Opening Session
Priorities and Strategies for Soil and Water Aspects of Natural Resources Management Research in the CGIAR
Strategic Study of Institution Strengthening Research and Services
Perspectives on Policy and Management Research in the CGIAR
Study of Roots and Tubers Research in the CGIAR
CGIAR Priorities and Strategies
Medium-Term Resource Allocation Process (1998-2000)
Proposals for Systemwide Initiatives
Future Reviews
External Review Process
ICLARM Research Agenda
Future Meetings
Other Business
The TAC Chair, Dr. Donald Winkelmann, opened the meeting and welcomed the 11 TAC Members present, including new member Dr. Keiji Kainuma; the representatives of FAO, Drs. Henri Carsalade and Stein Bie; the representative of UNEP, Dr. Carlos Zulberti; the Executive Secretary of the CGIAR, Mr. Alexander von der Osten; the Chair of the Centre Directors' Committee, Dr. Lukas Brader; the Chair of the Centre Board Chairs' Committee, Dr. Wanda Collins; a number of Centre Directors, Board Chairs and Observers; and staff of the TAC and CGIAR Secretariats. ICRAF Director General, Dr. Pedro Sanchez, welcomed participants on behalf of the Centre which hosted the Meeting.
The report of TAC 67 was adopted without amendments. There were no matters arising from TAC 67. The provisional agenda for TAC 68 was adopted with the addition of several items under Other Business.
Mr. von der Osten reported on the outcome of ICW'95 which marked the fifth and final milestone of the renewal process. His report highlighted the stabilization of the CGIAR's financial situation; revitalization of its governance; operation of the new programme/budgeting process; broadening of partnerships with national agricultural research systems, advanced research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector; widening of membership of the Group to include a growing number of developing countries; and TAC's priority setting exercise. The CGIAR's 1996 budget was expected to be fully funded at approximately US$ 300 million.
The Committee considered the draft report of this TAC-guided study in light of comments received from some members of the Group and the Centres with a view to finalizing it as input to the review of CGIAR priorities and strategies. TAC endorsed the paper's integrated natural resources management framework (INRM) which established criteria to evaluate Centres' proposals in this area of research in terms of their potential contribution to improved understanding of a range of productivity enhancing, resource-conserving, spatial, temporal, and diffusion-adoption linkages. The Committee discussed the difficulty of obtaining good estimates of the likely impact of soil and water degradation on future food production in developing countries. TAC endorsed the paper's recommendations that the SWNM initiative and its four-member consortia be accepted as priorities for funding subject to further consultation with TAC in 1996, and that a new initiative be developed focusing on research related to adoption, adaptation, and use of existing NRM technologies and knowledge. The paper's criteria for judging alternative modes of INRM research implementation and its conclusion that there was no convincing argument for the establishment of a new CGIAR Centre to deal specifically with INRM research were also favourably received. The report of this study will be revised in light of the comments received and provided to the Group at MTM'96; the major elements of annexes I and II of the report will be integrated in the report and also be made available separately as background papers.
TAC considered the final report of the study panel which was chaired by Dr. John Nickel in light of the discussion of the draft tabled at TAC 67, comments received from the Centres, and the responses from NARS at ICW'95. The report was presented on behalf of Dr. Nickel by panel member Dr. Seme Debela who summarized its main conclusions and recommendations and responded to a number of questions raised by the Committee at TAC 67. The panel suggested, among other things, that there was need for research on the requirements of NARS' institutional development using techniques drawn from management science and for development and dissemination of methodological tools for research organization and management. ISNAR had a key role to play in this regard and the panel recommended an accelerated shift in that Centre's activities from services to research and development. Regional groupings of NARS were seen as potential facilitators of institutional strengthening activities of the Centres and it was suggested that the CGIAR should explore how it could help strengthen such groupings. TAC prepared a commentary on the report, commending the panel for its work and viewed favourably its recommendation that ISNAR strengthen and expand the research dimension of its programmes along the lines suggested. TAC saw a need for further consideration of ISNAR's role in policy and management research in the context of the forthcoming external review of the Centre. The Committee endorsed the concept of enhancing the capacity of regional fora to contribute to institutional strengthening of NARS. The report will serve as input to TAC's priority setting exercise and be provided as a background document to the regional fora of NARS.
TAC will also prepare a synthesis of the Institution Strengthening and Policy/Management reports to identify strategic issues and options for the Committee's consideration at TAC 69.
