SIXTY-SEVENTH MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TO THE
CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
(FAO, Rome, Italy, 11-17 July 1995)
REPORT OF THE MEETING
Opening Session
CGIAR Priorities and Strategies
Study of Strategic Natural Resources Management Issues and Research Needs in the CGIAR
Strategic Study of Institution Strengthening Research and Service
External Programme and Management Review of ITTA
Inter-Centre Review of Roots and Tubers Research
1996 Programme and Budget Proposals
1997-2000 Resource Allocation Process
Proposals for Systemwide Initiatives and Programmes
External Review Process
Future Reviews
Future Meetings
Other Business
The TAC Chair, Dr. Donald Winkelmann, opened the meeting and welcomed the ten TAC Members present; the representative of FAO, Dr. Stein Bie; the Chair of the CGIAR's Finance Committee, Dr. Michel Petit; the Chair of the Centre Directors' Committee, Dr. Christian Bonte-Friedheim; the Chair of the Centre Board Chairs' Committee, Dr. Just Faaland; a number of Centre Directors, Board Chairs and Observers; and staff of the TAC and CGIAR Secretariats. Dr. Stein Bie welcomed the participants on behalf of the Director-General of FAO.
The report of TAC 66 was adopted without amendments. Under matters arising from TAC 66, it was noted that in providing commentaries on Systemwide Initiatives at TAC 66, TAC had not always specified a timing by which Centres were to respond. The Committee would deal with this issue under agenda item 7. The provisional agenda for TAC 67 was adopted without modifications. Under Other Business three agenda items were added: the CGIAR's involvement in Eastern European states; an informal proposal for CGIAR support to small island states; and an invitation to consider a CGIAR cotton research institute.
Dr. Michel Petit reported on the views of the Finance Committee with respect to the matrix framework proposed by TAC in the 1996 Research Agenda paper presented at the MTM in Nairobi. Among the major issues raised was the need to identify the role of the CGIAR in the global research system, to make the matrix more transparent, and to give the matrix a greater programme orientation.
Mr. Alexander von der Osten, Executive Secretary of the CGIAR, reported on major developments in the CGIAR System since TAC 66, particularly with respect to the outcome of the May 1995 Mid-Term Meeting of the CGIAR, the funding situation, and recent membership developments.
At TAC 66, the Committee had recommended that in considering future priorities and strategies for the CGIAR, specific attention should be given to current projections on future food demand and supply, poverty issues, strengthening of national research systems, the role of advanced research institutes, natural resources management, and gender issues, with inputs from centres and outside experts. TAC discussed each of these issues following presentations on each theme by pre-selected experts who also served as resource persons throughout the discussion.
Dr. Nikos Alexandratos (FAO) and Dr. Mark Rosegrant (IFPRI) reported on their recent work in the context of FAO's Agriculture Towards 2010' and IFPRI's 2020 studies, respectively. Dr. Alexandratos and Dr. Per Pinstrup-Anderson (IFPRI) also discussed the implications of both of these studies for CGIAR priorities. In discussing issues pertaining to national research systems, introductory comments were provided by Dr. Cyrus Ndiritu (Kenya, Chair, NARS-CGIAR Partnership Initiative), Dr. Christian Bonte-Friedheim (ISNAR) and Dr. Stein Bie (FAO). On gender issues and institutional strengthening, the lead speakers were Dr. Hilary Feldstein (CGIAR Gender Programme) and Dr. Stein Bie (FAO). On poverty issues, Dr. Gaurav Datt (World Bank) and Dr. S.N. Saigal (IFAD) provided introductory comments. On CGIAR collaboration with advanced institutes, Dr. Jozef Schell (Max-Planck-Institut), Dr. Bernard Bachelier (France) and Dr. Rudy Rabbinge (Netherlands) provided overviews of possible mechanisms for more effective partnership with the CGIAR. Dr. Richard Harwood (USA) also contributed to that discussion. Finally, in leading the discussion on natural resources management research (land and water), the resource persons were Dr. Pierre Crosson (Resources for the Future, USA), Dr. Richard Harwood (Michigan State University, USA) and Dr. Rudy Rabbinge (Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands), while Drs. W. Sombroek and R. Brinkman of FAO also made valuable contributions to the debate.
