This paper complements the report that is being circulated on GFAR-2000, which
analyses in more detail the various results of the Dresden Conference and the follow-up that is
being made to each one.1 This paper concentrates on the GFAR function of ¿facilitating the
development of research partnerships for global cooperation in agricultural research for
development (ARD)¿ and on how it can be further operationalized, capitalising on the research
partnership proposals that were presented at the Dresden Conference by the interested
stakeholders

The concept of launching ¿Global Partnership Programmes¿ (GPPs) resulted from the acknowledgement that although the world is faced with an increasingly complex challenge of feeding its growing population, scientific and technological progress is generating the knowledge to make it possible to meet this challenge while assuring an equitable and sustainable development. The capacity to respond successfully to this situation will have an impact on the well being of all societies, making it a global issue.

The Near East and North Africa Region is food deficit and for many years, it has been the largest net food importer among developing countries. As some 60% or more of the population of the region live in the rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihood, the decreasing agricultural production is therefore not only affecting food security in general but also hampering poverty alleviation efforts..

Coordinators of Facilitation Units (FUs), together at GFAR Steering Committee Meeting in Manila, decided to set up a Plan of Action to better coordinate activities between them.
The development of different units is various as well as strategies for disseminating information about different activities.
Because FUs are launched under the umbrella of GFAR, one of GFAR¿s task is to help FUs in developing their strategies and in disseminating their information

Discussion paper on the involvement of the Private Sector in GFAR

This paper is a compilation of responses sent by individuals from NGOs ¿ also beyond the members of the NGOC. They have not yet been fed back to the NGOs to create a consensus; they are being circulated to NGOs at the same time as being sent to the CDMT