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Celebrating 35 years of
research partnership
 1971 was the year when the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
was formed. It was also the year when farsighted leaders from 11
West African countries decided to constitute a regional
association for rice research and development. I am sure this
was no mere coincidence, as 15 years later the Association
became part of the CGIAR family, while maintaining its status of
intergovernmental organization.
Over the years, the Association has gone from strength to
strength, with the increase in the number of its member
countries and its gradual evolution into the Africa Rice Center
in 2003, in recognition of its leading role in rice R&D in
sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks to its unique partnership model, its
scientists are the first Africans to receive world-class awards,
including the World Food Prize in 2004 and the International
Japanese Prize in 2006.
It is fitting that the Center’s anniversary this year is an
occasion to commemorate 35 years of research partnership.
Several events are being organized, including the launch of our
new website with a stronger focus on partnership successes. We
invite you to visit our new virtual home at
www.warda.org.
This year is significant for WARDA in other ways too. It was a
privilege for us to host the 5th CGIAR Science Council meeting,
which gave an opportunity for the members and our scientists to
interact with each other. This will also help us prepare for our
External Program and Management Review (EPMR) scheduled for
2007.
As I am going to complete my 10-year term as Director General in
November, the Board was engaged in the process of selecting my
successor during its recent meeting according to WARDA’s
constitution. The result will be announced by the Chair of
WARDA’s Council of Ministers in June 2006 at an extraordinary
Council meeting in Nigeria, which holds the current
Chairmanship.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all our colleagues,
partners and donors for having supported us over these 35 years
in transforming WARDA into a veritable pan-African rice research
and development center.
Kanayo F. Nwanze
Director General
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