What’s AIARD got to do with it?

1. What’s AIARD got to do with it? EVERYTHING!

2. “So, what we hope is that there will be no earmarks because if there are earmarks, agriculture is going to lose. Because the constituency is not powerful enough in this city to overcome the other constituencies for other very legitimate demands that are not quite as much based on what is needed in the developing world” Andrew Natsios (re: the Millennium Challenge Account)

3. “The US Treasury yesterday said that boosting growth would be the ‘top priority’ at the Group of Eight finance ministers meeting this weekend” The Financial Times (re: the G-8)

4. “80% of the poor people of the world live in rural areas and are farmers or herders. If you want to attack equity problems in the developing world, income problems, nutrition problems, even education problems, you have to start with agriculture” Andrew Natsios (Congressional Testimony)

5. “The battle against hunger and poverty can only be won in partnership with civil society, NGOs, and the private sector” World Food Summit

6. “A small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead

7. CENTRAL QUESTION Is it possible to build a US constituency with the strength of influence and innovation that reflects the importance of agricultural R&D in developing countries? What is AIARD’s role?

8. 6 YEARS OF PROGRESS • NCFAP’s trade-led paradigm/overarching constituency • “Passing the cup” • McPherson effort/Collins & Co. • IAG paper/win-win book • NASULGC/IACC • Seeds of Hope/working together

9. New Title XII • New Administration • Partnership to Cut Hunger in Africa • (9/11) • MDG’s – “cutting hunger & poverty” • MCA • USAID Agriculture Strategy; “New Agriculture”

10. GOOD LEARNING • Hope • Value of partners/appreciation of strengths • Importance of overarching constituency • Hard to “hold the center”…focus on problem vs individual interests • Intense competition; convoluted results • Forces in our favor: Global dynamics; major int. conferences; interested American public; U.S. leadership; MDGs, etc.

11. AIARD “LEAPS” TO THE FUTURE L = Leadership (intellectual, policy) E = Education (new agriculture; win-win) A = Advocacy (information to policymakers) P = Private sector cooperation S = Strategic action

12. THE MISSION (2 issues) • How to increase overall funding (mobilizing constituencies) • How funds would be applied (sector strategy)

13. STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK “Bridging” first and second issues - - identify linkages between elements of the sector strategy and constituencies whose cause stand to gain from the effort

14. WHO STANDS TO GAIN? • US-based global companies • US farmers/agribusiness → expanded markets • Information technology • US military • Groups dedicated to poverty reduction • HIV/AIDS groups – health/nutrition connection

15. Women’s empowerment/education groups • Democratization/rule-of-law groups • Micro enterprise supporters • Child survival groups • Environmental groups • National security interests

16. KEY AIARD MESSAGES FOR OUR TIME • Sense of urgency; overcoming a decade of neglect • Increase overall resources for agriculture • More rural investment by other areas (sharpen rationale, e.g., HIV/AIDS) • Getting Ag/R&D into crisis-related opportunity

17. KEY MESSAGES CONTINUED…. • Conflict →relief→development; development is a pillar of national security and a long-term proposition • Focus on problem-solving (need) • Agriculture→nutrition→health→economic development→competitiveness • Economic growth is central – relationship of human capital development • Science and technology as key drivers • Food and society • Win-win benefits

18. TACTICS (Getting there)

19. CORE PLAYERS AIARD BIFAD Collins & Co. NASULGC (IACC) Plus new allies

20. AIARD CAN HELP…… • Make the message more consistent; get the word out to a wider audience • Solidify a critical mass of policy makers to call upon, involve in Capitol Hill Forum, etc. • Private sector • Provide input to USAID and others • Identify key “champions” for a grander charge; major foreign affairs focus

21. THE IMPORTANCE OF AIARD TO THE WORLDS POOR AND HUNGRY • Primary U.S. constituency dedicated to alleviating world hunger & poverty • Strong state/grassroots contacts and political support • Wide-ranging membership of professionals in almost every state of the union: “AIARD members are from universities, private voluntary organizations, consulting companies, trade associations, private firms, national and international agencies” • Strategic alliance builders • Intellectual capacity (increase connection with policy)

22. THE COMING YEAR Tactics for 2003 - 2004

23. Define more sharply AIARD identity and roles vis-à-vis other allies • Wider coalition-building—U’s and beyond • Capture private sector interest • Issue papers on Ag interface with other areas

24. 2. Broaden our membership (Membership Committee) to: • Reflect new allies • Reflect “new agriculture” • Expand our influence • Include more members from other development organizations • Address diversity issues • Private sector (including corporate sponsors) • Bring in young professionals; returned Peace Corps

25. 3. Build on success of Capitol Hill Forum (Education/Advocacy Committee) • Use to convey a sense of urgency • Annual AIARD Policy Event • Time sensitive theme (Security? Multi-functionality of agriculture/RD?) = increasing US investment • Committed co-sponsors (AIARD plus): ACDI/VOCA; Congressional Hunger Center; Future Harvest; IFAD; NASULGC; Bread; Private sector companies; Foundations; Co-ops, etc. • Follow up with Congressional testimony

26. 4. Add a development function (Finance and Development Committee) • Resources for a Secretariat? • Forum support • Student scholarships • Issue papers

27. “The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but seeing with new eyes” Marcel Proust