The Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program director, Tom Randolph, yesterday, 8 October 2012, attended the day-long 45th anniversary celebration in Nairobi for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

The celebration was hosted by Ruben Echeverria, CIAT director general and Robin Buruchara, CIAT regional director. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) director general, Jimmy Smith, also participated, as well as CIAT colleague, Brigitte Maass. Randolph served as a panelist in the afternoon discussion on ‘Strengthening South – South Partnerships in Africa’s Development’.

The panel session explored the role and challenges of partnerships and, more specifically, lessons from experiences with south-to-south partnerships. In his remarks, Randolph highlighted the changing needs and nature of partnerships since the CGIAR centres, including CIAT, were established in the 1960s and 1970s. He highlighted the current challenge the Livestock and Fish program faces in working closely with development actors to identify and test solutions for…