Because the Generation Challenge Programme has a broad mandate to better understand and apply plant genetic diversity in crop improvement efforts for the resource-poor, the GCP’s Stakeholder Committee is a diverse group. It includes both the individuals involved in GCP’s research and those who will benefit or be affected by the outputs of GCP. The GCP’s Stakeholder Committee is compiled of researchers inside and outside the current scope of GCP’s research arena, as well as private sector companies, civil society organisations, regional agriculture fora, and, of course, farmers themselves.

Regular interaction with potential partners, particularly developing country research institutions and scientists, is an important task in GCP and a significant amount of effort is devoted to these interactions. Through both the research projects and the capacity-building activities, GCP is able to meet many developing country scientists who bring fresh ideas, experiences and networks to the table. These valuable interactions with our NARS partners and the Stakeholder Committee have helped identify innovative new projects, high-impact opportunities for capacity-building, and key leaders in NARS research communities who serve as catalysts for technology transfer and knowledge generation.

The Stakeholder Committee provides strategic guidance to GCP Management, and serves as a neutral platform for inter-stakeholder dialogue on issues related to the various stages of Challenge Programme development and implementation. Its members meet once or more per year, together with members of the GCP Management Team to receive an update on activities and provide feedback from their stakeholders’ perspectives. The Committee is convened by GFAR, the Global Forum on Agricultural Research, and financially supported by the European Commission. The GCP Director and the SP5 Leader are the liaison with the Committee.

It must be recognised however that the Stakeholder Committee has not, to a certain extent, functioned as envisioned. In a bid to address this issue, there are plans by the European Commission, GFAR and GCP’s Management Team to revamp and revitalise this vital Committee, and dialogue has already been initiated. The Stakeholder Committee reports to the Programme Steering Committee (PSC).