ISPC meeting participants

On 26 – 29 September we hosted a meeting of the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) of the CGIAR. This council provides independent advice to the CGIAR Fund Council (the donors) on the quality and relevance of the research carried by by the CG Centres and the CRPs. Their meetings are open to CG staff as well as other invitees. Jimmy gave an overview of the importance of livestock research. The KMIS team mobilized 11 posters on CGIAR in Ethiopia. The meeting provided a good insight into how the ISPC works and allowed several ILRI staff to contribute to the discussions. The committee members, the secretariat and others who attended the meeting were very grateful and impressed with the level of welcome and support provided by everyone involved.  They also enjoyed the Meskel bonfire and party. I also want to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the meeting and the field trip. Well done Addis!!

Bill Payne

This month we welcomed Bill Payne to the Addis campus. Bill is the Director of the CGIAR Research Programme on Drylands, led by ICARDA. Bill and his family will be based in Addis for the forseable future, at least until the political situation in Syria has been resolved. Welcome Bill!

Kiros Meles Hadgu

ICRAF has opened an office on the campus and appointed Kiros Meles Hadgu as ICRAF Ethiopia Country Representative. This brings the number of CG Centres on the campus to eight. It provides an opportunity to build collaboration not only between ILRI and ICRAF but between ICRAF and many of the other Centres here.  We are well on the way to becoming a true CG campus.