Planet Ark : New Rust Strain Threatens Africa Wheat ? Researchers

New fungus strain threatens wheat

A new strain of wheat rust, named Ug99 (as first identified in Uganda 1999) could have a devastating on African and potentiall world wheat production, scientists warn. The search is on for what varieties resistant to the wind transmitted desease, now spread in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Reuters: : New Rust Strain Threatens Africa Wheat

Sciencenews: Wheat Warning?New Rust Could Spread Like Wildfire

CIMMYT: Sounding an Alarm - Wheat in peril from stem rust outbreak

Draft selection of authors for Global Assessment circulated

The selection of authors for the Global Assessment has been circulated August 1st to the members of the Bureau by the selection sub-committee. Members of the Bureau have until 8th August to eventually object to individual selections. The final selection will then be made by the sub-committee after taking into account the feedback of the full Bureau.

'Ecosystem services': a vital term in policy debates

Walter Reid, Robert Watson and Harold Mooney defend the use of the term 'ecosystem services' as an essential way of communicating to policymakers the importance of the benefits that people receive from ecosystems.

'Ecosystem services': a vital term in policy debates - SciDev.Net

UK seeks views on 'science for development' strategy

The British government has launched an online consultation to seek guidance on how it should support science and innovation as part of its international aid programme.

The consultation was launched this week by Gordon Conway, the former president of the Rockefeller Foundation, who was appointed chief scientist at the Department for International Development (DFID) earlier this year and is currently drawing up a science and innovation strategy for the department.

UK seeks views on 'science for development' strategy - PR SciDev.Net

Consultation page

Nomination for regional assessments: ESAP and NAE by 27 July, CWANA by 8 August

The IAASTD is now soliciting author nominations for the CWANA, ESAP and NAE Sub-global Assessments. Deadline for the receipt of nominations for CWANA is August 8, and we are planning to hold the CWANA Sub-global Authors meeting in January, 2006. Deadline to submit nominations for ESAP and NAE Sub-global Assessments is July 27th. We plan to have these meetings in the October/November timeframe.

Please send nominations to bmcintyre@worldbank.org with copy to bisay@worldbank.org including a 3-page cv for each expert nominated plus the name of the chapter/subchapter for which they are being nominated. Please note that we cannot accept cvs that are longer than 3 pages. Self nominations are welcome.

Information and dates on LAC and SSA Assessments will follow. We encourage everyone, however, to begin sending us nominations for these two Sub-global Assessments as well.

IAASTD Bureau meeting in Montpellier

The second meeting of the multi-stakeholder Bureau of the IAASTD took place in Montpellier, France, on 25 - 27 March. The outlines of the global and five sub-regional assessments, a revised budget, rules and procedures and a new timetable were approved. Subcommittees on finance and on communication and outreach were established.
An NGO report on the Bureau meeting in Montpellier

Decisions of the Bureau meeting

Deadline for global assessment authors nomination extended to June 27th

The deadline for nomination of authors for the global assessment has been extended to June 27th. A sub-committee of the IAASTD Bureau will thereafter suggest a selection of 2 co-ordinating and 7 lead authors for each of the 13 chapters.
More details on the authors nomination process

Official website of IAASTD relaunched

The official web site of the IAASTD has been relaunched by the Secretariat with substantially improved information and explanations, including a list of members of the Bureau.

http://www.agassessment.org

Agenda of IAASTD Bureau meeting and all sub-regional outlines available now

A draft agenda for the next IAASTD Bureau meeting in Montpellier, France has been circulated with a list of decisions to be made. Also all sub-regional assessment outlines are now available.
(See next meetings and past meetings on NGO IAASTD homepage

Worldbank hires senior specialist and program manager for IAASTD

The World Bank accepts through May 31, 2005 applications for a position to assist the Director of the IAASTD. Advanced degree in Agriculture and Rural development and extended experience on the issue are required among other criteria.
The World Bank Posting: R200505E002 - Sr Technical Spec. Program Manager

Deadline for author nominations extended: 10 June

The deadline for nominations for authors for the Global Assessment and for CWANA has been extended until June 10. Please ensure that each nomination contains:
(1) a curriculum vitae (maximum of 3 pages)
(2) Chapter and subchapter for which nomination is intended (global or sub-regional)

Global Forum on Agricultural Research, GFAR, Newsletter May 2005

A useful resource for plenty of international and regional meetings and networks
EGFAR Newsletter May 2005

EU citizens attitudes toward development aid survey

A Eurobarometer survey on 25.000 EU citizens from 25 countries taken on behalf of the EU Commission reveals that 88% have not heard about the UN Millenium goals 2000, 68% do not believe that extreme poverty will be reduced by 2015. Priorities for development are seen to be reducing armed conflicts, debt-relief and provision of training and technical expertise.
executive summary (application/pdf Object)
full report

Nominations for Authors for Global and Subglobal Assessments

We are now soliciting author nominations for the global and the CWANA Assessment. We would like for each of you to solicit nominations as broadly as possible. Authors will be selected to ensure multidisciplinary, geographic and gender balance.
1. Deadline for receipt of nominations is May 13.
2. Cvs must be no longer than 3 pages (please do not include photos).
3. Self-nominations are accepted.
4. It is essential that you indicate whether the author will be interested in the Global or CWANA subglobal Assessment and in particular which chapter (subchapter).
5. Please send nominations to bmcintyre@worldbank.org  with copy to bisay@worldbank.org.

Description of the IAASTD on 3 pages

An executive summary about the IAASTD based on the decisions of the Plenary and other official documents for a quick overview.
All about the IAAST on three pages

First results of design team North America and Europe

A first draft of the results of the design team meeting for North America and Europe, which took place in London 14 - 16 May is now available for internal use.
NAE draft by chapters

Outline and chapters of global Assessment

The outline of the global assessment, as discussed by the global design team
in Bangkok is now ready.There is an outline of the chapters
http://iaastd.org/docs/Global%20Outline04Apr05.pdf
And there is an annotated version, which goes into more details of these
chapters http://iaastd.org/docs/IAASTD_Annotated_Chapters_04Apr_05.pdf

GEF approves 3 Mio $ for Assessment

The Global environmental facility has approved 3 mio US $ to assist with developing country participation in the IAASTD.

GEF approval and budget overview

Outline of the Central-Western Africa and North Asia Assessment

The outline for the regional assessment of Central-Western Africa and North Asia has been finalised.
CWANA assessment outline by chapters

Kofi Annan presents "in larger freedom"

The UN secretary general presented a report how to implement the Millenium development goals of 2000. The report sets the agenda for the summit of world leaders in September 2005, which will explore further steps towards these goals. One of the goals is to half extreme poverty by 2015.
UN: "In larger freedom"

Millenium Development goals