THE EUROPEAN INITIATIVE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (EIARD) 

INTRODUCTION

It is difficult to envisage sustainable development in countries still dependent on agriculture for much of their food, 
employment and exports, without appropriate agricultural research for development (ARD).  ARD includes research 
into crops, livestock, trees, fish and the management of natural resources.

The proposal for a European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) was submitted by the European 
Commission to the Science Council in 1995, and recognised by the European Parliament and Council in 1997 
(COM (97) 126).

EIARD's purpose is to enhance the appropriateness and effectiveness of European investments in ARD at national, 
regional and international levels both in Europe and developing countries.  To achieve this purpose, EIARD has four 
broad objectives:

Coordinated European positions on ARD (including that undertaken by national agricultural research systems (NARS), 
    regional and subregional research organisations (RO/SROs), and international research organisations), and coherent 
    positions and synergies between research, development, and other relevant policies;
Effective ARD partnerships within Europe, and between European and other partners;
Effective ARD collaboration between Southern organisations;
Sustainable institutional development of NARS.  

These objectives are in full compliance with articles 130 (g) and (h) for Research, and 130 (u) and (v) for Development 
Cooperation, of the Treaty of the European Union; and give Europe a more proactive role and greater recogni_tion on 
international ARD matters.    

In all activities to deliver the above objectives, EIARD promotes five guiding principles, namely partnerships with equality 
and mutual respect between collaborators from the north and south; needs-driven ARD defined by southern partners; 
subsidiarity whereby activities are planned and implemented at the lowest level where they can be effectively undertaken; 
differentiation requiring that the actions and initiatives of EIARD members take account of the social, economic and cultural 
conditions in partner countries, and their research capacity; and participation of all the stakeholders necessary to make the 
research relevant for its end-users.

EIARD members are the twenty seven Member States of the European Union, plus Norway, Switzerland and the European 
Commission (DG RTD, DG DEV, DG AIDCO).  Each member has a National EIARD Network, consisting of ARD policy makers 
from the relevant Ministries and government departments, and their advisers.
Each National EIARD Network is coordinated by a National Contact Point.  The National Networks contain a total of about 160 
individuals.

EIARD is implemented by a European Coordination Group (ECG) consisting of representatives of the European Commis_sion 
(DG RTD, DG DEV, DG AIDCO), the fifteen Member States of the European Union, plus Norway and Switzerland.  The Members of 
the ECG are appointed by their respective governments and the European Commission.  The ECG is therefore accountable to both 
individual European Governments (through their representatives) and to the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, 
through the Commission.

A smaller Working Group (WG) ensures the continuing activities of EIARD, and operates as a "Steering Commit_tee".  It meets about 
four times a year, and is fully accountable to the ECG, which meets formally once a year.  The WG is assisted by ad hoc Task Forces, 
consisting of experts provided by members, who prepare draft positions on specific issues, for endorsement by the WG and eventually 
the ECG.  An EIARD Executive Secretary, is provided by one of the members (currently Paul Harding - on secondment from DFID, UK), 
and hosted by the European Commission (DG RTD, Unit 5) as an END. The Executive Secretary is responsible for the day-to-day 
management of the EIARD.

EIARD is therefore a permanent informal ARD policy coordination platform, which operates outside the normal EU "comitology" procedures.  
Its effectiveness is ensured through its country representatives and by the endorsement of its role by the European Council and 
Parliament.

RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

(i) Institutional level

InfoSys+, an ARD information management system for Europe;
As the largest grouping of donors to the CGIAR (45% of CGIAR budget), EIARD has strongly promoted the need for reform of the CGIAR system, 
  and contributed actively to the reform process through EIARD position papers and its representation  on all key governance bodies of the CGIAR. 
In particular, on-going structural and programmatic alignment in Africa;
the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR); 
The European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD)
European states' contributions to the Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT), 
  a $250 million fund to provide long-term sustainable support for important genetic resources collections; 
Endorsement of the ICRA's 2004 strategy

(ii) Policy level

The  "Strategy for EIARD 2005-2010" which provides a strategy to guide the ARD investments of EIARD members; 
The "Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) - Strategy Pointers (2000)" to guide the EC's financial support for the CGIAR;
"Implementing the Commission's Strategy for the CGIAR (2000)" to provide guidance on how to put the "Strategy Pointers" into effect;
The development and adoption of the 2005 & 2006 development policies and strategies on development and Africa.
The 2008 EC Guidelines on Agricultural Research for Development
The 2008 Information Note for EU Delegations on Agricultural Research for Development.

(iii) Programme level

Peer-reviewed article on M&E
contributions to the successful re-negotiation of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, 
  and the subsequent International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture;
Being instrumental in the adoption by the CGIAR of the Challenge Programme; and the two Regional MTPs in Africa.
Continuing to raise the awareness of decision-makers of the essential contributions of ARD to food security and poverty elimination, 
and maintaining the aggregate level of European support for ARD more or less constant over the last five years.
The design of the international dimension of the EC's 5th and 6th Framework Programme (FP5 & FP6).
Under FP6, promoting and facilitating :

    ERA-ARD (ERA-NET on ARD).
    
    A Strategic Alliance between FARA and EFARD (PAEPARD)

The development and adoption of the Food Security Thematic Programme (233 millions € for ARD for 2007-2010).

    
Brussels
September 2003