The Association of International Agricultural Research Centers (AIARC) was founded in 1992 by the International Agricultural Research Centers (the Centers) affiliated with the CGIAR; Rockefeller and Ford foundations; and USAID. It was the goal of these founding organizations to provide global benefits to research scientists living and working at these Centers.
AIARC is a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 membership corporation, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, and member organizations include twenty-two international agricultural research centers with staff living and working in over 100 countries.
The mission of AIARC is to support and leverage the resources of international agricultural research organizations by providing centralized management of specialized global personnel functions, to include: payroll, employee benefits, risk management, and compliance to reduce administrative time and costs. This pooling of resources provides the AIARC member organizations with benefits and services that would not be available or economical if performed individually. This arrangement enables the member organizations to focus on their missions – achieving sustainable food security and reducing world poverty.
The overall responsibility for the governance of the AIARC rests with the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is elected by the member organizations and includes the chief executive officer.
The following is a current listing of the Board of Directors:
- Dr. Simon Heck, AIARC Chair, Director General, CIP
- Kick Geels, AIARC Vice-Chair, Director of Finance, CIMMYT
- Carla Lazarte, Head, Human Resources & Organizational Development, IRRI
- Angshu Sengupta, Interim Deputy Director General, Corporate Services, icipe
- Kumar Tumuluru, Director of Corporate Services, CIFOR-ICRAF
- John Conroy, External Director, Independent
- David Richter, External Director, Independent
- Jeffrey T. Hungate, President & CEO, AIARC
Mission
AIARC supports and leverages the resources of international agricultural research organizations by providing centralized management of specialized global personnel functions to include payroll, employee benefits, risk management, and compliance to reduce administrative time and costs. This pooling of resources provides the AIARC member organizations with benefits and services that would not be available or economical if performed individually.
Vision
AIARC is dedicated to providing international agricultural research organizations with high-quality benefits, competitive prices, and exceptional customer service to enable member organizations to focus on their missions — achieving a world with sustainable and resilient food, land, and water systems that deliver diverse, healthy, safe, sufficient, and affordable diets, and ensure improved livelihoods and greater social equality, within planetary and regional environmental boundaries.
Teamwork is the cornerstone to our success.
A harmonious collaboration between AIARC staff, members, and vendors creates a synergistic partnership for all. We will treat each other with mutual respect, fairness, and integrity at all times.
Inclusiveness allows us to make better decisions.
AIARC is a global organization that encourages and appreciates various backgrounds, diverse expertise, and multiple perspectives.
Our standards are exceptionally high.
We are stewards of our members’ financial affairs and take this responsibility very seriously by being ethical, honest, and fiscally responsible.
Transparency is our norm.
AIARC will abide by all laws and public disclosure requirements. We will openly communicate with members while keeping personal information confidential.
Our members deserve to be satisfied.
AIARC strives to provide each member with positive client interactions and experiences. We will listen and respond to each member in a timely, competent, and professional manner.
Our success allows members to focus on their missions.
AIARC will constantly strive to add value by lessening the administrative burden and leveraging the pooled resources.