A step forward towards a strategic partnership between the Netherlands and the CGIAR

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. Forty-five participants from Dutch knowledge institutes, the private sector, civil society, government and representatives of the CGIAR Consortium discussed the added value of the proposed partnership and shared ideas as well as recommendations on the initial design. There was a high level of consensus and the conclusions of the meeting will contribute to the final framework.

The report of the meeting summarizes the two presentations which form the building blocks of the framework. Starting from the three main strategies of the Dutch Global Food Security Policy and the three Strategic Goals of the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework 2016-2030, Mrs. Coosje Hoogendoorn (senior advisor, KIT) presented, on behalf of the working group of both ministries, a proposal for four potential priority knowledge domains which will be well served by a number of cross-cutting themes and competences considered strong within Dutch Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D). Mrs. Patricia Wagenmakers (Agriculture and Nature Knowledge Department, MEA) presented the proposals for policy instruments and incentives to enhance the effectiveness of the NL-CGIAR partnership.

The plenary and panel discussion covered the motives for this partnership, the added value of Dutch AR4D, the priority knowledge domains and cross-cutting competences and the incentives which would be required to make the partnership effective.

Frank Rijsberman (CEO, CGIAR Consortium) confirmed again the interest of the CGIAR in this partnership and underlined that the time is right. Over summer, the call for pre-proposals for new CGIAR Research Programs will be launched and in August CGIAR centers with teams of strategic partners are likely to develop CRP pre-proposals.

The working group invites participants and others to respond to the report and send additional comments and ideas. The definite CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework 2016-2030 will be shared on this website, as soon as it is available. The final framework for the NL-CGIAR strategic partnership will be expected in June.

The working group for the project consists of:

• Wijnand van IJsel (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Corinne Abbas (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Patricia Wagenmakers (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
• Ineke Lemmen (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
• Frans Verberne (Director, F&BKP)
• Coosje Hoogendoorn (Consultant)

For more information, please contact Frans Verberne (frans.verberne@knowledge4food.net).