International Agriculture Research CGIAR– Core contribution 2017-2019

CGIAR is a global research partnership established in 1971 with support of FAO and the WB. CGIAR dedicated to advancing agri-food science and innovation contributing to the global efforts to tackle poverty hunger and major nutrition imbalances, and environmental degradation. It is the only worldwide agricultural research partnership that binds a consortium of 15 international research centres, their partners (including national and re­gional research institutes, civil society organiza­tions, academia and the private sector) and donors. No other insitution has the capacity in terms of people, partners, infrastructure and a presence on the ground in over 60 countries to work on breakthrough discovery research all the way to integrated delivery to million of smallholder farmers. 

Research is framed by a strategy and results framework, implemented 14 global thematic programs (CGIAR Research Programs – CRP) and financed by the CGIAR Fund and/or bilateral grants given directly to research centres. Funders include governments of both developing and industrialized countries, foundations, and international and region­al organizations.
The CGIAR Consortium of Centres has its office in Montpellier, France, is managed by the System Management Board and kept under review by the System Council, representing the donors.

CGIAR is one of the 14 multilateral priority organizations of Switzerland in the Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2019.

The mandate of the CGIAR is directly in line with four out of five global themes mentioned in the Federal dispatch (Botschaft) 2017-2019: Food Security and Nutrition, Climate Change, Water and Health.

The CGIAR is a key global partner for SDC's support to international agricultural research for development, particularly under the thematic priority ‘’agricultural innovation systems’’ as defined in the GPFS strategy 2017-2020 (in elaboration).

This multilateral commitment complements and strengthens SDC’s engagement in 1) agricultural research and innovations systems for smallholder farmers at country and regional levels, and 2) investments to multilateral agencies IFAD, WFP and FAO, all of them beneficiaries and users of research evidence and capacity provided by the CGIAR.

In all three CGIAR system level outcomes, i.e. increased food security; improved nutrition & health; and sustainable management of natural resources, major scientific progress has taken place, which led to large up- and out-scaling initiatives supporting National research and innovation systems and smallholder farmers with concrete new opportunities. For example farmers in Southeast Asia have harvested an additional $1.46 billion worth of rice each year from improved varieties,. Drought –tolerant maize has increased yields by 20-30%, boosting harvests and benefiting 43 million people across Africa.

According to an independent evaluation, investing in CGIAR provides excellent value for money. Every dollar invested in CGIAR yields up to $17 worth of benefits for smallholder farmers in developing countries.

A new SRF 2016-2030, aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was approved in May 2015 and is guiding the elaboration of the 2^nd generation consolidated research programs in 2016. Donors (incl. Switzerland) and Research Centres were strongly involved in the elaboration of the new performance and results framework, which is the backbone of the new SRF.

During the last years, Switzerland took a decisive role in the reform process which led to the new governance system. The concentration of numerous projects in CRPs, the proposed structures with two separate bodies as well the setup of the new fund council are Swiss proposals which have been unanimously adopted.

A new Gender strategy for the CGIAR system was elaborated, and all CRP extension proposals explicated their respective Gender work. Annual reporting on Intellectual Property (IP) by the Fund Council IP independent group is now well established and remains highly relevant.

The CGIAR 2^nd comprehensive Strategy and Results Framework (SRF 2016-2030), foresees that the action of CGIAR and its partners will result by 2022 in:

• 30 million fewer hungry people
• 100 million more farm households which have adopted improved varieties, breeds of trees and /or improved management practices
• Improved the rate of  yield increase for major food staples from currently below 1% to 1.2 to 1.4%/
• 30 million fewer poor people – at least 50% of whom are women,
• 55 million ha less degraded land.

As now a new governance structure, a solid Results framework as well as a new generation of programmes (CRPs) are in place, SDC will focus on 3 main issues :

• monitoring the effective and efficient delivery of development results and spread a selected subset in SDC and relevant Swiss organisations.
• handing out strategic results contributing to Swiss and international policy discussion
• Working in collaboration with European donors for guiding strategic, governance, social and ethical orientation of international research.

10 

Total of 64  donors, of which major donor countries in ranking order are:
USA, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Norway,  Mexico, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, India, Japan, Ireland, Finland

Foundations/ Int. Org. in ranking order: WB, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, EC, AfDB, IFAD

Switzerland is an active member of the European Initiative for Agriculture Research for Development (EIARD), which includes EU Member countries, EC, Norway and Switzerland), a mechanism that allows for a coordinated European voice at the System council

Switzerland holds one of the 15 donor seats of the System Council.

Phase 8 01.01.2017 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)