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Geoffrey
Hawtin
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Ruben
G. Echeverría
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CIAT did well in 2008: its scientists continued their tradition
of receiving prestigious awards; and the Center won widespread
attention from national and international media for its work.
Notable activities included research on seed systems in Africa,
a legal fight to protect common beans in the public domain,
contributions of germplasm to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault,
and the development of cassava with special starch characteristics.
Although CIAT was delighted with its progress in 2008, it
was also aware that a new vision and strategic direction was
needed to respond to shifting regional and global priorities,
and contribute to the CGIAR's revitalization. Thus, for much
of 2008, CIAT also worked at defining its future directions.
It conducted numerous consultations with partners and stakeholders,
especially in Latin America; an Internet survey; and several
special studies. By the end of 2008, the exercise was essentially
completed. A Board-approved document, outlining CIAT's new
strategic
directions, was published in February 2009.
Because of recent difficulties, significant changes in the
way CIAT is managed were introduced in 2008. The Center presented
a Transition Plan to donors in March, several of whom provided
special funding for its implementation. The Board and Senior
Management were renewed, a new strategy prepared, staff consolidated,
and investment made to maintain critical infrastructure. An
"Activity Based Costing" system was also introduced
to ensure that full institutional costs were recovered from
all new project grants. To date, significant strides have
been made.
Donor support remained strong. CIAT received its highest
total income ever at US$47.3 million. The Center ended 2008
with a small surplus, which brought its net reserves to $4.5
million. This is the equivalent of 39 days of operational
expenditures.
Strong donor support was also evident in the number of significant
new grants approved during the year. These included support
for the African Soil Information Service (AfSIS),
compliance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in Latin
America, the Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA),
and a project to breed waxy-starch cassava for Thailand.
CIAT's leadership and governance also experienced significant
change in 2008. Throughout the year, the Center was led by
Dr Geoffrey Hawtin. He had been appointed on a temporary basis
to help put CIAT back on a firmer institutional footing, pending
selection of a "permanent" director general. In
July, recognizing the need for governance renewal, the elected
members of Board of Trustees resigned. A new 11-member Board
was elected, following consultations with the CGIAR.
This Board met twice: first in Washington, DC, in September,
and again in Colombia in December. They approved CIAT's new
vision and strategic direction, and recruited a new director
general, Dr Ruben G. Echeverría, who took up the position
in March 2009.
The year 2008 has certainly been one of considerable change
and renewal for CIAT. We thank all our many friends and donors
who continued to give the Center such strong support throughout
this period. With new leadership recruited, a new Board, new
strategic directions, and more effective management systems,
we believe CIAT can face the future with confidence. With
continued strong funding, CIAT expects to contribute substantially
towards achieving its newly adopted vision: a more eco-efficient
agriculture that better serves the needs of the rural poor
in Latin America and throughout the tropics.
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