Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research - CGIAR
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From: |
The Secretariat |
August 1998
CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting
May 25-29. 1998
Brasilia, Brazil
Third External Program and Management Review of IFPRI1
1
Extract from Summary of Proceedings and Decisions: Mobilizing Science for Global Food Security, CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting 1998, Brasilia, Brazil.
In a parallel session chaired by Ruth Haug, members discussed the third external review of IFPRI. Because Review Chair Samuel Paul was not able to travel to Brazil, the session watched a video presentation of the panel's findings and recommendations. Board Chair Martin Piñeiro and Director General Per Pinstrup-Andersen responded to the review. Don Winkelmann summarized TAC's observations, after which participants discussed the matters presented.
Main Recommendations of the Panel
The Panel made four recommendations covering IFPRI's research work, stressing water and globalization, outreach activities, impact assessment, and the relevance of IFPRI's activities. The Panel also encouraged IFPRI's Board to take a more active role in ensuring and monitoring the relevance and impact of the center's work.
Discussion and Conclusions
IFPRI's Achievements
TAC reaffirmed, and participants strongly endorsed, the review panel's positive assessment of IFPRI's contributions to food policy research. In addition to the 2020 Vision's significant contribution to improving policy and decisionmakers' awareness of agricultural issues, speakers noted its extraordinary value for decisionmakers to respond to their agencies and organizations. Some speakers felt that the panel's observations on the need to strengthen IFPRI's outreach work should be viewed in the context of IFPRI's success in reaching its own constituencies and its active participation in policy debates. The TAC Chair clarified that the observations were aimed at contributing to the development of an outreach strategy and strengthening IFPRI's institutional capacity for outreach.
Importance of Policy Research Within the CGIAR
All participants endorsed the key role of policy research in the CGIAR and its critical contribution to ensuring sustainable development. The review panel, TAC, and participants highlighted issues on which IFPRI could make important contributions. These include the following:
· use, availability, and management of water;
· globalization/open economies;
· agrarian institutions for the rural poor;
· new approaches to rural development;
· intellectual property rights;
· monitoring of food security and follow up of the World Food Summit;
· trade and the impact of the World Trade Organization on agriculture and poverty;
· impact assessment of policy research, including methodology development;
· new approaches to rural development;
· low income transition economies; and
· participatory policy research.
In its response to the panel report, IFPRI highlighted its plans to update its current medium-term plans through consultations with its stakeholders to identify future priorities and work programs. Participants noted that although there were numerous suggestions for additions to IFPRI's portfolio, there were few suggestions for deletions. Consequently, IFPRI's resources would have to be increased considerably to undertake these new topics while continuing to work on its existing rich portfolio.
The Group accepted the strong endorsement of the Review Panel's assessment that IFPRI has made remarkable progress in establishing itself as a premier research institution. Members also noted that the IFPRI's board and management have already taken steps to implement most recommendations.
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