William Dar
Encyclopedia
William Dollente Dar is an international administrator, currently serving as the Director General of ICRISAT. He is a citizen of the Philippines
where he was born, raised and educated. He specialised originally in horticulture, receiving his doctoral degree from the University of the Philippines
at Los Banos
. After serving on the faculty of the Benguet State University
in the northern Philippines, he became the first director of the Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Research
(BAR) in 1988. This was a period when the Philippines started to invest much in building a national system of advanced agricultural research institutes, such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute, PhilRice.
William Dar was designated the director of the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Rural Development (PCARRD) and served on the governing boards of international research bodies such as the IRRI and CIMMYT and at ICRISAT. He also served for a brief while as Acting Secretary of Agriculture and as Presidential Adviser on Rural Development during the Presidency of Joseph Estrada
. He was selected as Director General of ICRISAT in the year 1999. He has continued ever since in that position.
ICRISAT, which is an international agricultural research center in the consortium of CGIAR centers had faced multiple crises in the 1990s. The issue at the core had to do with whether ICRISAT should focus entirely on the arid
land agricultural challenges of sub Saharan Africa, and move the headquarters to a location in Africa. The continued differences at the level of Governance over this matter had led to lack of clarity in research priorities and programs. During 1997-1999, there were three successive Directors General. William Dar is credited with steering this debate from one of India-versus-Africa to a more fruitful discussion on India and Africa. Agencies in India have granted significant financial resources to ICRISAT since 2002. An example is the Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the large charities connected to the House of Tata
. In spite of increased support and expressions of relevance of ICRISAT research in India, a set of external reviews commissioned by the World Bank
and the CGIAR Science Council in 2003 recommended the shifting of ICRISAT headquarters to a location in sub Saharan Africa. This recommendation was not accepted by the membership of CGIAR in the Annual General Meeting of CGIAR in 2003. Since then, investor confidence in the stability of ICRISAT has grown. The annual revenues grew from less than USD 24 million in 2003 to USD 52 million in 2009. Major investors now include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, besides the Governments of US (USAID), UK (DFID)and India (ICAR
and DBT
besides State Governments).
An important development in this period was the formation of a wide range of partnerships with non-corporate as well as corporate private sector in India. Some of the international administrators considered this development a risk to the reputation of an inter-governmental organization and it was included as a term of reference in an externally commissioned review in 2009. This external review in 2009 analysed the developments and agreed that there was indeed evidence of stability in programs and confidence among partners and investors.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
where he was born, raised and educated. He specialised originally in horticulture, receiving his doctoral degree from the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
at Los Banos
Los Banos
Los Banos could refer to:*Los Banos, California, United States*Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines...
. After serving on the faculty of the Benguet State University
Benguet State University
Benguet State University is a state university located in La Trinidad in Benguet province, Philippines. Its name is originally La Trinidad Agricultural High School, which was later changed to La Trinidad National Agricultural School . When the school was nationalized, its name was again changed to...
in the northern Philippines, he became the first director of the Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Research
Bureau of Agricultural Research (Philippines)
The Philippines' Bureau of Agricultural Research , abbreviated as BAR, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that all agricultural research is coordinated and undertaken for maximum utility to agriculture.-History:In 1901, the United...
(BAR) in 1988. This was a period when the Philippines started to invest much in building a national system of advanced agricultural research institutes, such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute, PhilRice.
William Dar was designated the director of the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Rural Development (PCARRD) and served on the governing boards of international research bodies such as the IRRI and CIMMYT and at ICRISAT. He also served for a brief while as Acting Secretary of Agriculture and as Presidential Adviser on Rural Development during the Presidency of Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
. He was selected as Director General of ICRISAT in the year 1999. He has continued ever since in that position.
ICRISAT, which is an international agricultural research center in the consortium of CGIAR centers had faced multiple crises in the 1990s. The issue at the core had to do with whether ICRISAT should focus entirely on the arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
land agricultural challenges of sub Saharan Africa, and move the headquarters to a location in Africa. The continued differences at the level of Governance over this matter had led to lack of clarity in research priorities and programs. During 1997-1999, there were three successive Directors General. William Dar is credited with steering this debate from one of India-versus-Africa to a more fruitful discussion on India and Africa. Agencies in India have granted significant financial resources to ICRISAT since 2002. An example is the Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the large charities connected to the House of Tata
Tata family
The Tatas are a wealthy Parsi family in India. Originally a priestly family in Navsari, they have been active in industry and philanthropy since the nineteenth century...
. In spite of increased support and expressions of relevance of ICRISAT research in India, a set of external reviews commissioned by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and the CGIAR Science Council in 2003 recommended the shifting of ICRISAT headquarters to a location in sub Saharan Africa. This recommendation was not accepted by the membership of CGIAR in the Annual General Meeting of CGIAR in 2003. Since then, investor confidence in the stability of ICRISAT has grown. The annual revenues grew from less than USD 24 million in 2003 to USD 52 million in 2009. Major investors now include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, besides the Governments of US (USAID), UK (DFID)and India (ICAR
Icar
Icar is a free science fiction role-playing game designed and published by Rob Lang. Icar was first created in 1990 by Robert Lang by viewing others playing RPGs at the Finchley Games Club. Although most of the content is created by Robert Lang, the game is supported by a close knit team of play...
and DBT
DBT
DBT may refer to:* Danish Board of Technology, a technology assessment institution in Denmark* DBT * DBT Online Inc. a US data mining company* .dbt, the extension of a DBase file format...
besides State Governments).
An important development in this period was the formation of a wide range of partnerships with non-corporate as well as corporate private sector in India. Some of the international administrators considered this development a risk to the reputation of an inter-governmental organization and it was included as a term of reference in an externally commissioned review in 2009. This external review in 2009 analysed the developments and agreed that there was indeed evidence of stability in programs and confidence among partners and investors.