Minutes of the CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) Inception Meeting Date: 22 August 2013 Venue: Conference Room, BARC, Farmgate, Dhaka

Transcription

1 Minutes of the CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) Inception Meeting Date: 22 August 2013 Venue: Conference Room, BARC, Farmgate, Dhaka The agenda wise discussions of the meeting were as follows: 1. Welcome address, introduction of members and the role of advisory committee: Dr. Wais Kabir, Executive Chairman of BARC and the chair of the meeting welcomed all participants, especially the NARES-CGIAR and representatives for attending the meeting. Also, he thanked Dr. SM Nazmul Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture for his kind presence in the meeting as chief guest. (List of Participants: Annexure 1) After the welcome note and introduction of the participants, the chair explained the objectives for forming the CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC). This is a policy level advisory body that will provide guidance to the CGIAR management, with special emphasis on creating linkages and synergies with GoB research and agricultural development initiatives, he informed. The meeting aims at finalizing the proposed CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) that will guide and help coordinate the work of the CGIAR centers in Bangladesh, Dr. Kabir said, the CAC will also apprise that CGIAR projects in Bangladesh are in accordance with relevant GoB policies and priorities, country investment plans and initiatives. Dr. Kabir also recalled with thanks the continued support of the CG centres for promotion of agricultural science and ensuring of food security in the country. As regards on-going CSISA-BARC scholarship program, Dr. Kabir informed that the monthly stipend for in-country PhD is being increased from BDT 10,000/ to 25,000/ at government level which will be implemented soon. He requested the CG centres to raise the fund for the CSISA-BARC scholarship program to accommodate more scientists of NARS. 2. Brief presentation on CGIAR Centres and their current programs and partnership with NARES. 2.1 Highlights: 135 staff and with 17 programs -BD is working under three broad themes namely: 1) Technical and genetic resource support to NARS; 2) Technology dissemination and 3) Climate change monitoring adaption. has been supporting to NARS (BRRI, BINA and BAU) for 40 years for rice breeding and rice production technology development in Bangladesh. Plant breeding current emphasis on: Salt, submergence & drought tolerance, Aromatic & fine grained rice and High Zn, Fe and Vit. A, Cropping System Researcheg. BRRI / BARI Cropping systems, BARI - Lentil, Gram, BARC / BRRI climate change and crop modeling. Since 1964 supported training to 834 NARES officials including 85 to obtain MS degree and 122 PhD. Currently under s support 13 NARES officials are under training including two for MS and 8 for PhD. CSISA-BD project: In collaboration between, CIMMT & World Fish and USAID funding this project the objective of which is to benefit 60,000 farmers direct + 300,000 indirect, increase income by $350 and Seed Project & Agricultural 1

2 2.2.1 International Potato Centre (CIP) CIP-BARI MoU was signed in 1980 and started collaborative research on potato varietal improvement, Manpower development, TPS research, Seed system; Collaborative research on sweet-tpotato with TCRC started on 1998 Potato Varieties (six) released from CIP germplasm: Heera,Dheera, Chamak, BARI TPS-1, BARI TPS-2 and BARI ALU-22. Sweetpotato germplasm introduced from CIP: 425, sweet potato variety released from CIP: 4 (BARI SP-6,7,8,9) CIAT Screen Gene Bank for high nutrient Germplasm, Develop and Evaluate Micronutrient-rich Crop Varieties: Release of Micronutrient-rich Crop varieties for Cultivation, Set Nutrient Target Levels Evaluate Nutrient Bioavailability from Crop, Assess Nutrient Retention Levels in Crops and Food, Measure Nutrient Impact on Human Health, Release seed & Extension System, Strengthen Seed & Extension Systems, Promote Marketing & Consumption of New Crops, Identify Beneficiaries, 2.2 CIMMT Some 700 scientists of Bangladesh obtained training on maize and wheat system under the support from CIMMT. Several exchange visits, Formalized in 1982 that facilitated establishment of CIMMT Office, Germplasm and information exchange, Training, infrastructure supports, etc. CIMMT significantly contributed in improving food security and livelihoods of millions of farmers in Bangladesh, Under the collaborative focus the activities like Varietal development and dissemination, Conservation Agriculture based crop management, Capacity building Training, Equipment, etc are going on. It also works with BARI under BARC; with DAE, BADC, BRRI, etc.,cg Centers (, IFPRI, WF, ILRI, etc. and also NGOs (National and International like ide)/cbos, Universities (like BAU). 2.3 WorldFish: Nobo Jibon under USAID-PL-480 Multi ear Assistance Program (MAP) with Save the Children, USA ( ; Improving Carp Seed Quality in Greater Noakhali and Barisal, ( ; Linking Fisheries and Nutrition: Promoting Innovative Fish Production Technologies in Ponds and Wetlands with Nutrient-Rich Small Fish Species in Bangladesh ( ); FTF: Aquaculture for Income and Nutrition (AIN)- ( ); Expansion of Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Bangladesh ( ); BDC: Increasing the Resilience of Agricultural and Aquaculture Systems in the Coastal Areas of the Ganges Delta: Ganges Coordination and Change Enabling Project ( ); 2

