Small Countries Initiative
232. The Chair recognized Dr. Bonte-Friedheim who brought to the Committee's attention an informal ISNAR proposal for a systemwide initiative to explore how the CGIAR might be of service to small country NARS in building or improving their research capacity. He noted that 40 to 50, particularly island, countries were often bypassed by the System, yet their populations were frequently at risk in terms of poverty and environmental degradation. As a first step toward addressing this gap in the CGIAR'S coverage, ISNAR was prepared to convene a workshop in the Caribbean involving representatives of that region's NARS to identify their research needs and discuss possible CGIAR assistance. ISNAR's concept was to convene a scientific forum every three to four years with systemwide participation to take stock of the needs of different regions and identify how the Centres, individually or collectively, might respond. Because ISNAR viewed the problems of small country NARS as a systemwide concern, it sought the advice of TAC and the Centres on whether and how such an initiative might be undertaken. Dr. Bonte-Friedheim closed by saying that funding for the proposed Caribbean workshop had already been secured.
233. TAC's discussion of this proposal reflected concern for the needs of small country NARS, but also anxiety that the proposed initiative could generate unrealistic expectations which the CGIAR might then not be in a position to accommodate. Doubt was also expressed that the NARS in question were actually strong enough to benefit from interaction with the Centres, except perhaps to help them identify their needs and possible sources of support in the donor community.
234. After further consideration, TAC responded positively to ISNAR's informal proposal to organize a Workshop in the Caribbean to facilitate a CGIAR dialogue and a two-way exchange of information with the Small Country NARS in the region. TAC would welcome a formal proposal and would be happy to consider it at its next meeting, i.e., TAC 68, 4-8 December 1995.
235. The Committee had some reservations as to how best, or if at all, the CGIAR could assist these small nations, many of which had little or no research capacity at this point in time. On the other hand, TAC shared ISNAR's concern that these states needed technical support in the development of agriculture and the conservation of their natural resources.
Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union
236. The Chair reported that at its 21-25 May 1995 meeting the CGIAR's Oversight Committee discussed options for implementing the recommendation of the Lucerne Declaration dealing with Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It had encouraged the CGIAR to initiate research in this region "only when a clear program of work where the CGIAR has a distinctive comparative advantage has been established, and a minimum level of separate and additional funding has been secured". The Oversight Committee had suggested that, under TAC's guidance, the Centres and interested donors should study the regions's research needs and priorities, and opportunities for collaboration with the CGIAR, and suggested priorities of a possible future programme of work, for discussion by the Group. Such a paper was also considered useful input to TAC's study of priorities and strategies.
237. The Chair welcomed comments on this suggestion from TAC Members and other participants.
238. In the ensuing discussion, several TAC Members expressed concern that the Oversight Committee's suggested course of action was more proactive than the Lucerne Declaration's intent, which had counselled that Centres simply respond to opportunities within their mandates on the basis of full cost recovery. It was noted that since the Centres' comparative advantage lay primarily in tropical agriculture and the countries in question were already receiving advice on priority setting from the European Union and the World Bank, perhaps the CGIAR's contribution could be to help identify the gaps in the research agenda for this region. It was urged that caution be exercised in this initiative lest the Centres spread themselves too thinly and place the stability of their ongoing programmes at risk.
239. After further consideration, TAC decided that its current commitments were already so heavy that it could not take on the additional task suggested by the Oversight Committee for the time being.
Other
240. The Committee briefly discussed recent correspondence with the CGIAR Chair about the setting up of a CGIAR cotton research institute. TAC would revisit the issue at TAC 68.
241. The Chair and Members of TAC bid farewell to Ms. Marioara Lantini, Programme Assistant at the TAC Secretariat, who was due to retire shortly, and expressed their deep appreciation of the contributions she had made to the work of the Committee. On behalf of the Centre Directors, Dr. Robert Havener, Director General a.i. of CIAT, also gratefully acknowledged Ms. Lantini's efforts in supporting the work of the CGIAR System during the 17 years she had served the TAC Secretariat.
