The challenge of poverty and its relation to the focus of the system
- Changes in poverty: nature, causes, and dynamics.
- New constraints on productivity: agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
- New threats to sustainability of agroecosystems and their NR context.
The intent was to identify topics or issues of importance, not yet the object of enough CGIAR research, that might form part of the CGIAR's agenda."

With its foundation firmly anchored in three core planks of the CGIAR Vision and
Strategy to 2010 ¿ giving highest priority to research needs of South Asia and adopting a
regional approach to research planning and integration of partnerships, a draft strategy for
the South Asia Regional Partnership was endorsed by CDC at ICW 2000 with ICRISAT
being designated as focal center. Focal points were identified for 13 CGIAR centers
(CIMMYT, IRRI, ICRISAT, IWMI, ILRI, IPGRI, CIP, ICLARM, ICRAF, ICARDA

As indicated by the Group at AGM2002, there is urgency for the CGIAR to formulate new research Priorities and implementation Strategies to inform the individual Center, Systemwide and Challenge Program decisions on the aggregate CGIAR research portfolio. These priorities and strategies will move the System from the agreed CGIAR goals and the seven strategic planks of the Vision and Strategy adopted at AGM 2000 into an action plan for implementation in the short and medium term

We fully endorse the fact that TAC ( Technical Advisory Committee ) has chosen the subject of CGIAR-NARS collaborative relationships as one of the priority strategic issues for it to address over the next couple of years. We are fully aware of the fact that there are many good examples of CGIAR-NARS relationships and joint ventures that have developed during many years of working together. Recent workshops held in various International Centers (IARCs) have clearly identified and described such cases of research partnerships