For nearly three decades the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has focused its mission on helping developing countries turn agriculture into an engine of propoor, sustainable economic growth. Conflicts and natural disasters have often interfered with this mission, and disrupted the long-term work in strengthening human and institutional capacities, establishing more productive cropping systems, and improving the sustainability of farming. Nevertheless, the CGIAR Centers quickly reworked their strategy, partnering with donors, governments, emergency relief agencies, non-governmental organizations and others to ensure that emergency assistance made the best possible use of available knowledge and technology. As soon as they could, they moved on to help the affected countries rebuild their agriculture, as well as human capacity and research infrastructure so critical to long-term recovery.