13 March 2025. GFAiR, innovating and operationalising agile impact partnership at scale
- Ravi Khetarpal, Executive Secretary of APAARI (Presentation)
"The Global NARS Consortium (GNC) aims to transform agricultural research by shifting National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) from passive implementers to active leaders, bridging the gap between research and real-world impact through strategic partnerships, sustainable investments, and a demand-driven agenda." - Manish Rai, Head of Operations of APAARI
"The Call to Action for the Global NARS Consortium (GNC) urges stakeholders to commit to strengthening NARS' leadership in agricultural research through strategic collaboration, resource mobilization, capacity building, and policy advocacy to drive impactful, evidence-based solutions for global agrifood challenges." - Leonard Mizzi, Head of unit « Sustainable agri-food systems & fisheries » in the Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission
He called for concrete action backed by evidence, moving beyond assessments and discussions to demonstrable impact on the ground. He underlined the importance of scalability, ensuring that initiatives deliver tangible results rather than remaining in the realm of process-driven dialogue. - Katja Vuori, Chief Executive officer at AgriCord
- Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director and Head of Mission of FARA
- Romano De Vivo, Vice Chair GFAiR – The Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation
"The Global NARS Consortium (GNC) is a transformative initiative empowering NARS to lead agricultural research through strategic collaboration, sustainable funding, private sector engagement, and a commitment to action, with its official launch set for CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi." - Patrick Caron, Vice-chair of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership board member, President of Agropolis International
GFAiR's take away:
However, research projects cannot scale if they are not embedded in strong (national) (research) institutes and farmers' organisations. Only strong research institutions can create incubators and connect with accelerators and venture capital to bring research outputs to scale in a market environment. Only strong farmers' organisations can translate development problems in farmer led research and afford scientific expertise.
The CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) is funded by donor governments, multilateral organisations and philanthropic foundations. Rather than focussing on its centres of excellence, it could – and should – do more to boost national research systems in developing countries by involving national actors in its research programmes. Capacity building initiatives are often limited to individuals, instead of strengthening institutional capacities. The (dist-)attraction of national researchers out of the national system due to better working and salary conditions, erodes the institutional strength and authority of NARS as well as ownership of the research agenda or alignment to national development and research priorities.
In the current volatile funding landscape, a fundamental rethinking is needed to rediscover the benefits of core funding to national organisations above the never ending proliferation of short-term pilot projects and more fragmentation.
Drastic budget cuts will dominate the discussions during the “Science Week” of the CGIAR in Nairobi from 7 to 12 April, as 10,000 jobs are at risk.
It may dilute the urgency of rethinking the overall agricultural research funding to strengthen national agricultural research and farmers' led research and innovation which is best positioned to bring research to scale, connect with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), pitch bankable research to local finance actors and investors and influence national policy making and priorities.