The Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) is an external, impartial standing panel of eight experts in scientific domains pertinent to CGIAR’s general mission of research for development. Members are appointed by the CGIAR Council (CC), the representative body of funders of CGIAR and country representatives.
Date published: Monday, 27 July 2026
Closing date for Applications: Monday 7 September 2026 at 4pm CEST
CGIAR’s mission is to deliver science and innovations that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. ISDC provides rigorous, independent strategic advice to the CGIAR Council and the CGIAR System as a whole and is responsible for providing strategic oversight and ensuring robust, impartial assessment of the CGIAR Strategy, research structure and processes, funding requests, and research proposals. In addition, the ISDC leads:
Foresight work to inform CGIAR’s longer-term research strategy;
Horizon scanning to provide analysis on how emerging trends and developments can be considered in CGIAR’s work;




Priority-setting exercises and analyses integrating both ex-post and ex-ante analyses.
Therefore, it is vital that ISDC includes skills, disciplines, and backgrounds relevant to the CGIAR research and innovation agenda. Learn about the current members here. ISDC members serve a three-year term that may be renewed for an additional three years. The CGIAR Council is currently recruiting up to two members to start in January and July 2027, respectively.
Who are we seeking
CGIAR is seeking to fill up to two ISDC member vacancies to join current serving members who represent a diverse group of recognized experts in their respective fields. The commencement date for one of the selected appointees would be January 1st, 2027. The other appointee is expected to start July 1st, 2027.
To assist CGIAR in maintaining an overall ISDC member composition that enables ISDC to deliver on its mandate in the context of CGIAR’s Research

📌 Independent Science for Development Council (Callao)
🏢 CGIAR
📍 Callao