CGIAR System Organization (CGIAR)

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the CGIAR, aims to improve the health and welfare of those who depend on rice-based agri-food systems, protecting the environmental sustainability of rice farming. In an interview with Remy Bitoun, head of IRRI Tech Transfer, Sarah Cummings discussed the current status of engagement with the private sector from his personal perspective and what initiatives can be scaled up by the CGIAR in the context of OneCGIAR. »

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is an international, public sector research centre, part of the CGIAR network, based in Hyderbad, India. ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture programme, which has received considerable support from senior management, is a self-sufficient research programme with a radical approach. In this programme, ICRISAT plays the role of innovation broker, linking farmers with public-private partnerships (PPPs) and tech startups. An interview with by Sarah Cummings with Ram Dhulipala. »

On July 31,2020, CGIAR published its 2019 Performance Report. The Netherlands, as a strategic partner and funder to CGIAR is committed to share the important results achieved in 2019 by CGIAR, its CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) and Platforms. The publication comes at a time when food systems are under incredible pressure due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and also in the midst of CGIAR’s transformation towards One CGIAR. »

In 2020 and 2021 CGIAR aims to reformulate itself as ‘One CGIAR’.  As the Netherlands is a strategic partner to CGIAR, there is an opportunity to provide input in those developments to CGIAR. A Strategy Meeting was organized by the F&BKP and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality to start engaging Dutch stakeholders, such as experts and organizations with CGIAR partnerships, early in the process. »

The recently agreed reform of the international research network CGIAR provides a unique opportunity for making new steps towards a more effective, responsive and inclusive approach towards food systems analysis. In this blog, Prof. dr. Ruerd Ruben states that, based on the unified governance envisioned to lead ´One CGIAR´, it is of foremost importance to support changes in the composition of the research portfolio and a more fundamental adjustment in research practices. »

CGIAR with its 15 research institutions around the world, mostly Global South, is on a reform path. Some old hands will smile, again? Yes, again. Some institutional reform gurus will applaud: you should never stop renewing and reinventing yourself. Wijnand van IJssel sheds his light on the complete overhaul to “One CGIAR”. »

There is still an enormous challenge at hand to reach the SDGs in the next 10 years. Being able to understand how different institutions contribute to this challenge is important information. CGIAR recently launched a new Dashboard that makes its impact more visible to a large audience. A very interesting and useful tool for Food and Nutrition Security professionals. »

In the final round of the CGIAR Senior Expert Programme (SEP), two Senior Experts receive extra funding to spend more time on their CGIAR research and research management in large CGIAR programmes and platforms. »

Five senior researchers will receive funding in the third assessment round of the CGIAR Senior Expert Programme to spend more time on their CGIAR research and research management in large CGIAR programmes and platforms. The CGIAR, a global research partnership, collaborates with the Netherlands on food security, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. »

Senior experts – working at Dutch research organizations and involved in CGIAR research or management – are given the opportunity to spend (more) time on their CGIAR activities. The call to cover part of their personnel costs has been reopened with an adjustment in the domains that can be requested. The deadline for the next assessment round is October 1, 2019. »

Farmers (f/m) in Ethiopia and in other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often have difficulty getting the improved seeds they need to raise the productivity of their crops or livestock, the climate resilience and the profitability of their business. These seeds may be available in public research institutes or with private breeders, but do not reach the farmers. This was the topic of a high-level multi-stakeholder workshop in the context of the NL-CGIAR Strategic Partnership, which generated lots of insights and new ideas for collaboration. »

For food systems and agricultural livelihoods in Eastern Africa to truly be climate-resilient and low in emissions, climate-smart agriculture policies, practices and perspectives must be scaled. To move this forward, CCAFS in East Africa, NWO-WOTRO, F&BKP and AgriProFocus Ethiopia hosted a public dialogue, on June 13 in Addis Ababa at the International Livestock Research Institute Campus. »

Three senior researchers employed at Dutch research organizations will receive extra funding to spend more time on their CGIAR research and research management in large CGIAR programmes and platforms. The CGIAR, a global research partnership, also collaborates with the Netherlands on food security, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. »

CGIAR regards the results of its R&D activities as international public goods and is committed to their widespread diffusion to achieve the maximum possible access and scope of impact to advantage the poor, especially farmers in developing countries. At the same time, CGIAR and other public research organisations apply Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). This article addresses the question how exclusive rights on new technologies can be reconciled with the production of international public goods. »

Senior Experts, employed by Dutch research organizations and involved in CGIAR research or management, are offered a chance to spend (more) time on their CGIAR activities. The call to cover some of their personnel costs has been reopened with an adjustment in requirements for the Senior Expert. The deadline for the next assessment round is June 4, 2019. »

