This paper, therefore, is a summary reaction of the FARA to the CDMT document. It builds on an earlier paper submitted to the CGIAR Chair, entitled, CGIAR and IARC Governance, Organisation and Structure: An African Perspective, FARA, October 2000. (Annex 1). The views, in this document were first developed at the FARA Executive Committee meeting held in Nairobi on 17-18 March 2001