Dear Members and Partners,
As we approach the close of 2024, we are pleased to share the key developments and achievements that have shaped GFAiR this year. Despite several challenges we have made significant strides in governance, partnerships, and substantive work, setting the stage for productive years to come.
From GFAR to GFAiR: New Hosting and New Funding
Since 1st of February 2024 GFAR is hosted by CGIAR/ABC. To mark the new era GFAR also changed the acronym from GFAR to GFAiR to acknowledge the importance of innovation. Putting the “I” in front of the “R” is not only alluding to the fact that innovation often precedes research (and not necessarily the other way round). It also shows that GFAIR is value-driven and aims to be close to its members and partners – hence, G-“fair” instead of G-“far”. Both changes were implemented based on unanimous decisions of GFAR’s Steering Committee.
We are very happy to report that the transition to CGIAR/ABC went smoothly. We are grateful to CGIAR/ABC for their warm welcome, the enabling environment and the excellent support provided in all regards. We would also like to thank our members and partners for bearing with us and look forward shaping GFAiR’s new chapter with you!
Governance: New Leadership and New Charter
In 2024, GFAIR organized two hybrid Steering Committee meetings in March in Vitora Gasteiz and in October in Samarkand. These marked pivotal moments in GFAiR’s governance as we re-elected our Chair, Dr. Ravi Khetarpal, for another term and elected a new Vice-Chair Dr. Romano de Vivo who replaces Dr. Ross McLeod. We also endorsed three new Steering Committee members representing TimacAgro/Roullier Group, AgriCord and UNWOMEN, and finalized the Charter revision. We look very much forward to working together most effectively and innovatively!
EC Project: Navigating Challenges Successfully
GFAiR is grateful to EC DG INTPA for their continued (funding) partnership and to CGIAR/ABC for hosting GFAiR and for providing an enabling environment for implementing the project.
Very unfortunately though, the new modus operandi receiving the EC funding via IFAD involved notable challenges (including delays in approval of the basic documents) and related funding shortfalls. Throughout 2024, we therefore had to operate with “bare minimum” interim budgets. We would like to extend our thanks to GFAiR’s Chair and Vice Chairs and to CGIAR/ABC for their unwavering support and to our members and partners for your patience and understanding!
We are all the more pleased to be able to report today, on 20.12.24, that the grant agreement was finally signed yesterday. We can’t wait to start working “full steam” again from January!
Substantive Work
Despite these challenges and constraints - thanks to the steadfastness of GFAiR’s members, partners, and staff - GFAiR was able to work on essential project components: the Partnership Principles were taken up by CGIAR and by farmers organizations, a new approach to Collective Actions was devised and used, and a new “mega Collective Action” - the Global NARS Consortium (GNC) - started. With the signing of the Grant Agreement yesterday, we will soon be able to access our full funding and implement everything we have prepared.
Collective Actions (CA): Driving Impact Through Collaborative Projects
While the CAs were on hold due to the “minimum budget” constraints, GFAiR turned the challenge into an opportunity to devise a more transparent and inclusive approach. Based on calls for Expressions of Interest we received 80 EoIs for the three priority CAs on Agroecology, Forgotten Foods and Inclusive Digital Agriculture and organized e-meetings with members and partners to devise meaningful CAs. To mention just one example: most recently, the CA on Agroecology organized a successful webinar with the EC Joint Research Center with 439 registered participants. All three Collective Actions are now ready to start as soon as GFAiR has access to its funding. Other CAs will follow in due course. Never ending improvement regarding never ending innovations and partnerships!
Strengthening the Global NARS Consortium (GNC)
The establishment of a GNC was commissioned to GFAiR by the 6 Regional Fora in the 2023 “Bangkok Declaration”. Based on Memoranda signed with the Regional Fora and important NARS, such as EMBRAPA, the GNC initiative is following its roadmap. We plan to launch the GNC at the CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi which was rescheduled to April 2025. Please join the initiative: it is a historic opportunity not to be missed!
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL): Enhancing Data Management
We conducted a cross-learning exercise at the beginning of the year with very encouraging results: 84% of our partners said that their personal and/or institutional capacities had been enhanced through their work in the Collective Actions. 72% highlighted that they consider the results of the CAs as sustainable. Moreover, 79% responded that the joint activities carried out through the CA promoted mutual learning. In addition to this initial survey, GFAiR’s partners took part in a two-day virtual learning workshop. During this intense exercise, partners discussed ways to enhance CA management and knowledge management to ensure that knowledge does not get lost, secure sufficient long-term funding, and ensure that CA results are taken up by policy makers.
In 2024, we also took the opportunity to further enhance our MEL system, transitioning it to a user-friendly, excel-based platform which will not only allow us to better track KPIs and impact but also to draft our first annual report due in early 2025. In short: we do what we can to measure what matters.
Communication and Outreach
After several challenges during the transition from one hosting organization to another we have finally regained most of our web assets and are busy updating them. We have published several papers, articles and interviews and look very much forward to doing more in the coming years. Please stay tuned!
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization: Expanding Collaboration
In order to overcome GFAiR’s dependance on project funding and to diversify GFAiR’s funding basis we put a lot of effort in partnerships and resource mobilization, i.e. through regular Progress & Prospects meetings, numerous meetings with potential funding partners, and the submission of several project proposals. We have also amended the Charter to enable and encourage contributions from members and partners. Please support GFAiR and keep your fingers crossed for our efforts to mobilize further resources so that we can put GFAiR on a stable footing and implement impactful Collective Actions!
A Year Marking a Significant Shift Toward Greater Independence and Impact
Despite the challenges faced in 2024, we are poised for an exciting year ahead. With its new hosting and funding, updated governance bodies and Charter, a renewed focus on partnerships and robust progress on strategic initiatives, GFAiR is well-positioned to make an even greater impact in 2025. We look very much forward to making this happen!
We close the year by sending our sincere thanks to all of you - our dedicated members, partners, and stakeholders - for your unwavering commitment and support and our best wishes for the new year. Together, we are shaping the future of global agricultural research and innovation and will contribute to transforming the Agri-Food System!
With kind regards
Hildegard & GFAiR Secretariat team