Implementing the New CGIAR

In December 2009, the CGIAR opened a new chapter in its 39-year history by adopting a new business model based on two years of consultations within and beyond the partnership.

Chronology of Key Actions in 2010

	January 12: Approval of the establishment of this new CGIAR Trust Fund The World Bank Board of Directors’ approval of the establishment of the CGIAR Fund
	February 5: Consortium Board announced Consortium Board is established with nine members including the chair and two vice-chairs. Click here for the announcement.
	February 23: Inaugural Fund Council Meeting, Brussels, Belgium 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. Click here for the list of meeting documents.
	March 1-3: Inaugural Consortium Board Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya Meeting for the first time, the Consortium Board addressed progress in developing the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Programs, options for the location of the Consortium Office and the process for recruiting the Consortium CEO. Click here for the meeting's Summary Report.
	March 28-31: First Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, Montpellier, France An estimated 1,000 participants gathered in Montpellier, including researchers, policymakers, farmers, donors, and members of civil society from every region of the world for the Global Conference that provided input into the Strategy and Results Framework development.
	April 1: Informal Donor Consultation, Montpellier, France The day following the Global Conference, the Consortium and donors convened for an informal consultation to determine how to take on board what was heard. The Consortium announced changes to the Mega Program thematic areas. The Consortium also decided to quickly develop Mega Programs – on a global rice partnership, climate change and possibly other topics - in time for possible approval by the Fund Council in July 2010. Minutes of Informal Donor Consultation.
	April 13: Workshop on Documents for Establishing the CGIAR Fund, Berlin, Germany The Workshop discussed the legal framework of the new CGIAR Fund, focusing on three documents central to the functioning and legal underpinnings of the CGIAR Fund. Minutes of Workshop.
	May 5: CGIAR Fund Teleconference on Donor Risk, Responsibility and Liability Minutes of teleconference.
	May 5: CGIAR Fund Teleconference on Intellectual Property Issues Minutes of teleconference.
	May 23-25: Second Consortium Board Meeting, Rome, Italy The Consortium Board will review the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Program in preparation for the Funders Forum and Fund Council meetings. Board Meeting Report
	July 14 and 16: Second Fund Council Meeting, Rome, Italy The Council considered one fast-tracked Mega Program, the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP). The GRiSP proposal was not submitted adequately in advance of the Fund Council meeting to allow for the Council to make a decision on the proposal. Nonetheless, the Council discussed the proposal and will take a decision on it at the Council’s next meeting in November 2010.
	July 15: Funders Forum, Rome, Italy The first Funders’ Forum had before it a draft Strategy and Results Framework developed by the Alliance of the CGIAR Centers and submitted to the Forum by the CGIAR Consortium Board. The Forum accepted the Strategy and Results Framework submitted by the Consortium Board as a work in progress, which will be revised under the Board’s leadership within the next six months and resubmitted to donors for final endorsement once it is ready.
	October 3-5: Third Consortium Board Meeting, Aleppo, Syria. Agenda topics included progress in the design and development of the new CGIAR research portfolio, with Consortium Board approval of two CGIAR Research Program proposals, announcement of new Consortium CEO and location of Consortium office. More details are available at the Change Blog.
	November 1-2: Third Fund Council Meeting, Washington, DC. Click here for more information on the meeting and its agenda.

Embracing Change
The Embracing Change newsletter issued by change leadership from across the CGIAR provides periodic updates on progress in implementing the reforms.

 
Background on the Change Initiative
The reform model approved in Maputo in 2008 provided a sketch of the new institutional structure for the CGIAR. Over the course of 2009, this sketch was further developed into concrete plans for how the new elements of the CGIAR will function independently and as a system to deliver agricultural research for development. This work resulted in a set of founding documents for the new CGIAR that were approved by the CGIAR in December 2009: the CGIAR Joint Declaration, the Consortium Constitution, the Framework for the CGIAR Fund, and the Monitoring & Evaluation Framework for the New CGIAR.