TAC considered the report of the study panel which was chaired by Dr. Alain de Janvry. The report was presented on behalf of Dr. de Janvry by Dr. Hans Gregersen, co-convenor with Dr. Eugenia Muchnik of this stripe study. TAC commented on the report, commending the panel for analyzing the CGIAR's policy and management research in the context of methodological trends in the broader research community, an approach which should sensitize Centres to the need to ensure that their own research is on the "cutting edge." Given the location specificity of much of the policy/management research undertaken by the Centres, the panel found no convincing case for a Systemwide initiative in this area, stressing instead the need for greater inter-centre collaboration. It advocated maintaining the current level of the System's investment in policy/management research but noted that demand for such research will continue to trend upward. In its comments, TAC requested clarification of the panel's estimate of the size of the System's investment in this research and of the modalities TAC may employ to promote inter-centre coordination. It also noted an imbalance in the report's coverage of policy and management research which may well reflect a general lack of priority to public management research within the CGIAR System, a question which should figure prominently in the forthcoming External Programme Review of ISNAR. To further probe this and other questions raised by the stripe review, TAC will prepare a synthesis of the Institution Strengthening and Policy/Management reports to identify strategic issues and options for the Committee's consideration and decision at TAC 69. TAC will communicate its views on these issues to the CGIAR at MTM'96 in the context of discussion of priorities and strategies. The synthesis paper will be made available to the Group at that time; the revised Policy/Management and Institution Strengthening reports will be made available separately as background papers.
TAC considered the final report of this study in the presence of the panel chair, Dr. David MacKenzie, in the light of comments made on the draft presented at TAC 67. Undertaken within a tight time schedule and constrained by lack of generally accepted production and consumption data, the panel nevertheless was able to identify and suggest solutions to issues of priority setting and inter-centre collaboration with respect to root and tuber crops. TAC prepared a commentary on the report, endorsing its principal recommendation, the formation of an informal Inter-Centre Committee on Root and Tuber Crops Research to ensure the complementarity of research on these commodities by the Centres concerned. TAC also endorsed the recommended agenda of work for the Inter-Centre Committee, including the development of a Systemwide strategy for root and tuber crops research. It also agreed with the finding that research on postharvest technology is needed to enhance the market for these commodities, and that there is scope for genetic research to improve their quality and storage potential. TAC expected the Centres concerned to interact with its broader study on postharvest technology research in the CGIAR. It also cautioned against duplicating biotechnology research being undertaken by advanced research organizations and encouraged Centres to seek partnerships with such organizations, particularly in the private sector, mindful of the need to protect the intellectual property rights of CGIAR investments. Finally, TAC encouraged the Centres, through the Inter-Centre Committee, to improve the database for roots and tubers as an aid to future priority setting.
With the major goals, the primary derived criteria, and the four dimensional framework discussed at ICW'95, TAC was able to move directly into discussion on implementing the further steps required in preparing a comprehensive report on CGIAR priorities and strategies to be presented to the Group at MTM'96. TAC organized discussion around the agreed four dimensional planning framework.
In dealing with Systemwide programmes, it was concluded that, while there was advantage in further encouraging centres to engage in multi-entity activities, there was a sense that centres themselves were in the best position to judge the advantages of the further partnerships that might be formed, that the System needed to review the apparent or likely impacts of the programmes already underway, and that TAC should continue to encourage such efforts by recommending financial support for the design and planning phase.
In discussing activities, TAC had the advantage of ICW perceptions that recent changes in the profile of activities were in the right direction. Even so, TAC noted that current estimates of System commitments to the various activities might well change as new information about projects became available. While taking that into account, TAC laid out a process for moving immediately in setting suggested future directions for activities. (Work here and progress on other themes would be discussed with the Joint CBC/CDC/TAC Committee in January.) Beyond this, discussion further clarified the relationship between poverty alleviation and natural resource conservation. In further work, TAC would consider environmental benefits that fit within the mission and goals of the System. (TAC noted that its joint meeting with ASARECA was consistent with its orientation in this regard.) There was the sense that more attention (perhaps major renovation) needed to be given to the activity categories of natural resource management and production systems research for further rationalization of demarcation between the two and a format for doing so was tabled.
In dealing with sector and commodity balances, TAC reaffirmed the direction of its efforts, in particular that the appropriate point of departure for priority setting was congruence analysis followed by the application of modifiers. TAC concluded that its formal analysis of sectors and commodities would involve only a few well defined modifiers. In this context, TAC noted the pilot analyses undertaken by the Secretariat on the influence of the poverty weight. More generally, TAC noted with approval the progress in the Secretariat's work in updating data sets. Work was underway to further sharpen the measurement of the primary modifiers and TAC would be working with centres, FAO, and others to add precision to its assessment of alternative sources of supply and probabilities of success. It was concluded that the two would have their greatest impact as TAC reviewed the elements contained in centre MTPs.
