Research News
DFID agrees further support to CGIAR Centres
Douglas Alexander, the UK Secretary of State for International Development previously announced that the UK will provide £150 million to support international agricultural research over the next five years under the new Research Strategy with £130 million allocated to the CGIAR; the balance being support to other international agricultural research organisations.
The increase in DFID’s funding is dependent upon the achievement of significant reform across the CGIAR, including the establishment of an international agricultural research fund. At the recent Rome food summit Douglas Alexander called for a $1 billion annual investment in international agricultural research.
DFID has now determined its allocations for the Centres and Challenge Programmes for this financial year, which amounts to over £20 million across the CGIAR. This includes support to CIAT for their transition plan. This year all Challenge Programmes will also each receive £2 million. Over the next year DFID plans to work with the Centres and CGIAR members to provide predictable longer term funding for the system as part of a reform process. It is expected that this will see DFID increasing support through an international agricultural research fund. By the end of the five year period the majority of DFID’s funding will be channelled through such a fund.
More Information
- List of UK Grants to CGIAR centres in 2008-2009, provided centrally by DFID
- See also the previous news story on R4D: CGIAR receives £130 million for agricultural research