The CGIAR: What future for international agricultural research?

This Briefing Paper reviews the history and structure of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), explains the nature of the crisis it faces, and describes some of the options for its future. The paper concludes that, although the CGIAR has played a key role in agricultural development during its first two decades, it now finds itself in a crisis of direction and support. In the face of these problems, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), supported by the three co-sponsors, has set about redefining CGIAR priorities and organisation. The CGIAR chairman has provided new ideas for funding, issuing the challenge that the 'research agenda should drive the budget, not the other way around'.