ICARDA Caravan 18/19

AGM03: Designing Agricultural Research Strategies in a Changing World

Centers' Forum co-chaired by Dr J. de Hass (second from right), from Germany, and Dr F. Moore (third from right) from USA. Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy (second from left), ICARDA DG and CDC Chair, and Dr Kanayo Nawanze (left) WARDA DG and in-coming CDC Chair (from January 2004), made presentations.

The 2003 Annual General Meeting (AGM03) of the CGIAR was held in Nairobi, Kenya, 29-30 October 2003. H.E. Mr Moody Awori, Vice-President, Republic of Kenya, inaugurated the meeting.

In his statement, the CGIAR Chair, Mr Ian Johnson, said that the Kenya-CGIAR partnership is a strong and enduring example of the benefits of mobilizing science for achieving balanced development in Africa.

Following the inaugural session, Prof. El-Beltagy, in his capacity as Chair of the Center Directors Committee (CDC), made a comprehensive presentation on “CGIAR Contributions to Meeting the Millennium Development Goals.” He summarized the contributions made by the CGIAR centers to meeting the millennium goals in (i) natural resource management, (ii) information technology, and (iii) rebuilding agriculture after conflicts/natural disasters.

On Members' Day, Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, ICARDA DG, made a presentation on "Combating Water Poverty."

October 27 was designated as CGIAR Members’ Day, and devoted to bilateral and multi-center meetings and discussions among CGIAR members and centers in the lead up to the opening of the AGM03.

The centers made presentations on specific topics, and the members chose to attend those of their interest. The ICARDA presentation on “Combating Water Poverty,” jointly made by Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy and Dr William Erskine, ADG (Research), was chaired by Dr Margaret Catley-Carlson. A large number of CGIAR members were present.

The presentation generated much interest in the donor community and figured in the discussions that followed with various donor representatives.