The Executive Council (ExCo) was a subsidiary body of the Consultative Group between 2001 and 2009. Its functions were to:

• act on behalf of the Group between AGMs on matters delegated to it by the Group, and carry out the functions specified in its Rules of Procedure as set out in the Annex to the Charter;
• facilitate the Group's decision making by reviewing major policy issues and submitting recommendations for consideration by the CGIAR;
• provide oversight during implementation of the Group's decisions;
• review and extend or curtail, as appropriate, the terms of CGIAR committees;
• periodically consider ways in which the CGIAR could improve its dialogue with civil society organizations and the private sector;
• report regularly to the Group, using electronic and other means;
• assign specific tasks and responsibilities to the Secretariat;
• establish ad hoc committees, study groups, or task forces to assist the council in carrying out its functions by reviewing and reporting on specific issues within a stated time frame.

The ExCo was a committee of shareholders, expanded to include stakeholders, incorporating perspectives from all components of the CGIAR System. The CGIAR Chair served as ExCo Chair, and a Co-Chair was elected by ExCo for each of its meetings.

The ExCo consisted of (a) non-rotating members (CGIAR Chair, Cosponsors hosting a CGIAR System governance unit, the Chairs of AB, AE, Science Council, and GFAR), and (b) rotating members representing geographic and functional constituencies. Each rotating ExCo member served for a period of two consecutive years, supported by an alternate member. Each rotating member and alternate were identified by the constituency concerned.

The CGIAR established a 21-member Executive Council at AGM2001 to act on behalf of the Group on matters delegated to it by the Group. The Council facilitated decision-making by the Group, provided oversight during the implementation of the the Group's decisions, and ensured continuity between annual general meetings.

The Executive Council, with the CGIAR Director as its Executive Secretary, was a committee of stakeholders, incorporating perspectives from all components of the CGIAR. It was made up of non-rotating and rotating members and set up subcommittees (such as programs and finance) to facilitate its work.

The work of the Executive Council - brief, face-to-face meetings, or virtual communication based on "new age" modes -- lead to clarity, focus and speed in decision-making. It resulted in a cost-effective re-organization of the CGIAR System's workload.