Embracing 39 coconut-producing member-countries representing >98% global production, the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) promotes international collaboration in conservation and use of coconut genetic resources; improving coconut production, and efforts to boost linked livelihoods. COGENT/ Bioversity International have recently published a new Global Strategy for Conservation and Use of Coconut Genetic Resources. The Strategy arose from a 7-year consultation with more than 90 key-experts, receiving over 400 contributions. It has been supported by Bioversity International, CIRAD, the CGIAR research program Forests, Trees and Agroforestry, and ACIAR/DFAT, and aims to optimize conserving and using as much representative diversity as possible. This Strategy will provide a benchmark for implementing the comprehensive conservation and research agenda proposed by the international coconut research community, as a route to the enhanced wellbeing of the millions of coconut smallholders across the globe. Once: i) the COGENT Secretariat has been transferred from Bioversity International to its new host, Jakarta-based International Coconut Community (ICC) ii) a full time coordinator and support are in place, and iii) COGENT's 7 International Thematic Action Groups (ITAGs) are fully operational, ….COGENT will begin coordinating its operations. COGENT's ICC hosting will start in 2019, along with appointing a full-time ICC-funded COGENT Coordinator.