Report of the Twelfth Meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee

Report of the twelfth meeting of the CGIAR Finance Committee, held in Washington, DC on October 25 and 29, 1997 during International Centers Week. The Chairman, Michel Petit, presented the results of the meeting to the CGIAR at ICW97. The written version was circulated later, with the slides used in the presentation attached.The Committee reviewed the estimated outcome for 1997, and noted that 14 centers were closer to their funding targets than at MTM97. ILRI remained seriously underfunded, ICLARM and ISNAR faced small shortfalls, while ICRISAT and IRRI had carried out major staff reductions. All commodities except livestock and fish were funded at their research agenda targets. The Committee expressed serious concerns about slow disbursement by donors, only 46% through the third quarter, which had significant costs to centers. It noted a continued decline in the proportion of unrestricted funds.The CGIAR Secretariat reported the prospects for 1998 funding, and the TAC Chairman offered comments. The Finance Committee recommended that donors make a special effort to cover shortfalls in livestock and water research. It heard appeals for special funding from ICRISAT, ILRI, ICARDA, IIMI, IITA and WARDA. It decided on immediate action to help ICRISAT and ILRI, and requested full proposals from ICARDA and IIMI for TAC review. It allocated the World Bank contribution for the year, with $30 million of the $45 million total used to match grants from other donors.The Finance Committee and the Oversight Committee met jointly with the Chairman of the Third System Review. The Finance Committee also considered funding for Central Asia and collaboration with the private sector