Three Regional Consultations (Asia-Pacific, Americas & Europe and Africa) have recently been held involving CABI’s Member Countries and other stakeholders as they continue to play a key role in the creation of CABI’s new Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) for 2023-2025.
The triennial consultations provide the opportunity for national governments within Member Countries to play an active role in setting CABI’s strategic direction in development, research and scientific publishing.
The consultations, which were attended by over 160 delegates, are normally held in person but on this occasion were held remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions. Delegates agreed that strong partnerships are essential for CABI to help address the biggest challenges facing humanity, including poverty, hunger, climate change, gender inequality and biodiversity loss.
CABI’s 49 Member Countries and its other stakeholders will, ultimately, help deliver goals in the MTS to sustainably improve global food security and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.
This is in line with CABI’s commitment to helping the world reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its expertise in solving problems in agriculture and the environment.
Member Countries and other stakeholders previously responded to a survey, which sought their views on CABI’s proposed major goals, priorities and plans for 2023-2025. CABI shared five draft goals for its next MTS:
• improving the food security and livelihoods of smallholder communities,
• helping communities reduce and adapt to climate change impacts on crops and landscapes
• reducing inequality through ensuring better opportunities for rural women and youth
• safeguarding biodiversity and supporting the sustainable use of natural resources
• increasing the reach, application and impact of science in agriculture and the environment.
These proposed goals received endorsement and support from the survey’s participants, with 100% of respondents judging them appropriate and each individual goal rated as ‘Very High Priority’ or ‘High Priority’ by over 80% of respondents.
To build on points addressed in the stakeholder survey regarding CABI’s future direction, the 2022 regional consultations explored specific regional perspectives and priorities. They also discussed how CABI can build the sustainable partnerships needed to achieve its proposed goals.
Panel speakers and other delegates provided valuable insights on what is needed to build sustainable partnerships, covering partnerships with international, regional and national agencies and institutions, donor communities and the private sector, with a view to helping CABI deliver its new MTS.
Dr Dennis Rangi, Director General, Development, said in his concluding remarks that the consultation process is an ongoing dialogue and will be continued through bilateral and multilateral meetings. This includes CABI’s Quarterly Briefings to Member Countries (the next one is on 28 July) and CABI’s Review Conference in the UK (27-28 September).
The draft MTS will be considered at the Review Conference and its final approval will be sought before or at the next CABI Executive Council meeting scheduled for March 2023.
Dr Daniel Elger, CABI CEO, said, “CABI’s work is guided and influenced by our Member Countries and they play a key role in shaping our future direction.
“The Regional Consultation meetings were an important step in gaining input from our Members and other stakeholders into the creation of our new Medium-Term Strategy for 2023-2025.
“We look forward to ongoing consultation and to presenting a compelling draft Medium-Term Strategy to Members at our Review Conference in September.”
Membership of CABI enables national governments to play an active role in directing and influencing the global development agenda through CABI’s work and its network of partners. More information on Member Country benefits can be found here.
Additional information
CABI’s Mission and Strategies
CABI’s mission is to improve people’s lives worldwide by providing information and applying expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
You can read more about CABI’s mission and its current Medium-Term Strategy as well as its Science Strategy, Project and Programme Gender Strategy and Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy here.
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