Bullet Points from Carlos Perez del Castillo video interview on outcomes from the second Consortium Board Meeting, May 23-25, 2010

• The Consortium was officially established in May. To date 14 Centers have signed the Consortium Constitution with the final Center expected to sign the constitution in June when its Board meets. The Consortium Board is inspired and excited by the spirit of collective action, and Centers know they have to change to adopt the new way of working together —it isn’t business as usual.
  
  
• Benefits of the Consortium to the Centers will include: greater mobilization of resources; more unrestricted resources; lower administrative and transactions costs; and a collective voice to represent the Centers.
  
  
• The work that has been done by the Alliance has been improved considerably since the first draft.  The Consortium Board approved the Strategy and Results Framework as presented by the Alliance and will submit it to the Funders Forum for its consideration. The Board would like to revise the Strategy in three years rather than six years as originally envisioned to incorporate elements that are missing and to be able to take the evolving world scenario into account.
  
  
• The Board considered four “fast-tracked” Mega Program proposals on climate change, maize, rice and wheat. The Consortium Board has requested proponent Centers to revise these proposals. Once the revised proposals are received and considered, the Board will decide which Mega Programs will go forward to the Fund Council for their consideration and possible financing.
  
  
• The Board also reviewed 11 Mega Program concept notes that will move forward to proposal development for the Consortium Board’s consideration at its next meeting in October 2010.
  
  
• The search for the Consortium CEO is underway, led by a task force of Consortium Board members. Nominations are open through June 25. The process should be finished in 13 or fewer weeks.
  
  
• The proposals from prospective host countries for the Consortium Office – Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), France (Montepllier), India (New Delhi), Italy (Rome) and Kenya (Nairobi) - are being evaluated and Consortium Board is visiting the possible locations. A final decision on the Consortium Office is anticipated by early September.