An outline of the MTM'96 document on future CGIAR Priorities was endorsed and work was underway on drafts for some chapters. TAC continued to recognize the System's emphasis on participation by important stakeholders, and, in particular, noted the need for participation and careful attention to the NARS regional fora occurring from December through February. TAC believed that it was well on schedule for its March and subsequent deadlines.
TAC discussed a draft proposal prepared by the CGIAR Secretariat and reviewed by the TAC Chair to shift the medium term budget and resource allocation process of the Centres to a three-year, rolling cycle starting in 1998. The proposal was presented by Mr. Gordon MacNeil of the CGIAR Secretariat who highlighted the proposal's advantages for multi-year budgeting with flexibility to take advantage of actual resource availability and shifts in System priorities. Under the proposal Centres would no longer have ex-ante funding envelopes and the baseline for Centre budgets would be the 1997 approved level. Centre medium-term plans would be linked specifically to CGIAR priorities and strategies. TAC was favourable to the proposal while noting that it essentially responded to budgetary considerations, planning for scientific research normally requiring a longer time horizon than three years. The Committee would, therefore, continue to issue a major report on CGIAR priorities and strategies every five years. TAC also noted that the Centre Directors' Committee had expressed a preference for allowing current MTPs to run their course and beginning the new cycle in 1999. TAC noted that slippage in the timetable would be inconsistent with the Lucerne consensus on new directions for the CGIAR.
TAC considered new proposals from convening Centres for Systemwide initiatives on livestock, small countries, water management, and coastal environments for funding during 1996.
· TAC endorsed the ILRI convened proposal, A Systemwide Livestock Initiative: Feed Resources and Utilization, and recommended their request for a 1996 allocation of US$ 2,804,790 to support its implementation for the following Centre-led projects: Improved Legume-based Feeding Systems for Smallholder Dual-Purpose Cattle Production in Tropical Latin America, US$ 770,000 (CIAT); Production and Utilization of Multi-Purpose Fodder Shrubs and Trees in West Asia, North Africa and the Sahel, US$ 837,530 (ICARDA); and Utilization of Forage Legume Bio-diversity for Dairy Production and Natural Resource Management in the East and Central African Highlands, US$ 847,260 (ICRAF). TAC also endorsed the proposed Research Planning Workshop on Enhancement of the Value of Residues in Sustainable Crop/Livestock Mixed Farming Systems (ICRISAT Asia Centre, April 1996) and commended the process by which this Systemwide initiative was evolving.· TAC considered an ICLARM-proposed Inter-Centre initiative on Coastal Environments, finding it to be generally in line with TAC's thinking on the importance of such environments as a CGIAR research priority. However, the Committee requested ICLARM to develop a focused proposal including a problem analysis, indication of suitable benchmark sites, assessment of previous research, and concrete expressions of interest in participation by other CGIAR Centres and potential partners outside the CGIAR System. ICLARM was encouraged to develop this proposal either as part of its Programme 2 or as a Systemwide Initiative. While the 1996 ICLARM research agenda endorsed by the CGIAR included a tentative allocation of US$ 300,000 for coastal environments research, TAC recommended that up to US$ 50,000 could be allocated at this stage to develop a proposal along the lines identified above for consideration by the Committee, if possible, in March 1996.
· TAC considered IIMI's proposed Systemwide Initiative on Water Resource Management. It requested the Centre to revise the proposal, addressing issues of problem definition, prioritization, integration, collaborative linkages, modalities of implementation, and reporting. TAC would consider the revised proposal in March 1996 and make at that time a recommendation on seed money for it during 1996.
· TAC endorsed ISNAR's proposed Workshop for Developing Caribbean States to strengthen the CGIAR's work with small country NARS. The meeting will take place 9-11 January 1996, Port of Spain, Trinidad.
TAC discussed planning for the 1996 review of ICRISAT which will be chaired by Dr. Ronald Coffman, Cornell University. It also considered potential panel chairs for the 1996 external review of IFPRI and for the 1996-97 review of IPGRI. Plans for the 1996-97 external review of ISNAR which will be chaired by Dr. Samuel Paul, India, were also discussed. TAC reviewed the timing of the external review of IRRI which will now be conducted during 1997.
