The Regional Program for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Central Asia and Caucasus was initiated in 1998, and operates as a consortium of eight National Agricultural Research Organizations, eight Centers of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR consortium members) and three additional advanced research institutions (non-CGIAR consortium members). The Program assists the countries in developing the national research systems for sustainably increasing the productivity of crops and livestock through development, adoption and transfer of technologies; natural resource management, conservation strategies and socio-economic knowledge. It fosters cooperation among the countries in the Region and promotes their collaboration with the wider international community. The Program is overseen by a Steering Committee composed of National Coordinators from the eight Countries, and directors-general of the international agricultural research centers. The Program Facilitation Unit (PFU), based in Tashkent, provides policy, technical and administrative support for the implementation of the various activities and projects. It operates under the legal agreement between the Government of Uzbekistan and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) on behalf of the consortium.