TNAG-2110-FCO40-3009-Hong-Kong-participation-in-international-organisations-1990 — Page 250

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26.

At its November 1989 meeting the CGIAR discussed the proposed expansion of the system under four broad headings: the global context in which the CGIAR functions, TAC's review of 10 non-associated centres which are being considered for possible incorporation in the CGIAR, the inclusion of tropical forestry on the research mandate of the CGIAR, and a proposed restructuring of TAC. TAC's examination of the global context of agricultural research would provide the framework within which specific recommendations for expanding or strengthening the CGIAR will be made. global review will also serve as the basis for a new strategy and priorities paper that TAC will submit to the Group in 1991. TAC's examination of regional priorities as a key step toward moving into a global assessment was supported.

27.

The

TAC chairman reported on progress in TAC's assessment of 10 non-associated centres. Special panels that had been set up to carry out this task would, in their next round of inquiries, focus on the programmatic and institutional aspects of these centres. The subject matter areas of the non-associated centres under study are bananas and plantains, vegetables, fisheries and aquaculture, livestock diseases, crop protection, natural resource conservation and management, and forestry. A comprehensive set of recommendations will be submitted by the TAC chairman at centres week 1990.

28. The Group took note of steps taken by TAC in pursuance of the decision at Canberra that forestry should be included on the research mandate of the CGIAR. TAC has consulted widely with leading forestry and agriculture scientists, with FAO and with NGOs. Priority areas of research have been examined and a review of institutional options has begun. A full progress report will be presented by TAC at the mid-term meeting next year.

Representation of the Region on the CGIAR

29.

In order to facilitate adequate representation of the developing countries on the CGIAR, the FAO Conference agreed in 1971 that each region should elect two representatives to serve for a two-year period. This function was entrusted to the FAO Regional Conferences, which in turn endorsed the Director-General's proposal that countries should be elected for a term normally of four years. The present situation concerning representation is shown below:

Africa:

Asia and the Pacific:

Latin America:

Near East:

Southern and Eastern Europe:

Zambia and Mauritius Thailand and Bangladesh Brazil and Venezuela Jordan and Turkey Portugal and Poland

Criteria for Selection of Member Countries and Their Responsibilities

30.

The following criteria for the selection of member countries to serve as the Regional Representatives and the responsibilities of this office have been endorsed by the Regional Conferences. They are equally valid for all regions.

(i)

The country should express interest in representing the region on the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and should be willing to take the responsibility for representing all the countries in the region and for meeting some of the expenses of such representation.