The Committee also discussed strategic studies on Postharvest Technology Research and on Marginal Lands. The preparatory phase of the first study was being led by Dr. Mike Arnold, United Kingdom, and included a survey of Centres and Members of the CGIAR regarding their views on this topic. It will be followed by a main phase during 1996. TAC prepared the terms of reference for the second study which will also be conducted during 1996. The Committee reviewed the timing of the planned study of CGIAR investments in Latin America which was scheduled to be conducted during 1996 subsequent to the NARS regional fora for Latin America so that the latter's results might be factored into designing the study. Finally, TAC reconsidered its previous proposal to commission a study on ICRISAT's investments in crop improvement programmes in the West African semi-arid tropics in light of the Centre's intention to commission an internally managed external review which would cover the issues raised by the McIntire report with respect to ICRISAT's West African work.
TAC considered a note prepared by the TAC Chair and the CGIAR Secretariat on Improving the Quality and Consistency of the CGIAR's External Centre Reviews which had been presented at ICW'95. This item was introduced by Dr. Hans Gregersen, Chair of TAC's Standing Committee on External Reviews, and the note was summarized by Dr. Selcuk Ozgediz of the CGIAR Secretariat. TAC responded positively to the proposal that the CGIAR move towards a single, integrated system for evaluating Centres comprised of Centre commissioned reviews, CGIAR external reviews, and a mechanism linking the two. TAC cautioned, however, that it would retain its responsibility for ensuring the quality and relevance of the Centres' science.
TAC considered ICLARM's proposal to conduct additional research into living aquatic resources management for Africa and West Asia from the existing facilities of the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research in Abbassa, Egypt. TAC commented on the proposal, expressing support for the idea of increasing fisheries research in sub-Saharan Africa but questioning how it fit ICLARM's agreed agenda and how the Abbassa site would be used. The Committee noted that the proposed research appeared to be strictly in addition to ICLARM's existing research programmes and not evidently within the Centre's agreed research agenda. Of the nine research issues proposed, only two required a specialized site for their implementation and for those two, the Abbassa site was not evidently representative of most of the target area. The scale and breadth of the work proposed would jeopardize the Centre's capacity to maintain its existing programme of work. TAC, therefore, concluded that the proposal in its current form, was not consistent with ICLARM's research agenda.
TAC reconfirmed and/or amended dates and venues for the following meetings:
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TAC 69: |
25-30 March 1996, IRRI, Manila, Philippines (to be followed by an optional visit 1-2 April to Tskuba Agricultural Research Complex, Tskuba City, Japan) |
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TAC 70: |
30 July-6 August 1996, CIAT, Cali, Colombia |
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TAC 71: |
25-30 November 1996, ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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TAC 72: |
20-28 March 1997, FAO, Rome, Italy |
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TAC 73: |
14-19 July 1997, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India |
· TAC considered a proposal from the International Cotton Advisory Committee that the CGIAR establish an International Cotton Research Agenda. In view of the existence of alternate sources of supply for such research, the Committee was of the view that the CGIAR should not play a formal role in the proposed agenda but offer to collaborate and share relevant research experiences on its workings and results with any entity which was eventually organized.· TAC approved the following criteria for judging candidates for the 1996 King Baudouin International Agricultural Research Award: direct or indirect/actual or potential impact on resource-poor farmers and low-income people, direct or indirect/actual or potential impact on sustainable production systems, innovation in science, and partners and collaboration. A call for proposals will be issued and a selection made at TAC 70.
· TAC considered a request from IIMI for an additional US$ 2 million in core support for its Global Programme Groups and Senior Research Associate Programme in 1996. The Committee commented on the request, recommending that IIMI submit a revised request for additional staff along with the required programmatic information in March 1996 in the context of the Centre's 1997 budget. TAC will then decide the extent to which the requested additional staff should be funded in 1996.
· TAC considered an IPGRI request to increase its 1996 agreed research agenda by US$ 300,000 and by US$ 275,000 for 1997 and 1998 to strengthen its capacity for CGIAR genetic resources policy support. The Committee was unable to comment on this request without a full sense of the other activities in the portfolio. If IPGRI considered the proposal to be of relatively high priority, it could be funded from its own current core resources. TAC also noted that it reviews and approves Centres' programmes and budgets on an annual basis in March. It was, therefore, unable to respond favourably to IPGRI's request.
· TAC heard reports from Dr. Andre Berkaloff and Dr. Saydil Touré, and Dr. Guido Gryseels on recent meetings they, respectively, had attended on behalf of the Committee. These were the CIRAD Meeting on the Doubly Green Revolution and the IFAD Hunger and Poverty Conference.
· In the course of TAC 68, the Committee met with representatives of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa and exchanged views on priority setting and future cooperation. TAC also visited research facilities at ICRAF, ILRI, and ICIPE.
