This time last year, I reported to the committee that the journey we undertook from
Manila to Nairobi was sometimes rough and at other times smooth, sometimes pleasant
and at other times frustrating, but that with the aid of clear and detailed maps (Secretariat
Plan of Work) and a good compass (Secretariat Mandate), we were able to successfully
chart a course that saw us reaching the first leg of a long journey in one piece and ready
to continue the adventure.
We started the second leg of the journey soon after and benefited from calm seas and

The year 2006 is an important landmark in the short history of GFAR. Firstly, it will mark the
tenth anniversary of the founding of GFAR. Secondly in 2006, GFAR will hold its third
general conference when stakeholders get together to reflect on the past and plan for the
future. Finally, it represents the final year of our triennial business plan cycle (2004-2006). It
is therefore a year when we should reflect on our past efforts and achievements, and share the
outcome with others. Efforts were made by the Secretariat to devote some attention to a

According to the GFAR charter, one of the main task and responsibility of the Secretariat is to assist GFAR stakeholders in the formulation of the GFAR BP, and its implementation through an annual Programme of Work (PoW), which according to the first external review panel of GFAR should clearly indicate what the secretariat will do to facilitate the implementation of the BP by the stakeholders. The role of the Secretariat is therefore mainly one of facilitation, except perhaps in two areas where it is expected to play a lead role and take responsibility for implementation.

The GFAR Management Team commends the Panel for an excellent report which globally conveys a positive opinion on GFAR¿s achievements and has very good and concrete suggestions for its future development. The GFAR Management Team wishes also to express its thanks to the Panel members for their openness and the transparency with which they conducted the review.

The GFAR Charter defines the rules and regulations of the Global Forum on Agricultural
Research (GFAR). The Charter was approved by the GFAR Steering Committee (GFARSC)
in October 1998 and was first revised following the First GFAR External Review that
took place in mid-2000. This second revision, the principle of which was endorsed during the
12th GFAR-SC Meeting, takes into account various changes that have taken place since then
and in the wake of globalization of agriculture, and the recognition that the NARS sub-

The NARS Stakeholders statement

The Stakeholder Group of the Advanced Research Institutes (ARIs) met on 23 May 2003, at the
occasion of the 2nd triennial conference of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR) in
Dakar. The group meeting was attended by eleven representatives of nine ARIs in Europe (7), North
America (1) and the Pacific (1).