CGIAR Fund

The CGIAR Fund Council inaugural meeting took place on February 23 in Brussels, chaired by Katherine Sierra. Items on the agenda included the Rules of Procedure of the Fund Council, arrangements for independent evaluation in the new CGIAR, and the nomination and selection process for the Independent Science and Partnership Council. The Fund Council also reviewed and approved the work plan and budget for the interim Independent Science and Partnership Council and reviewed the 2010 budget for development of the Strategy and Results Framework, Mega Programs and Consortium. The Fund Council agreed to hold the Funders Forum in July 2010 to better fit the timeline for development of the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Program portfolio. Meeting documents from the Fund Council are available here.

Carlos Pérez del Castillo, Chair of the Consortium Board, attended the meeting as an observer and provided the Council with an update on progress in establishing the Consortium and refining the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Program portfolio in the next few months. The day after the meeting, donors met with members of the Strategy and Results Framework team for an informal briefing on progress with the Framework and the portfolio of Mega Programs. Donors emphasized the importance of including a gender platform as part of the Framework and urged that a few Mega Programs be “fast tracked” for development, so they can be approved within 2010.  Importantly, donors emphasized that fast tracking some Mega Programs would not jeopardize the successful approval and funding of subsequent Mega Program proposals.

Donors emphasized that the Framework Team needs to accelerate its work and demonstrate clear progress to maintain donor support and momentum for the new CGIAR. They urged that a finalized Strategy and Results Framework and initial set-up of Mega Programs be provided to the Consortium Board in time for consideration at its next meeting, in May. Subsequently, the Funders Forum will be held in July to enable CGIAR donors to review and endorse the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Program portfolio. Mega Program proposals will then be put forward to the Fund Council, which anticipates approving some fast tracked Mega Program proposals within the final quarter of 2010.