The year 2006 is an important landmark in the short history of GFAR. Firstly, it will mark the
tenth anniversary of the founding of GFAR. Secondly in 2006, GFAR will hold its third
general conference when stakeholders get together to reflect on the past and plan for the
future. Finally, it represents the final year of our triennial business plan cycle (2004-2006). It
is therefore a year when we should reflect on our past efforts and achievements, and share the
outcome with others. Efforts were made by the Secretariat to devote some attention to a
particularly well-chosen theme that reflects the vision and mission of GFAR during each year
of the current triennium. In 2004, the theme was on partnerships, while in 2005 the focus
shifted to inclusiveness, an essential part of partnerships. In line with the significance of 2006
for GFAR, the thematic focus will be managing and sharing information. We will therefore
direct a substantial part of our energies and resources towards the Management Information
Systems (MIS) component of our business plan, to round off the triennium, without
neglecting or abandoning on-going activities under other pillars, which will be taken towards
their logical conclusion. Nevertheless we envisage a minimum number of new activities in
areas other than MIS