Global Forum on Agricultural Research

Main GFAR Activities since May 2001

GFAR-SC and NARS-SC MeetingsWashington, D.C., October 27-28, 2001

Durban: Main Steps taken

On the basis of First GFAR Ext. Rev.:

���� Approved the GFAR Charter

���� Approved BP & PW 2001-2003

� Strengthened operational mechanisms for GFAR (MDA)

Main Tasks: May to October, 2001

A. Initial implementation of BP & PW 2001-2003

� Regional Priority-Setting

� GPPs: Rome Workshop

B. Strengthening constituencies & their participation in GFAR

C. Facilitating inter-regional dialogue

D. Organizational development aspects

BP & PW 2001 – 2003 is formulated around four Lines of Action:

A. Strategic thinking on ARD issues

B. ICM: Facilitating information flows among stkhdrs. (EGFAR and RAIS)

C. Promotion of Research Partnerships

D. Institutional support to GFAR stakeholders

A - Strategic Thinking on ARD Issues

� Regional priority setting process:Setting the Agenda

� Advocacy – Putting ARD back into national and regional agendas

� Involving stakeholders in bottom-up identification of strategic issues:

� Risk assessment & decision-making GMOs

� GRM policy - Implementation IU

� IPRs - Challenges for Technology Mgmt.

B – ICM: Facilitating Information Flows Among Stakeholders

� EGFAR - Re-launching of EGFAR: www.egfar.org

� Support to RAIS in 5 regions

� Information Strategies

� Networking of decentralized databases

� Development of an inter-RAIS strategic agenda

C - Promotion of Research Partnerships

1. Most activities are at the regional/ sub-regional level (RF/SRF)

2. There is an increasing inter-regional interaction

3. The GFAR/IFAD Workshop on GPPs (Rome, October 9-10)

4. Following very closely the process of emergence of CPs in the CGIAR: complementarity between CPs & GPPs

D - Institutional Support to GFAR Stakeholders

1. Strengthen RF/SRF to perform their functions

2. Strengthen participation of Farmers� Collaborative Program GFAR/IFAP� Via Campesina: Strengthen participation in

regional priority-setting (Guacimo Declaration)

3. Strengthen participation by NGOs

� Regional/sub-regional priority-setting� Concrete NGO initiatives

4. Strengthen involvement of private sector (LDC-PS and comm. chains)

Facilitating Inter-Regional Dialogue

• Dialogue between EFARD and other RF/SRF in determining priorities

• Mediterranean Research Area

• PROCINORTE

• Interaction between RF/SRF (i.e. in recent Rome meeting – GPPs)

Organizational Development Aspects

� Multi-Donor Agreement with FAO

� Strengthening of the operational capacity of the GFAR Secretariat: New staff that has arrived

Emerging Idea: A New Alliance Among Stakeholders of ARD

The need to involve stakeholders at all levels:

• The local/community level

• The national level

• The regional level

• The global level

The National Level: Building up of National Fora

• Functions of National Fora

• Mechanisms through which they operate

• Examples of National Fora

• What can GFAR do to facilitate/support them?

The Regional Level: Strengthening Stakeholder Involvement in RF/SRF

• Strengthening stakeholder constituencies

• Involving stakeholders in decision-making mechanisms in RF/SRFs

• Improving representation

• Developing a strategic ARD agenda on research policy issues