Meeting register
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Meetings held in 2024
| Purpose | Date(s)/location | Content |
| Discuss and agree on final elements of the formal statement for the 21st CGIAR System Council Meeting | 9 December Berlin |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement, which included points related to key sessions of the System Council meeting. These covered the CGIAR Research and Innovation Portfolio, the proposed merger of the Genebanks and the Breeding for Tomorrow Science Program, an update on the implementation of the Integrated Partnership Risk and Oversight Plan, and the 2025 Window 1 & 2 budget. |
| Prepare for the 21st CGIAR System Council Meeting | 6 December virtual |
IARD members discussed their views and potential messages, identifying key elements for inclusion in the formal EIARD statement for the 21st System Council meeting. They also addressed two key issues related to the implementation of the 2025-2030 Portfolio: (i) the results of the ISDC review of the Portfolio and its proposed inception phase planned for the first half of 2025, and (ii) concerns about the proposed merger of the Genebanks and Breeding for Tomorrow Science Program. |
| Discuss EIARD positions on the Provisional Agenda for SC21 and on latest version of Risk and Oversight Plan | 19 November virtual |
The EIARD members discussed the Provisional Agenda for System Council 21 and agreed on a consolidated response to be submitted to the System Council Secretariat. While the agenda was generally deemed appropriate, members felt that certain important items might require additional time for further discussion in open or closed sessions. They also discussed the latest version of the Risk and Oversight Governance Plan, potential funding indications for 2025 (if available), and the SIMEC request regarding EIARD membership on the committee. |
| Discuss CGIAR’s Technical Reporting Arrangement with the Head of the Portfolio Performance Unit (PPU) | 8 November virtual |
Julien Colomer, Head of PPU, presented an update on the 2024 Technical Reporting and outlined the planned Technical Reporting Arrangements for 2025–2030. The subsequent discussion emphasized the need for a concise summary of CGIAR's 2022–2025 impacts to assist small donors in making informed funding decisions for 2025. Additionally, an executive summary table with key metrics was identified as essential. For W3/bilateral projects, the focus is on achieving a minimal level of alignment while remaining pragmatic about feasibility. The PPU is committed to ensuring transparency regarding the content and scope of the reporting. |
| Discuss the CGIAR Risk and Oversight Plan Update and the new Portfolio Design. | 11 October virtual |
The EIARD members discussed the update of the CGIAR Risk and Oversight Plan and agreed that progress appeared to be on the right track, though formal feedback from the AOC would be essential for their funding decisions. While the portfolio proposals were acknowledged for containing valuable information, an executive summary highlighting the most critical details would greatly assist funders in making informed decisions. |
| Discuss key points arising from bilateral meetings with all EIARD members | 6 Sept virtual |
The meeting included a presentation on the key points from the bilateral meetings, which aimed to understand the various positions and implications regarding the status of the Risk and Oversight Governance Plan. This was followed by a discussion on the converging views about the plan and other important CGIAR-related topics, such as the Trust Fund, research outcomes, and communication between the System Council and the System Office. |
| Exchange on recent development and discussions around CGIAR governance structure. | 17 July virtual |
EIARD members discussed several important topics, including concerns about governance mechanisms within the CGIAR. Other discussion points included the proposed draft amendments to the CGIAR System Framework and Charter resulting from the third consultation round. |
| Discuss and agree on final elements of the formal statement for the 20th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 10 June Brasilia |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement, which comprised elements on various important SC meeting sessions including the CGIAR Research and Innovation Portfolio, update on the implementation of the Integrated Governance Arrangements, and the proposal by the Financial Model Reference Group. |
| Prepare for the 20th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 31 May & 6 June virtual |
EIARD members discussed their views and potential messages, leading to the identification of key elements for inclusion in the formal EIARD statement for the 20th System Council meeting. They also addressed various issues, including the proposed 2025-2030 portfolio, concerns about the merger of the Sustainable Farming and Multifunctional Landscapes Mega Programs, funding modalities, the role of CIFOR-ICRAF in proposal writing teams, and logistics for the System Council meeting. |
| Share information from bilateral meetings held with CGIAR); prepare for System Council #20 and other key meetings | 20 March virtual |
Various EIARD members reported on the bilateral meetings with the new CGIAR Executive Managing Director or her Deputy. The EIARD members also discuss the planning for the 20th CGIAR System Council meeting and various other upcoming key meetings such as the AU Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in May and the CGIAR Science Week in July. Members also received a summary of the key outcomes of the SIMEC meeting that was held earlier in March. |
| Discuss the 2025-2027 Portfolio Consultation Document and agree on elements for consolidated feedback | 11 January virtual |
