ACTIVITIES

RESPONSIBILITIES

PROGRESS BY 31 DECEMBER 2002

Output 1: Coordinated European positions on ARD, including international organisations. Coherent positions and synergies developed between research and development policies and other relevant policies.

1.1 Review logframe.

1.2 Review EIARD membership and linkages.

1.3 Elaborate and implement EIARD Work Programme for 2002.

1.4 Explore options for financial support for EIARD Secretariat.

1.5 Improve mechanisms and information flows for better European coordination.

1.6 Continue to monitor and contribute to the CGIAR reform process.

1.7 Consult and harmonise European positions on CGIAR meetings and policies.

1.8 Consult and harmonise European positions on regional ARD organisations, meetings and policies.

1.9 Support the EC in the preparation of their CGIAR Financing Proposals for 2002 and 2003.

1.10 Improve the complementarity of EC and EIARD members' funding of the CGIAR.

1.11 Improve the sharing of monitoring reports between EIARD members.

1.12 Following the External Review, provide guidance to InfoSys Steering Committee regarding the future of InfoSys post July 2002.

1.13 Participate in the planning of the EC meeting on "Sustainable Agriculture World Wide: The Value of Modern Bioscience".

1.14 Review and update EIARD's Communication Strategy.

1.15 Elect new Chairman.

Secretary, WG, ECG

Secretary, WG, ECG

Chair, Secretary, WG, ECG

Secretary

Secretary, WG, ECG, InfoSys Steering Committee

ExCo and CG Committee Members, Secretary, WG, ECG

Chairman, WG, ECG

Chairman, WG, DG DEV, DG RES

EIARD Task Force

WG, ECG

Secretary, ECG

Secretary, WG

Secretary, WG

Secreterary, WG

Secretary, WG, ECG

Reviewed and redrafted 4 April 2002

Improved structure based on national EIARD networks proposed, endorsed, and being implemented. Candidate States to be invited to ECG 2003 as observers.

Done. Progress reviewed annually, but not at each WG meeting (to implement?).

Options explored and WG agreed that current arrangement represents the best option.

New phase of EARD-InfoSys+ offers several promising options. Exec Sec has been more proactive in seeking and forwarding information. ETFRN gave presentation at 8^th ECG.

Done effectively through EIARD members on ExCo, Finance and Programme Committees. Significant influence on at least one Challenge Programme.

Ad hoc ECG meeting organised prior to CGIAR AGM, and EIARD positions effectively presented by Chairman. EIARD positions established prior to ExCo meetings whenever possible. The year has seen more consultation and more EIARD positions on key issues.

As for 1.7 above, but fewer EIARD members involved in regional ARD issues.

EIARD Task Force reviewed procedures, "CGIAR Strategy Pointers" and "Implementing the Commission's Strategy for the CGIAR". Some changes agreed. Support provided to the EC in preparing 2002 and 2003 proposals.

Information flow improved. Challenge Programmes provide good opportunity to begin this process.

Some limited progress. EC about to commission monitoring visits to CG Centres via ECART, and reports will be shared with members. Belgium and Spain agreed to joint monitoring visits with EC. EARD-InfoSys+ will provide means of sharing reports.

External Review completed Feb 2002. Provided basis for proposal for new phase of EARD-InfoSys+ as FP5 Accompanying Measure, submitted in March. EC approved new two-year phase, beginning Oct 2002. New Manager recruited September 2002.

Greatly improved Work Packages and deliverables.

Exec Sec and other EIARD members on Steering Committee ensured that developing country perspectives were incorporated in this high-profile debate. Title changed to "Towards Sustainable Agriculture for Developing Countries - Options from Life Sciences and Biotechnologies". To be held in Brussels on 30-31 January 2003.

Brochures, posters, and webpage were not updated, although a start has been made by EARD-InfoSys+.

Dr Hans-Jochen de Haas (Germany) was elected as the new EIARD Chairman at the 8^th ECG meeting, held in Madrid on 14-15 October 2002.

Output 2: Effective ARD partnerships within Europe, and between Europe and other partners, exist.

2.1 Continue to contribute to the elaboration of the New Framework Programme's priorities, procedures and funding.

2.2 Participate in the planning and implementation of DG RES's bi-regional dialogue with the ACP countries.

2.3 Participate in the EC Conference "European Research at the Crossroads", at which the New Framework Programme will be launched, 11-13 November 2002.

2.4 Contribute to the planning of the Second European Forum on ARD, to be held in Rome 15-17 May, and participate in it.

2.5 Ensure that links are established between the European Forum on ARD, and the World Food Security Summit in Rome in July, and the WSSD in Johannesburg in September.