The dominant theme throughout the sessions was how CGIAR discussion of priorities and strategies might be improved through more focused attention to each of the issues raised. TAC will prepare a follow-up to these discussions and a background paper on each topic for discussion by the Group at ICW'95. TAC also initiated development of a framework for setting CGIAR priorities which will also be discussed with the Group at ICW'95. A comprehensive report on CGIAR priorities and strategies will be completed at TAC 69 in March 1996 and submitted to the Group at MTM'96.
TAC discussed a progress report on this TAC-guided study which was presented by its convenors, Drs. Hans Gregersen and Ted Henzell. TAC prepared draft recommendations on priorities and strategies for natural resources management research in the CGIAR. These will be incorporated into a further draft which will be shared for comments with Centre Directors, prior to its finalization for discussion at ICW'95. In discussing this topic, TAC also carefully considered the reports of the CGIAR Task Forces on Sustainable Agriculture and on Ecoregional Research. Comments on both these studies have been incorporated into the draft paper.
In this discussion TAC also reviewed a revised proposal submitted by CIAT and IBSRAM for a Soil, Water and Nutrient Management Initiative. TAC was favourably disposed towards the proposal, commended the leaders of this initiative for the improvements over an earlier proposal, and acknowledged their cooperation with TAC. Recommendations on funding were made under Item 9 (see below).
TAC discussed a draft report of the review panel in the presence of the panel Chair, Dr. John Nickel. TAC found the draft report useful and expressed particular appreciation that so comprehensive a report had been put together in the limited time available. TAC asked the panel to revise the report in the light of discussions at the meeting; these related primarily to priority setting for institution strengthening activities, the anticipated strength of NARS and opportunities to achieve increased efficiency in the utilization of CGIAR resources devoted to institution strengthening research. TAC also hoped that a revised draft report could be shared for comments with representatives of NARS. TAC will discuss the final report of the panel at TAC 68 at ICRAF in Nairobi.
TAC discussed the report of the review panel in the presence of the panel Chair, Dr. Eduardo Venezian, and the Director General and the Chair of the Board of Trustees of IITA. The review report was positive about IITA. TAC commended IITA's Board, management and staff for their sustained delivery of research results and collaborative activities with NARS. TAC in general endorsed the recommendations of the review report. It was noted that IITA's past successes had largely resulted from commodity improvement and plant health management research. TAC expressed the hope that, in the future impact could also be obtained in sustainability-oriented research. The review panel had also commended the Centre's management, and had made a number of observations, particularly with respect to project-based research and human resources management. After discussion, TAC was satisfied that the Board and the Director General are giving these matters adequate attention. TAC prepared a commentary on the review report for consideration at ICW'95.
TAC discussed the progress report of the review panel in the presence of the panel Chair, Dr. David MacKenzie. TAC commended the panel for the significant work it had accomplished in such a short time span. TAC provided a number of comments on the report and asked the panel to continue its dialogue with the centres and with NARS. The panel was requested to finalize their report in time for consideration by TAC at TAC 68 in December. TAC's comments on the report related primarily to priority setting in roots and tubers research and to the need for clearer terms of reference for the proposed Inter-Centre Consultative Committee on Roots and Tuber Crops Research.
TAC endorsed a revised proposal, jointly submitted by IPGRI and CIFOR, to support work on forest genetic resources during 1996 for US$ 350,000. TAC also endorsed a proposal from ICARDA for a transfer of its Iran research project to the Centre's core programme and the CGIAR agreed research agenda for a total of US$ 1.8 million. TAC accepted ICARDA's argument that its work in Iran is similar to other work earlier considered as an international public good.
TAC also considered a revised proposal from ICLARM for a core budget increase of US$ 1 million to support policy research, fisheries resource assessment and fish productivity research and, additionally, a request to transfer US $ 2.5 million from its complementary to its core programme. TAC endorsed both requests, although it considered that the supporting documentation from ICLARM required more work. TAC expects ICLARM to submit revised proposals in due course and to submit a detailed progress report on its activities at TAC 69 in March 1996.
