The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a 40-yearold strategic partnership that supports a network of 15 international agricultural research centres working for the eradication of hunger and poverty at the global level. Lessons from its recent reform encompass the adjustment of its organisational structure (separating "doers" and "funders"), shifting from an institutional to a programmatic approach, consultation with stakeholders to discuss long-term strategy and research priorities, the importance of a broad partnership involving local and emerging research organisations, and management of the process of change.