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What Happened at GCARD1 (2010)

The GCARD1 conference was informed by a comprehensive, systematic and inclusive global consultation process, which identified key themes and issues from all the stakeholders who are actively engaged in the whole agricultural system. The public sector, national and international policy makers, agricultural Institutions, agricultural research systems managers, leaders of farmer organizations and cooperatives, Non-Government Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Universities, Private Sector Enterprises in Agri-business and farming and investors, donors and philanthropic organizations all have a keen interest in taking forward the outputs of the conference.
 
The element involved in the GCARD1 were:
  1. Regional reviews through a synthesis of existing national and regional documents. These will produce a summary of the regional development contexts and the ways in which regional agricultural research priorities and their associated capacity needs fit within these in the current global context.  The outcome of these reviews will be used to frame questions for the e-consultations.
  2. The reform process of the CGIAR includes a review of global processes and assessments to frame the strategic operation of the international agricultural research centres. Consideration of the CGIAR Strategic Framework and impact-driven programs will be directly included in the consultation process as they evolve to ensure their focus, mutual accountability and relevance to national development needs.
  3. Electronic consultations and face-to-face dialogue in each region will provide diverse perspectives on the priorities for agricultural research for development, working back from the desired development impacts to ensure research and innovation are focused on meeting development goals.
  4. The Conference, held from 28 to 31 March 2010 to align diverse stakeholders in agricultural research around a common agenda and develop the linkages required for its delivery. Over 800 participants joined the GCARD1 Conference and engaged in a comprehensive program, contriubting and commenting on presentations and background documents.  
  5. Follow-up actions: The Conference laid the groundwork for a global AR4D system and initiated new ways of working. They were further developed through 2010 into extended cycles of learning and feedback over the years ahead
 
For GCARD 2010, priorities of those engaged in agriculture were captured by the regional reviews, an electronic survey, open electronic consultations and face-to-face meetings in each of the regions of Near East, Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America/Caribbean. The combination of these delivered regional research priorities, matched against development demands and articulated from user needs and demands outwards. These led towards a Road Map to improve the orientation and capabilities of agricultural research and innovation systems, related Institutions and structures and processes for maximum impact. In subsequent years, the GCARD will enable mutual accountability of progress and impact as research strives to meet these objectives.
 
The key outcome of the GCARD1 was the The GCARD Road Map: Transforming Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) Systems for Global Impact, created through the contributions and dynamic interation of thousands of stakeholders from all sectors with the aim of promoting discussion, partnership and actions around key themes.