Research Agenda, as recommended by TAC. Increased transparency, resulting from the establishment of a System project portfolio, as well as the availability of each Center's project matrix, was welcomed. In light of the current financial environment, the Group approved a funding estimate of $300 million for the 1997 Agenda, by scaling down the proposed financial requirements. Individual Centers, however, will not be limited to their funding target level, and at ICW96, based on Center proposals which are certified by TAC, financing plans will be approved by the Group based on the advice of the Finance Committee. The Group adopted measures which would fine tune the existing arrangements, adopted in the Renewal Program, to assure flexible and predictable financing of the Agenda.
9. Reports from CGIAR Committees: The Group endorsed progress reports from the Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, Finance Committee, Oversight Committee, Genetic Resources Policy Committee, and TAC.
10. Eastern Europe Task Force: The Group received an interim report from a Task Force on CGIAR Collaboration in Central/Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union.
The Task Force noted that there is a need and opportunity for CGIAR collaboration, and evidence of Center interest.
Preliminary recommendations of the Task Force included:
The Task Force will submit a final report at ICW96.
11. ICLARM: ICLARM's Board of Trustees unanimously decided to accept the Egyptian Government's offer of its facility at Abassa, and will be continuing negotiations with the Government of Egypt for the use of these facilities:
ICLARM's status report on its proposed programs for Abassa was reviewed by an ad hoc committee. The Group endorsed the ICLARM board's decision. ICLARM's board was advised to take note of the reservations, in terms of programs and modes of financing, expressed during the committee's discussion.
12. CGIAR Governance: A paper on the roles and responsibilities of Center boards was adopted, with minor amendments.
13. Future Meetings:
Dates
ICW96 will be held in Washington, DC from October 28-November 2. Other future meetings will be held as follows:
1997 MTM May 26-30, Egypt
1997 ICW Oct. 27-31, Washington, DC
1998 MTM May 25-29 (location to be determined)
1998 ICW Oct. 26-30, Washington, DC
25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary of the CGIAR will be celebrated and commemorated in October with a program that integrates commemoration of past achievements and tribute to CGIAR pioneers, a Centers Forum, and a Global Forum with International Centers Week. The opening event will be the Sir John Crawford Memorial Lecture to be delivered by a CGIAR founder, Maurice F. Strong. Participants in the first meeting of the CGIAR, past Chairs, and other distinguished CGIAR alumni will be invited to participate along with today's CGIAR leaders. The Executive Secretary will consult widely in drawing up and organizing the program.
14. Other Matters:
Public Awareness
The Group received a detailed proposal presented on behalf of PARC for a systemwide public awareness strategy.
System Review
The third systemwide review will be conducted in 1997 by an independent
team. It will be commissioned and monitored by a committee of
stakeholders. The Oversight Committee will assist in the detailed
arrangements. By common consent, the review will be forward looking.