2.6 Provide appropriate contributions and support to GFAR and its regional and sub-regional organisations.

2.7 Encourage the participation of AARINENA and EFARD in the Food Safety Conference to be held in Egypt in late 2002.

WG, DG RES, EFARD Pilot Group.

Secretary, DG RES, DG DEV, AIDCO

Secretary, DG RES, ECG members

Secretary, WG, DG RES, ECG members

WG, ECG, DG DEV, DG RES

DG RES, DG DEV, WG, ECG

DG RES

Exec Sec and other members sat on the DG RTD Committee that finalised the INCODEV Work Programmes. Reported regularly to EIARD and EFARD Steering Committee.

Exec Sec is a member of the ACP-EC Task Force, which meets about every two weeks. A long-term Shared Vision on Research for Sustainable Development drafted; a medium-term Plan of Action drafted; and a short-term Programme on Science and Technology Innovations and Capacity Building in ACP Countries under preparation. A joint Forum on Research for Sustainable Development was held in Cape Town, 26-30 July 2002 (see Cape Town Declaration, Cape Town Plan of Action, and Cape Town Consensus), which provided the basis for the ACP presentation to the WSSD. Key documents to be submitted to the ACP-EU Joint Council meeting in May 2003 for endorsement. Research for sustainable development is back on the international agenda.

Exec Sec and several other members participated in the Conference. Efforts to hold an EIARD/EFARD/ECART side event were not successful.

Exec Sec is a member of the EFARD Steering Committee, and so contributed to the planning of the Forum, and the drafting of the Rome Declaration, which emphasised the importance of research to sustainable development. Many EIARD members participated in the Forum.

EIARD members participated in all three meetings. The European Forum on ARD produced the Rome Declaration. An EIARD Paper was accepted as a Background Paper for the EC delegation to the World Food Summit. The ACP-EU papers strongly influenced the ACP presentation to the WSSD. The essential contribution of science and technology to sustainable development is now moving up the international agenda.

EIARD members continued to provide moral support, funding and expertise. The Exec Sec and other members participated in selected meetings.

The Conference is being organised by France and Greece, with funds from DG Research. It has been rescheduled for January 2003.

Output 3: Effective ARD collaboration between Southern organisations exists.

3.1 Interact with the GFAR Secretariat, and the Secretariats of the RO/SROs, to improve their sustainability and effectiveness.

3.2 EIARD members to seek new funding opportunities for RO/SROs.

3.3 Continue to contribute to the World Bank paper "African Agricultural Research and Development - Increasing effectiveness and financial sustainability"

3.4 Support the development of impact strategies by the RO/SROs.

3.5 Collate information on the impact of ARD.

Secretary, DG RES, DG DEV, ECG

ECG

Secretary, DG RES, DG DEV, WG

EIARD Task Force, WG

EIARD Task Force, WG, Secretary, InfoSys

Wim van Vuure was elected as Vice-Chairman of GFAR; EIARD members sit on GFAR Steering Committee and Donors Group; several members fund GFAR activities and/or provide staff for the GFAR Secretariat. Several members provide similar support for certain RO/SROs. EIARD Task Force, led by the EC worked with FARA and the African SROs to design a standard competitive funding mechanism for agricultural research in Africa.

Several EIARD members have provided new support for RO/SROs.

EIARD Members continued to contribute to the paper, the final version of which is being considered by the World Bank.

EIARD Task Force has published and distributed its paper on Impact Assessment.

UK commissioned External Review of the impact of DFID supported ARD.

Output 4: Dialogue with policy makers on issues concerning sustainable institutional development in NARS established.

4.1 Document and promote successful approaches to sustainable institutional strengthening of NARS.

4.2 Encourage and facilitate effective partnerships between NARIs, NGOs, CBOs, Universities, and the private sector.

4.3 Facilitate the development and adoption of impact assessment strategies by NARS.

InfoSys, Secretary

DG RES, DG DEV, Secretary, WG, ECG

EIARD Task Force, WG, DG RES, DG DEV

For example, the UK has supported the NARS in Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bolivia, South Africa, Malawi, and India, and documented progress and impacts. The EC has continued to develop its bi-regional dialogues with developing regions, in order to facilitate the development of appropriate institutional architecture in support of sustainable strengthening of NARS. EARD-InfoSys+ will include a "Window on the NARS" to enable EIARD members to share information on their support for the NARS.

The FP6, launched in November 2002, aims to do just this, and to open-up the European Research Area to the rest of the world. It includes several new instruments to facilitate partnerships. EARD-InfoSys+ aims to improve ARD information flows in Europe and developing countries. EFARD has facilitated European ARD partnerships and consortia on 19 priority themes.

Nothing reported.