The EIARD members discussed the proposed 2025-2027 Portfolio that comprises, among other, fewer but larger initiatives, a separate investment line for research and innovation assets, and updates to the regional integrated initiatives and impact platforms. The members agreed on various elements to be included in a consolidated EIARD contribution, which was in addition to individual feedback that was given by various EIARD members. |
Meetings held in 2023
| Purpose | Date(s)/location | Content |
| Prepare for ad-hoc System Council meeting and discuss various other materials shared with SC secretariat | 15 December virtual |
EIARD members met in preparation of the ad-hoc SC meeting of 20 December on the Memorandum on the implementation of the governance recommendations. Their discussion included the content of the AOC Advisory Note. The EIARD members agreed on the elements of a consolidated EIARD commentary for the SC call. The members also discussed the 2024 Window 1 Budget and Three-year Financial Plan updates that were shared by the System Office. |
| Discuss and agree on final elements of the formal statement for the 19th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 17 & 18 October Rabat |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement, which comprised elements on various important SC meeting sessions including the proposed portfolio design process; 2024 Financial Plan; funding modalities including funding the Genebanks, finance & resource mobilization; gender in CGIAR research and workplaces; capacity sharing; partner engagement; and review and evaluation services. |
| Prepare for the 19th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 9 & 13 October virtual |
EIARD members discussed the upcoming Unified Governance Review workshop, pre-meeting between System Board and System Council, Funders meeting, and the System Council meeting – all taking place in Rabat, Morocco. The discussions covered a broad area of topics, including the Trust Fund, portfolio design, System Board – System Council relations, rebranding, SC voting seat reconciliation, and funding modalities. |
| Discuss agenda priorities for the 19th CGIAR System Council meeting and other CGIAR developments | 5 July virtual |
EIARD members first discussed the upcoming ad-hoc meeting of the CGIAR System Council on SC composition to share their views and expectations of the meeting. The members also discussed the planning for the 19th SC meeting that will take place in Rabat in mid-October and a few other CGIAR-related issues such as the funding modality reference group, the upcoming unified governance review, and briefed each other on official visits (taken place or planned) of the SB Chair to various EIARD members. |
| Discuss and agree on final elements of the formal statement for the 18th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 10 & 11 May Washington, DC |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement. The statement supported the dynamics developed towards improved unified governance, trust and relations between all members and reaching out to all parties. The statement also provided the members’ collective positions on most of the SC Agenda items. |
| Prepare for the 18th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 26 April /& 3 May virtual |
EIARD members held discussions around their views and potential messages resulted in various key elements for consideration in the formal EIARD statement for the 18th System Council meeting. Members also discussed various issues including the recommendations of the High-level Advisory Panel, Capacity Sharing function, search for a new Executive Managing Director, gender in the CGIAR, and the upcoming unified governance review. |
| Discuss agenda priorities and planning the 18th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 29 March virtual |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the key topics that they would like to see included in the agenda for the 18th CGIAR System Council meeting on 11-12 May and the side events on 10 May. These preferred key topics were shared with the System Council Secretariat in order to provide input in their preparation of the meeting agenda. The members also discussed the planning for the System Council meeting and agreed on the dates of various pre-SCM meetings to be held during the late April and early May. Finally, the EIARD Secretariat announced the new EIARD Dialogue Series. The first Dialogue is scheduled with icipe for mid-April. |
Meetings held in 2022
| Purpose | Date(s)/location | Content |
| End-of-the-Year meeting | 9 December virtual |
EIARD members discussed and reflected on the outcomes of the 17th CGIAR System Council meeting. This included a stock-taking of various important ongoing matters such as i) importance of a signed Integrated Framework Agreement (IFA); ii) operationalization of the integrated matrix structure; iii) further implementation of a coherent research portfolio of global and regional initiatives; iv) clarifications on System Board – System Council relations; v) development of the Capacity Sharing initiative and vi) enhancing knowledge on progress of initiatives through scientific and/or advisory panels. |
| Discuss and agree on final elements of the formal statement for the 17th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 31 October Brisbane |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement. The statement addressed the continued full commitment of the EIARD members to the reform process, the importance of the Integrated Framework Agreement, and communications within System Council as well as between System Council and the System Board. |
| Prepare for the 17th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 20 & 24 October virtual |
