Germany, as a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), has been committing substantial resources to development-oriented agricultural research for over 30 years. A quarter of the funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is not tied to specific projects, but is channelled into research-centre budgets. The remaining 75% goes to the Advisory Service on Agricultural Research for Development (BEAF) of GTZ for project-linked development.

This means that BEAF is responsible for selecting the centres’ research projects to be funded in accordance with development and scientific criteria. BEAF also supports and finances the secondment of German experts to the international agricultural research centres. Furthermore it advises BMZ, as one of the largest of the 64 donors in the CGIAR, on exercising its tasks on the steering committees.

BEAF is active on all the major committees, both national and international. Comprehensive advisory services are also offered on public relations work in the area of research.

BEAF’s particular expertise lies in linking research with development cooperation, evaluating research projects and monitoring their results.

• German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
  Agricultural Research at BMZ
  bmz.de/en/issues/.../agrarforschung.html
• Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
  Research & Impact at CGIAR
  www.cgiar.org/impact/index.html
• AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center
  Activities at AVRDC
  www.avrdc.org/activities.html
• African Insect Science for Food and Health
  Research focus of ICIPE
  www.icipe.org/home/8?task=view