This paper presents the initiative that GFAR has been developing with NGOs and Farmer's Organisations (FOs) to strengthen their constituencies and to ensure their effective participation in regional and global Agricultural Research for Development (ARD). Its basic premise is that effective participation in ARD at any level requires more than simply providing a seat to a given constituency in a collegial decision-making body at the regional or global level- it requires both the strengthening of the stakeholder constituencies and the development of a multi-level system that can ensure a close interaction between the local/national, regional/sub-regional and global levels. The close and reciprocal interaction between these three levels is the foundation of the development of a Global ARD Agenda.
This initiative proposes a plan of action to strengthen civil society constituencies by improving communication within and between them as well as strengthening their participation at the national, regional and global levels by supporting workshops and establishing collaborative programmes. The activities of this proposal are open to all of civil society, including NGOs and FOs. The objective of this document is to mobilise support for this initiative and associated activities