CGIAR Center Directors Committee Minutes, Presiding Chair: P. Brumby

A record of the 28th Center Directors Meeting, October 1986 report on center operations in Africa that include a inventory of activities, preparation of a strategy paper on CGIAR research in Africa and new mechanisms for coordinating activities, the primary goal of which is greater collaboration with national systems. The minutes also record ongoing topics such as the position paper on seeds, inter-center cooperation on agro-ecological characterization, progress on SPAAR, information and documentation activities, publicity needs, CGNET and management training, the stabilization fund as well as the activities of the benefits and fund raising committees. In response to criticism about the alleged ‘blind breeding strategies,' of the centers, center directors agree to the preparation of individual center papers describing the background and justification of their breeding activities for synthesis by the CG Secretariat and incorporation into the CGIAR Annual Report. The meeting culminates with a joint session between center directors and center board chairs that record discussions related to an audit survey conducted by Arthur Anderson, the statement of TAC goals, the role of Trustees in the CG system and the length of staff appointments.