The research projects that are granted support are selected according to their degree of correspondence with the development policy principles of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and with six priority areas derived from the 20 priority themes addressed by CGIAR. These priorities are as follows:

• Promoting conservation and characterization of underutlized plant genetic resources to increase the income of the poor,
• Tolerance to selected abiotic stresses,
• Increasing income from fruit and vegetables,
• Income increases from livestock,
• Integrated land, water and forest management at landscape level, as well as 
• Rural institutions and their governance.

The centres submit each year a proposal for research funding which corresponds to at least one priority area. In addition to the 15 CGIAR centers, AVRDC, ICIPE and research programs dealing with particular priority issues may submit a proposal.

The proposals for research funding are assigned to one of the six priority areas and examined from both a scientific and development policy perspective by a team of experts versed in this area. The teams then suggest to BEAF which projects they feel should receive support. The final selection is made by BMZ. BEAF conveys this decision to the centers and draws up the contracts.

When selecting projects for Germany’s agricultural research for development, BEAF concentrates mainly on the needs of small and medium-scale farmers. In marginal locations, in particular, their crop yields are frequently vulnerable due to a lack of sufficient nutrients, drought or salinisation which inhibit plant growth, and diseases which destroy harvests. All research projects supported by BEAF have one factor in common – an emphasis on breeding high-yield food plants which are resistant to environmental conditions, whether this entails adapting species for soils containing aluminium in Latin America or developing drought-tolerant species for the Sahel region. Furthermore it is important to secure soil and water resources sustainably and avoid harvest and post-harvest losses.

In order to guarantee the quality and relevance of the research, BEAF provides advice to the centers concerned during the research process. The development policy results are evaluated on the basis of the annual and final reports submitted. In selected cases BEAF conducts evaluations.

Furthermore the International Agricultural Research Centers and German Research Institutes can apply for small grants for innovative  projects. However, it is a precondition that the international center cooperates with a German Institute and accordingly the German one with an International Center.

• International Agricultural Research - List of BMZ Funded Projects. GTZ. September 2009
  gtz2009-9-en-list-of-bmz-funded-projects.pdf, 0,36 MB (English)
• Guidelines for Small Grants
  gtz2009-12-en-small-grant-guidelines.pdf, 0,07 MB (English)
• Project Funding Guidelines
  gtz2009-12-en-project-funding-guidelines.pdf, 0,17 MB (English)