EIARD members held discussions around their views and potential messages resulted in various key elements for consideration in the formal EIARD statement for the 17th System Council meeting. Members reviewed and provided comments on the agenda items proposed but also on the agenda setting process currently in place. They also discussed various issues around engagement modalities, unified governance structure, newly proposed W3 funding modality, and next year’s FinPlan. |
| Prepare for the 17th CGIAR Science Council Meeting and other CGIAR-related developments | 14 September Prague |
EIARD members discussed the planning for the 17th CGIAR System Council meeting, which will be held in Brisbane during the first week of November and agreed on dates of various pre-SC meetings to be held during the second half of October. They also discussed developments related to the recent revisions in the CGIAR governance structure, including the advisory bodies currently in the system. |
| Advance coordination of ARD funding among EIARD members | 13 September Prague |
The aim of the one-day meeting was to advance discussions on how EIARD members could pursue more coordinated efforts in funding ARD areas that were identified as those having a strong common interest: i) capacity strengthening/sharing; ii) gender/inclusiveness; and iii) agroecology/nature-based solutions. The findings of the first set of short assessments of EIARD member country’s current ARD portfolios were presented to provide important inputs into the discussions. These discussions focused on how to further enhance more harmonized actions to complement EIARD support to the CGIAR, but also gave room to share experiences on the three topics and initiate discussions on how more coordinated actions with other (international and national) actors could be initiated or enhanced. |
| Discuss various CGIAR-related issues with members of the CGIAR Senior Leadership Team | 18 July virtual |
EIARD members met with members of the CGIAR Senior Leadership Team ahead of the 16th System Council Meeting. Various governance issues were discussed including the new operational matrix structure, the roles of the System Council and the System Board, and a further expansion of the research portfolio. Reflections on gender-related issues in the research portfolio and recruitment processes were also addressed. No formal EIARD statement was prepared for this System Council meeting due to many EIARD members being on their summer vacation. |
| Discuss CGIAR's Engagement Framework with CGIAR Global Director, Partnerships and Advocacy to present and | 16 May virtual |
Juan Lucas Restrepo and his team presented the CGIAR's Engagement Framework and their thoughts on Capacity Sharing for Development. The following discussion highlighted the importance of partnerships with national agricultural research and innovation system (NARIS) organizations and related regional networks and how the CGIAR and funders can work more closely together in capacity strengthening/sharing around these key partnerships. |
| Discuss and agree on final elements of the formal statement for the 15th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 8 March Montpellier |
EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement. The statement addresses the status of the institutional reform process, increased financial support by EIARD members to the One CGIAR process, the development of a standard common reporting framework, and the updated CGIAR Evaluation Framework and Policy. |
| Prepare for the 15th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 4 March virtual |
EIARD members held discussions around their views and potential messages resulted in various key elements for consideration in the formal EIARD statement for the 15th System Council meeting. |
| General meeting | 10 February virtual |
EIARD members discussed various CGIAR-related topics such as indicative funding allocations to the CGIAR portfolio by members for 2022 (and when available 2023 and 2024) and preparations for 15th System Council Meeting. They also discussed various items of the proposed 2022 workplan, including ideas on how to expand EIARD’s scope of activities on ARD areas that are of mutual interest. |
Meetings held in December 2021
| Purpose | Date(s)/location | Content |
| Discuss status of reform with the CGIAR Executive Management Team and agree on final elements of statement for the 14th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 13 December virtual |
Elwyn Grainger-Jones and Claudia Sadoff of the CGIAR Executive Management Team joined the meeting for the first half hour to update EIARD members on various operational and management developments around the One CGIAR reform process. Thereafter, EIARD members discussed and agreed on the final elements of the formal EIARD statement. The statement addresses progress made on the development of the research portfolio, ISDC’s review of the Companion Document to the 2022-2024 Research Prospectus and 19 Initiative proposals, CGIAR’s comparative advantage in an innovation trajectory as outlined in the Innovation Brief, and the content of the draft 2022 Financial Plan. |
| Discuss and prepare draft key elements of statement for the 14th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 9 December virtual |
EIARD members held discussions around their views and potential messages resulted in various key elements for consideration in the formal EIARD statement for the 14th System Council meeting. |
| Prepare for the 14th CGIAR System Council Meeting | 6 December virtual |
EIARD members discussed the collaboration with the United Kingdom and engagement within the EIARD group. They also expressed interest to expand EIARD’s focus beyond CGIAR activities and explore further discussions on topics that are of mutual interest. |