Nine projects are funded by NWO-WOTRO to strengthen the Netherlands-CGIAR research partnership on generating insights that contribute to improving seed systems in focus regions within Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa. 
This article was first published on December 21, 2018: additional information on the project consortia has been added on February 20, 2019.  »

The call for proposals for a PPP and Research Uptake expert, within the NL–CGIAR partnership, has been reopened with an adjustment concerning the engagement of the candidate: the minimum size is now set at 60 per cent, though still with a preference for a fulltime engagement. The new deadline to submit a proposal is November 7, 2018. »

A call for a PPP and Research Uptake expert within the framework of the Netherlands – CGIAR partnership has been launched. The Dutch government considers Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Research Uptake to be crucial in achieving the SDGs. The expert is therefore intended to increase the role of the private sector (for-profit and not-for-profit) in CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) and Platforms. Deadline to apply for this position is October 18, 2018. »

Seven proposals are awarded under the Senior Expert Programme within the framework of the NL–CGIAR strategic partnership. The seven senior researchers, affiliated with Dutch research institutions, will receive extra funding to spend more time on research and research management in large CGIAR programmes and platforms. »

Increasing the contribution of agriculture to nutrition and health, creating and implementing policy frameworks for sustainable agro-value chains and developing tools for climate smart agriculture are key achievements of CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs). This work receives support from the Netherlands, as part of the NL-CGIAR Strategic Partnership. After 2.5 years of the partnership agreement, a planning and evaluation meeting with 35 participants and a Meet & Greet with additional ministry invitees, took place on June 21, 2018 in The Hague. »

Within the framework of the Netherlands – CGIAR partnership, a call for Senior Expert Candidates has been launched. Senior experts employed by Dutch research organizations and involved in CGIAR research or management, are offered a chance to spend (more) time on their CGIAR activities, since they will be able to apply for a grant that enables them to cover part of their personnel costs. Deadline for the first assessment round is July 5, 2018. »

The Netherlands-CGIAR partnership has launched a  Call for research proposals which generate insights that contribute to improving “seed” systems in Asia and Sub-Sahara Africa. Applications for pre-proposals can be submitted until April 12, 2018. The deadline for full proposals will be August 30, 2018. »

In October, a consultation meeting will be organized to advise and inform an upcoming research call “Enabling and Scaling Genetic Improvement and Propagation Materials” in the context of the NL-CGIAR strategic partnership. »

The Government of the Netherlands confirmed the new multi-year Netherlands-CGIAR strategic partnership to strengthen collaboration in agri-food system research for development. This partnership program has been prepared with stakeholders from the Netherlands and the CGIAR System Organization. »

Today, on International Women’s Day, the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research is publicly launched. It aims to increase the visibility, impact and knowledge sharing of gender research undertaken across the CGIAR. »

NWO-WOTRO has launched the fourth call for proposals for the Food & Business Global Challenges Programme on Scaling Climate Smart Agriculture. GCP aims to generate research-based advanced understanding of 1) emerging key issues in food security and their impact on regional and local food security and 2) the role of private sector development. »

The strategic partnership between the CGIAR and the Netherlands is taking shape. On June 2, 2016 a stock meeting was organized to discuss the progress with the development of the NL-CGIAR Portfolio. Participants from knowledge institutions, government, private sector, civil society and CGIAR CRPs were present at the meeting to discuss the progress. »

In the designing phase of the next generation of CGIAR Research Programs a public-private sector event “Linking Public Goods with Private Interests to Scale Up Agricultural Innovations and Impact” was held in The Hague on September 21, 2015. »

The Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR Consortium) is developing new research programs for the period 2017-2022 and seeks to work more closely with the private sector in its new strategy. CGIAR has already good examples of cooperation and success, but there is more potential. Together with Dutch co-organizers, a CGIAR Public-Private Sector event »

Monday September 21, 2015, eighty international and Dutch participants shared best practices on the collaboration between public and private sector in research partnerships, discussed the role and position of partners, and explored opportunities for the development of the new CGIAR research programs. »

A working group convened by F&BKP on behalf of the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Foreign Affairs is presently exploring how a strategic partnership between the CGIAR and the Netherlands, both through its financial support and collaboration with Dutch knowledge providers, can be developed with the aim to significantly contribute to the sustainable development goals. »

On April 24, 2015, the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs organized a meeting to inform and consult stakeholders on a draft framework for a NL-CGIAR strategic partnership. Presentations included the initial priority knowledge domains and instruments which could form the backbone of the partnership. »

The Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs have started a project that aims to strengthen the synergy between the innovative work of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Dutch knowledge providers including knowledge institutes, the private sector and civil society, for the benefit of working towards a food-secure world. »