The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research was established as a Statutory Authority under the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act which came into effect on 3 June 1982. As part of the former Department of Foreign Affairs and now the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it is responsible to the relevant Minister.

ACIAR's mission is to reduce poverty, food security and promote sustainable natural resource management through international agricultural research partnerships for the benefit of developing countries and Australia.

Under the Act, ACAIR is to assist and encourage Australia's agricultural scientists to use their skills for the beneift of developing countries and, at the same time, work to resolve Australia'a own agricultural problems.

The functions of the Centre given in the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act are as follows:
 
 (a) to formulate programs and policies with respect to agricultural 
     research for either or both of the following purposes:
      (i) identifying agricultural problems of developing countries; 
     (ii) finding solutions for agricultural problems of developing 
          countries;
 
 (b) to commission agricultural research by persons or institutions
     in Australia (whether the research is to be conducted in
     Australia  or overseas) in accordance with such programs and
     policies; and  

 (c) to communicate to persons and institutions the results of such 
     agricultural research.
 
Agriculture is broadly defined to include animal and crop production, land use and related fields such as forestry, fisheries and post-harvest technology. The Centre also supports socio-economic as well as biological research.
 
The Centre conducts a program of consultation with developing country scientists and planners on priority areas for research.
 
The process is conducted through visits, consultations and workshops. Collaborative research projects are also commissioned by the Centre between developing country scientists and Australian research institutions.
 
There are three structural elements within the Centre: the Policy Advisory Council, the Board of Management, and the Centre Director and Staff. The Council, the Board and the Director report directly to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
 
The Centre's activities result in the need for projects to implement research findings in the field. Accordingly there is a close liaison between the Centre and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) which was involved in the establishment and provision of support services for the Centre. This was provided for formally by the inclusion of the Director of the Australian Agency for International Development on both the Policy Advisory Council and the Board of Management in an ex officio capacity.
 
The Policy Advisory Council is appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with a substantial number of its members required to be drawn from countries other than Australia. The Council has an overview role, giving advice on research priorities and Australia's research capacities, approving criteria and setting guidelines for evaluating programs. It also advises on modes of operation for the Centre and on sources of national or international expertise.  
The Board of Management is appointed by the Governor-General in Council. It is responsible for the conduct and control of the affairs of the Centre; planning, staffing, budgeting and control of programs and projects. It also provides guidance to the Director on the conduct of the affairs of the Centre.
 
The Centre Staff is composed of a Director, first appointed in September 1982, a scientific group, a Centre Secretary, and a management and administrative group, later reorganised into a Finance and Administrative Unit and a Program Support Unit.

These latter two units provide managerial policy advice and
administrative support services. The Scientific Staff are
responsible for identification of agricultural research priorities in developing countries, for subsequent preparation, monitoring and evaluation of collaborative research projects and communication of results.

ACIAR is funded from the Australian aid budget. As as April 1998, it has approximately fifty staff based in canberra and LES staff in the missions in the main countries with which it works.

ACIAR allocates its resources principally to research projects within regions and programs areas of primary interest to Australia's overall development cooperation program. The current program involves approximately 170 projects in Southeast Asia, China, South Asia, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific and southern Africa. ACIAR also has responsibility for Australia's contribution to the international agricultural research centres.

The Centre was established for a fixed term of twelve years with provision for a review of the Centre in its tenth year. The
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act made provision for a Trust Fund and the Government undertook a forward funding commitment of $A25 million for the first three years. Funding is received on the basis of an annual appropriation from within the global aid budget.
 
Director of the Centre:

 1982-1988     : Professor J R McWilliam
 1989-Aug 1995 : Dr G H L Rothschild
 Sep 1995-     : Dr R Clements
Board of Management Chairman:

 1982-1984        : Emeritus Professor Sir John Crawford AC, CBE 
 1986-Nov 1994    : Professor J L Dillon
 Dec 1994 -       : Professor R Garnaut AO

Sources
 
Commonwealth of Australia Acts No 9 of 1982, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act 1982
 
Commonwealth Government Directory Vol 1 Offices and Personnel 1986  
Commonwealth Government Directory Vol 2 FOI Statements - Foreign Affairs Portfolio pp 24-27

Commonwealth Government Directories, 1986- [May 1998]

Senate Hansard, 23 February 1982, pp 240-242
 
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Annual Report 1983-1984

DFAT News, 20 April 1998
Historical agency address
1982-1985: Reserve Bank Building, London Circuit, Canberra 
1985-1997: Drake Centre, 10 Moore Street, Canberra
1998-    : ACIAR House, Traeger Court, Fern Hill Park, Bruce ACT 2617
Legislation administered
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act 1982