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Partners indicated their priorities for international research interventions—these were formalized as
MAIZE Strategic Initiatives—and their desired involvement in international maize research (summarized
in Table 3). Forms of partner engagement are also described in detail in Section 2 of this document. The
extent of partner engagement will depend significantly on available funding, both through MAIZE or
other sources (for example, national budget allocations to national agricultural research systems).
The Strategic Initiatives are diverse and each involves a different network of partners. Global initiatives
such as SI 8 (Seeds of Discovery) and SI 9 (New tools and methods for national research systems and
small‐ and medium‐scale enterprises) focus strongly on research and information‐management
partners; systems‐focused initiatives such as SI 2 (Sustainable intensification and income opportunities
for the poor) and SI 3 (Smallholder precision agriculture) need a wide range of national, regional, and
international partners for both research and development. SI 5 (Towards doubling maize productivity)
and to some extent SI 4 (Stress‐tolerant maize for the poorest) gain strength from the innovative
interaction of public and private partners, with MAIZE as a neutral facilitator of effective partner
interactions.
In the current program formulation, some 343 partners are included (for a complete listing, see Annex
2). For 179 of these, research involvement is documented through formal agreements and includes
access to joint research funds. Of the 343 partners, 130 (70 funded and with formal agreement) are
national agricultural research systems, 75 (38 funded and with formal agreement) are universities in
developing countries, 18 (6 funded and with formal agreement) are regional and international
organizations, 21 (4 funded and with formal agreement) are advanced research institutes (ARIs), 46 (22
funded and with formal agreement) are from the private sector, and 42 (4 funded and with formal
agreement) are non‐government organizations (NGOs), community‐based organizations (CBOs) and
farmer cooperatives.
Partner engagement is primarily by consensus, following collaborative planning or based on peer‐review
(see below). However, the high level of bilateral funding in MAIZE means that donors strongly influence
the choice of financially‐supported partners, mostly by determining the geographic focus (investments
in sub‐Saharan Africa are emphasized over investments in Asia, Latin America, or for global activities)
and type of investment (about 60% of the resources to partners are allocated for local adaptive research
and high‐leverage deployment activities that foster impact). In many instances, donors take a strong role
in co‐conceiving bilateral projects and have very specific ideas regarding whose participation to fund.
Whereas CGIAR unrestricted funding to MAIZE will make up the difference between bilateral funding
and desirable investments by Strategic Initiative and region (prioritization for this will be influenced by
partners, as described in the Budget section), the amount of available funding may limit the extent of
partner engagement. For example, maize‐based systems research in SI 2—an initiative that requires
strong partner engagement—was prioritized for six internationally relevant maize based systems with
high poverty rates (Figure 3, Annex 1). Currently only three of those systems, accounting for 200 million
maize‐dependent poor, have attracted bilateral donor support. CGIAR or additional bilateral resources
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