The Centre of Excellence for South-South Cooperation in Agriculture ISSCA is guided by a robust governance structure designed to ensure strategic oversight, institutional coordination, and high-impact delivery.
To ensure effective implementation, ISSCA is managed by a Core Working Group under the leadership of the Head of the Centre. This group is responsible for translating strategic guidance into operational action across all functional areas—including planning, execution, monitoring, partnerships, and communications.
ICRISAT Leadership: Provides overarching direction and institutional support.
CoE Head: Leads operations, supervises the Core Working Group, and ensures strategic and institutional alignment.
Core Working Group: Implements COE activities, manages day-to-day coordination, and drives results across the platform. The core working group of ISSCA has five verticals namely Technical Management, Program Management, Communication, Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization and Operations.
This multi-tiered governance model ensures that the ISSCA remains a globally relevant, regionally responsive, and technically robust platform—one that is built on collaboration, guided by vision, and committed to delivering sustainable agricultural transformation across the Global South.
A distinguished Advisory Board, composed of senior representatives from national ministries, international organizations, regional platforms, donor foundations, CGIAR centres, the private sector, and ICRISAT leadership shall be constituted. This diverse and high-level body shall provide strategic guidance on the Centre’s long-term direction, global partnerships, and alignment with evolving development priorities.
The Advisory Board shall on constitution shall serves as the apex strategic body for ISSCA. Its core mandate shall be to provide high-level counsel on the ISSCA’s vision, foster linkages across geographies and sectors, and guide the design of impactful initiatives that resonate with the needs of the Global South