3 Agriculture and Nutrition Extension Project (ANEP) under Technology Transfer for Food Security in Asia Component 1 ( ); Agriculture and Nutrition Extension Project (ANEP) under Technology Transfer for Food Security in Asia Component 1 ( ), Climate smart management of aquatic farm ecosystems in coastal regions of Bangladesh (SmartFarm) ( ). CRP programs with Worldfish in Bangladesh like: Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS WorldFish led), Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH IFPRI led), Livestock and Fish (L&F ILRI led) and Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS Mulit-led). 2.4 IFPRI Since 1988 IFPRI has had a strong presence in Bangladesh, conducting food policy research, providing policy support, and strengthening stakeholders capacity. IFPRI has carried out its research in Bangladesh in close collaboration with Bangladeshi partners, including BIDS, universities, units of government ministries, and nongovernmental organizations, IFPRI has also carried out extensive capacity strengthening activities in Bangladesh. Capacity strengthening efforts are generally integrated into research programs, Policy Research and Strategy Support Program (PRSSP) that IFPRI has been launched since 2010 and its objective is to conduct policy research to fill knowledge gaps on critical food security and agricultural developmental issues; to generate evidence-based policy options for improving food security and developing the agricultural sector in Bangladesh and to facilitate the policymaking process, stimulate policy dialogue, and communicate evidence-based research findings to relevant GOB Ministries and other stakeholders. 3. Formation of CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) for CG Centers Programs in Bangladesh. Dr. Wais Kabir underlining the need for formation of CAC said, CGIAR has increased its involvement in the agricultural research of Bangladesh. Besides, CGIAR Research Programs are implemented by the CGIAR centers; some of the centers in Bangladesh have multiple bilateral funded programs. He continued these bilateral programs are collaborative and suggested to strengthen collaboration with the national partners. To this end, he informed that the previously agreed and formed CSISA Advisory Committee (AC) has been extended to a CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) with representatives from relevant NARES and other national institutions of Bangladesh and the CGIAR centers. The CAC is reconstituted with the following members; however, CAC can invite institutional representative/s on need/case by case basis considering the nature of projects and agenda to be discussed, he proposed. Chairman: Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Members: 1. Director General, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Khamarbari, Dhaka 2. Director General, Department of Fisheries (DoF), Ramana, Dhaka 3. Director General, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur 3

4 4. Director General, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur 5. Director General, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Mymensingh 6. Joint Chief, Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institute Division, Planning Commission, 7. Joint Chief, Planning Wing, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka 8. Joint Chief, Planning Wing, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka 9. Director, BAURES, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh 10. Representative, Bangladesh, 11. Country Liaison Officer, CIMMT, Bangladesh 12. Country Director, Bangladesh and South Asia, WorldFish, Banani, Dhaka 13. Chief of Party (COP), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Gulshan, Dhaka Member-Secretary: Dr. Paul Fox, Representative for Bangladesh Decision: a) The meeting agreed with the formation of the above committee b) Previously formed CSISA Advisory Committee (AC) will be replaced by CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC). 4. TOR for the CAC The Terms of Reference (ToR) for CAC was discussed. Decision: The ToR of the CAC was approved (Annexure II) 5. Open Discussion: Asked about WF s role in CSISA-BD by Dr. SM Nazmul Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, WorldFish representative Dr. Binoy Kumar explained that CSISA-BD has been working in household approach to increase farmer s income. Many farmers in southwest Bangladesh are engaged in both fish and rice production, often in the same fields, he added. Is there any provision to survey Child stunting in Bangladesh? In reply to this question the IFPRI representative said a survey has been done by FAO. 6 Remark by the Chief Guest: In closing remarks, Dr. S.M. Nazmul Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture thanked all. He also requested the national agricultural researchers to acquire global achievements. He appreciated 6 scholarships offered by the CGIAR this year and hoped for more in the future. He looked forward to having more meaningful collaboration with CGIAR Centres in Bangladesh to develop agricultural system. Dr. Wais Kabir thanked all the participants for their presence and valuable contribution and declared conclusion of the meeting. (Dr. Wais Kabir) Executive Chairman Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC) & Chairman CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) September 15,

