Implementing major international research programmes

The strategy followed so far in designing and implementing major international research and observation programmes has proved to be sound in principle and feasible in practice. This strategy is based on two principles: The programmes are based upon collaboration between the relevant United Nations bodies and one or more international scientific NGOs. Scientific quality and objectivity as well as policy making relevance is ensured in this way. Scientists from the participating countries participate in designing the international coordinating framework or research agenda, in interaction with a high-level international scientific steering committee. The programme framework developed this way is then integrated into their respective national research and observation activity.

Significant progress has been made during the first few years in integrating environmental science in major fields of science like agriculture and health etc. An example is the integration of a sustainable agriculture component into agricultural research as well as within the work of the international research centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), co-sponsored by the World Bank, FAO and UNDP.