CGIAR Mid Term Meeting, Paris, May 21-23, 1991: Summary of Proceedings and Decisions

Summary report of the mid term meeting of the CGIAR held in Paris, May 21-23, 1991, Wilfried P. Thalwitz presiding. The CGIAR Executive Secretary reported that pursuant to the decision to expand the CGIAR, IIMI and INIBAP were now in the system; ICRAF and ICLARM had agreed to join, subject to conditions specified by the Group. Mr. Thalwitz reported that he had made some progress on his China visit, but the situation of AVRDC could not be resolved yet. McCalla said an agreement between INIBAP and IITA was awaiting approval by the former's Executive Committee.The TAC Chair introduced a paper defining an ecoregional approach to research, and CIAT presented its program in that framework. The Group gave broad endorsement to TAC's approach, but preferred a step by step process. After lengthy discussion, some in executive session, the Group acted contrary to TAC's recommendation for a single forestry institution. It decided that ICRAF should be the anchor for agroforestry, and a new service the anchor for forestry research. ACIAR was named implementing agency.The Group considered a TAC report on experience with external reviews of IARCs, and options for modifying the system. The Group accepted the merging of management and program reviews, but did decide whether the interval between reviews should be seven years, as TAC proposed, or remain five years. Recommendations in external reviews of IBPGR, IFPRI and ICRISAT were endorsed. A wide range of opinions were expressed about the CGIAR-NARS relationships, in response to a TAC paper. There was agreement that the relationship needed to be strengthened, but on a case by case basis. TAC would take the discussion into account in its priorities and strategies paper. BIOTASK reported on its meeting, and the CGIAR Executive Secretary on preparations for CGIAR participation in UNCED.Annexes: agenda and list of participants