The CGIAR Fund is a multi-donor trust fund that supports international agricultural research aimed at reducing rural poverty, strengthening food security, improving human nutrition and health, and enhancing natural resource management. The Fund finances research guided by a Strategy and Results Framework that sets out common goals, objectives, and results for the CGIAR’s global research-for-development partnership. The research is carried out by 15 international agricultural research centers, working closely with hundreds of partners worldwide, through a portfolio of CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs).

The CGIAR Fund is administered by the World Bank, as Trustee, and governed by the Fund Council, a representative body of fund donors and other stakeholders. The Fund Council is the decision making body of the CGIAR Fund.  It also appoints the Independent Science and Partnership Council, a panel of leading scientific experts who provide independent advice and expertise to Fund Council members.  This advice is used by the Council to approve CRPs and allocate resources to them.  To receive funding, CRPs must set out their expected achievements and provide verifiable targets against which progress can be monitored.   The Funders Forum, a biennial gathering of all donors, sets the CGIAR’s strategic direction.

To maximize coordination and harmonization of funding, donors to the CGIAR are strongly encouraged to channel their resources through the CGIAR Fund. Donors to the Fund may designate their contributions to one or more of three funding “windows.” Contributions to Window 1 are allocated by the Fund Council, while contributions to Window 2 are designated by Fund donors to one or more CRPs, and contributions to Window 3 are allocated to specific CGIAR centers by the contributing donor. For additional information on funding issues, please see “How the Fund Works.”

In line with the CGIAR’s aim to be effective, efficient, and results-orientated, the CGIAR Fund gives donors better value for their money and focuses on impact to ensure that the research programs deliver benefits to more poor people than ever before.