TAC considered possible approaches to the next round of medium-term plans. It is proposed that these would cover a three-year, rolling funding cycle starting 1998 to permit a closer link between CGIAR priorities and resource allocation. All centres would be asked to prepare a new medium-term plan (three years) in time for consideration by TAC in March 1997. The TAC and CGIAR Secretariats will prepare a paper on the approach proposed which will be discussed with Centre Directors in October 1995.
TAC considered new and revised proposals from convening centres for a number of Systemwide initiatives and programmes for funding during 1996. It also received a progress report on the Systemwide Livestock Initiative.
The Soil, Water and Nutrient Management Initiative submitted by CIAT/IBSRAM was, in general, endorsed and an allocation of US$ 900,000 was recommended to support its implementation. The proposal for an 'Ecoregional Programme for the Humid and Sub-Humid Tropics of Sub-Saharan Africa' was also endorsed and TAC recommended that US$ 700,000 be allocated to this programme during 1996, of which US$ 350,000 be assigned to IITA and US$ 350,000 to WARDA. TAC also recommended an allocation of US$ 600,000 to support the proposed initiative submitted by ICARDA 'On-Farm Water Husbandry in West Asia and North Africa' during 1996. TAC also responded favourably to the proposal submitted by CIAT for an 'Ecoregional Approach to Enhancing Agricultural Research in Tropical America' and recommended an allocation of US$ 900,000 to begin implementing the programme in 1996.
TAC also considered the proposed CGIAR Systemwide Initiative on Integrated Pest Management. In view of recent consultations between representatives of this proposed initiative with a wide range of non-CGIAR institutes working on IPM to ensure adequate coordination and complementarity, TAC considered that there was no need to proceed at this time with the consultation workshop as proposed at TAC 66. The Committee endorsed the proposal submitted by Dr. Brader to TAC 67 and recommended that a sum of US$ 400,000 be allocated to support the initiative during 1996.
TAC also considered the timing by which Centres need to respond to the queries it had raised with respect to some of the Systemwide initiatives and programmes at TAC 66 and TAC 67. The Committee expects that centres will respond to these at TAC 69 in March 1996 when it is considering 1997 funding requests.
At MTM'95 the Group asked TAC to report at ICW'95 on the question of consistency across external reviews and to provide feedback on the guidelines for reviews. The TAC Secretariat subsequently wrote to Centre Directors to ask for their views on the question of consistency. TAC discussed the results of that survey and the TAC Chair will report to the Group at ICW'95 on the issues raised.
TAC discussed a progress report of the Strategic Study of Public Policy and Public Management Research which had been prepared by the panel Chair, Dr. Alain de Janvry. The Committee also discussed future planning for external reviews, in particular those of ICRISAT, IPGRI, IFPRI and ISNAR which will be initiated during 1996. TAC and the CGIAR Secretariat also recommended delaying the full external review of IRRI which was scheduled for 1997 until 1999, and meanwhile conducting an interim external review of IRRI during 1996.
Finally, the Committee asked the Secretariat to commission studies on post-harvest technology and CGIAR investments in marginal areas in time for discussion at TAC 68. The implementation of studies on CGIAR cereals research and on CGIAR commitments in Latin America and the Caribbean would be delayed until after completion of the report of CGIAR Priorities and Strategies in May 1996.
TAC confirmed dates and venues for the following meetings:
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TAC 68, 4 - 8 December 1995, ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya |
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TAC 69, 25 - 29 March 1996, IRRI, Manila, Philippines |
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TAC 70, 30 July - 6 August 1996, CIAT, Cali, Colombia |
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TAC 71, 25 - 29 November 1996, venue to be decided. |
At the request of the Oversight Committee, TAC considered a future involvement, which implied a larger role for TAC than that agreed to earlier, in priority setting for research in Eastern Europe and the former USSR republics. TAC considered that its commitments were already so heavy that it could not take on this additional task for the time being, but expects to discuss the theme with the Oversight Committee in October. TAC was favourable to an informal proposal from ISNAR about organizing a meeting with small island states in the Caribbean to discuss how the CGIAR could support them. Finally, the Committee was informed about recent correspondence of the CGIAR Chair about the possibilities for setting up a CGIAR cotton research institute.
