The Forum's Secretariat

The GFAR’s Secretariat
The Global Forum’s Secretariat provides support to GFAR-Steering Committee and to all stakeholders as they work together in global, inter-regional and regional partnerships, helping them undertake joint actions through the Forum's functions. The GFAR Secretariat, located within the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, is deliberately maintained as a small unit and comprises an Executive Secretary, assisted by Senior Officers, administrative staff and volunteers, several of whom are seconded to the Secretariat from different institutions.

The Secretariat facilitates the operation of the Forum and stimulates multi-partner actions towards delivery of the agreed GFAR Programme of Work:

• by helping information and knowledge flow among ARD stakeholders 
• by supporting the development of strategic agenda for agricultural research for development–encouraging dialogue among all relevant stakeholders on topics of common interest;
• by stimulating the development of action networks and research partnerships among ARD stakeholders;
• by strengthening and aiding the transformation of the various AR4D constituencies in the context of linking research to development..

As part of this work, the Secretariat assists in the work of convening the different types of meetings held by the Forum.
This includes helping to prepare and organize the GCARD.

The Secretariat also helps to formulate the Forum’s Business Plan and supports its implementation through an annual Program of Work.