The presentation was designed to raise key issues around NGO participation in decision-making
processes for ARD. The presentation points out key milestones and challenges of NGO involvement.
The overall purpose is to provide information upon which NGO participants in GFAR 2003 can base
their decisions on the direction and extent of engagement with GFAR.
Furthermore, while in Manila (CGIAR AGM October 2002), NGO were offered the vice chair
position in GFAR but declined pending a ¿constituency awareness ¿ and consultations. NGOs
promised to give an answer by GFAR 2003. These consultations did not take place. This presentation
therefore captures my own reflections and thoughts to NGO engagement with CGIAR as example and
ARD at large.
The presentation is structured around a few fundamental questions. It is my sincere belief that lessons
drawn from this reflection will enrich the discussion and strategies for NGO engagement in ARD and
GFAR in particular.
Key questions:
1. Why was the NGOC established? Purpose
2. Is this purpose still relevant today? Relevance
3. How was the evolution and practice of the NGOC-CGIAR partnership? Implementation and
implications.
4. What lessons do we draw from this for GFAR partnership with NGOs?
5. The future?