5 Annexure I Name Title Organization Present Dr. S.M. Nazmul Islam Secretary M/O Agriculture Naquib Bin Mahbub Joint Chief M/O Agriculture Dr. Md Syedul Islam Mohammed Mijanur Rahman Mukul Chandra Roy Dr. Masud H. Khan Dr. Lutful Hassan DG BRRI Deputy Chief Ministry of Fisheries and Live stock Director General DAE, Kamarbari Director Director (BAURES), Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute Bangladesh Agricultural University Dr. Wais Kabir Executive Chairman BARC Md. Amiruzzaman Director BARC Md. Mustqim Rahman CIAT, STO BARC Timothy Russell Chief of Party CSISA-BD Dr. Paul Fox Dr. TP Tiwari, Dr. Benot Kumar Barman Representative for Bangladesh Country liaison Officer, CIMMT Sr. Scientist WorldFish Nikhil Datta Head of Operations WorldFish Bijoy Bhushan Debnath Admin Manager WorldFish Dr. Akhtar Ahmed Chief of Party IFPRI Dr. Kai Kaus Ahmed Deputy Chief of party IFPRI Dr. Julian Parr Director, Asia CIP Shawkat Ara Begum Chief of Party CIP Khairul Basher Country Manager Harvest Plus Dr. Md. Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan Director (SS) BARI Md. Saiful Alam Joint Chief Planning Commission Bushra Rahman Bidyuth Mahalder Mary Archana Costa Manager, Communication and Documentation Deputy Country Coordinator Sr. Assistant Administrative Coordination 5

6 Annexure II Terms of References (TOR) of CGIAR Advisory Committee (CAC) for CG Centers Programs in Bangladesh The CAC will play a consultative role for CGIAR and similar projects in Bangladesh. It will discuss the goals and objectives of proposed and ongoing projects, review progress and facilitate the development of synergies with GOB and other projects to ensure coordination, effective policy dialogue, and up-scaling of research outcomes to increase food and income security of resource-poor farm families in Bangladesh. CAC terms/responsibilities will include the following: 1. The CAC will provide guidelines and suggestions for improvement of the implementation strategies of concerned projects/programs within Bangladesh. 2. The CAC will ensure that CGIAR projects are in accordance with relevant GOB policies, country investment plans and initiatives that have been undertaken so that opportunities for collaboration and synergistic alignment are ensured and duplication avoided. 3. The CAC will ensure that the GOB is informed about CGIAR and other similar project activities and outcomes, which will expedite the sharing of information that may be used to guide changes in policy. 4. The CAC will provide guidance, directives and assistance to the relevant line agencies/departments at local and national levels to extend full cooperation for smooth coordination and implementation of projects. 5. The CAC will identify opportunities for joint R&D under the existing MoUs between the GoB institutions and CGIAR Centers operational in Bangladesh. 6. The CAC will meet twice a year for one day or, if necessary, for two consecutive days. The meeting dates may be held preferably in the months of May and November. In turn, through interactions with the CGIAR Advisory Committee, the CGIAR and other Leadership entities will identify opportunities to: 1. Align project research and outreach activities with GOB priorities (e.g. with the Country Investment Plan). 2. Help build capacity of the NARES through formal and informal training, including postgraduate education that recognizes documented areas of national need (e.g. HRD Plan for NARS in Bangladesh). 3. Organize joint field visits of the CAC members to project sites in Bangladesh, and if possible to other project target countries for program sharing. 4. Increase investments for research for development (R4D) or research in development (RID) for aquatic, livestock, and agricultural systems for the food security and nutrition of the people of Bangladesh, while safeguarding the environment.. 6