TAC expresses its thanks to the Chair, Dr. Samuel Paul, and the members of the panel for a forward-looking, concise and analytical report that focuses on the main strategic issues regarding ISNAR. The Committee appreciates the innovative format and structure of the report in which each of the chapter headings reflects a major thrust of the terms of reference for the CGIAR review process. It consists of a brief main report with details on programme and management confined to annexes. TAC cautions readers of the EPMR report against focusing their attention on the main body only, as much of the discussion of the programmes is only in the annexes.
TAC endorses, in general, the recommendations of the panel and is pleased to note that the Board and management of ISNAR in their response also agree with the major directions and recommendations proposed by the panel. The Committee is pleased that ISNAR was found to be well administered, that its outputs have increased considerably over the last five years, both in terms of quality and quantity, and that NARS and other stakeholders have indicated high satisfaction with ISNAR's work and services. Nevertheless, TAC supports the review's finding that some important directional changes are required to help ISNAR respond effectively to a rapidly changing external environment and to develop a more coherent research agenda. The Committee offers some further comments, which have been prepared with inputs from the CGIAR Secretariat, to supplement the views of the panel.
Priority Setting and Strategic Planning
TAC strongly endorses the recommendation that ISNAR should develop a new Strategic Plan in the light of changes in its external and internal environment and an assessment of the emerging challenges. In this regard, TAC would strongly encourage ISNAR to carefully review its priority setting process. The Committee urges ISNAR to develop a more systematic approach to priority setting which also attempts to more directly link ISNAR's outputs and activities to CGIAR goals. TAC endorses the panel's views on the need for ISNAR to shift towards the research-based end of the service spectrum, gradually leaving the less research-based parts to other service providers. ISNAR should attempt to be more proactive in the development of a coherent research agenda. In this respect, the Committee is pleased to note that the panel's views are consistent with those expressed by TAC earlier in relation to its strategic study on the future of institution strengthening research and service in the CGIAR. TAC thereby also appreciates ISNAR's concern that such a shift should not be at the expense of a loss of financial integrity.
In its strategic planning process, ISNAR should also carefully consider the nature of its research, which ranges from the development of tools to research on the research policy environment. This should also include a careful consideration of the research organizations active in the field of policy and management in view of the need for strategic alliances in order to maximize the returns from the restricted resources ISNAR has at its disposal. In this regard, TAC notes the limited attention given in the panel's report to the collaboration between ISNAR and other CGIAR Centres, and between ISNAR and FAO. ISNAR should carefully assess opportunities to expand such collaboration in the future. The Centre should, furthermore, give more emphasis to the possibility of alternative suppliers, particularly for its service activities. In carefully defining its niche, as recommended by the panel, ISNAR will clarify many of the issues raised above. On that basis, ISNAR will also be able to better consider the mix of skills it requires to effectively address the new challenges. As the panel recommends, ISNAR should have at least a minimum nucleus of enhanced expertise in management, supplemented, as necessary, with part-time expertise obtained from external centres of management excellence.
Capacity Building
The panel recommends that ISNAR move up the capacity building ladder, concentrating more on building institutional capabilities. This recommendation has been subject to a number of interpretations ranging from building "mini ISNARs" around the world, to developing tools others can use to strengthen NARS capabilities. TAC supports the spirit and intent of the recommendation and encourages ISNAR in its strategic planning process to give even greater emphasis to multiple avenues in implementing its work.
Quality of the Research
The panel found that ISNAR's work is of varying quality and that maintaining consistency in quality should be an important Centre goal. Given the shift of emphasis towards research, it is doubly important, as the panel says, that management focus more on quality control. As the Centre will need to increasingly shift the balance of its activities towards more research, TAC urges that ISNAR ensure stronger coherence in its research agenda and ensure that mechanisms are in place to monitor quality in all its work. ISNAR has made a promising start in initiating internally commissioned external reviews. TAC considers that this process should be further enhanced and that by the time of the next external review, all of the Centre's work should have been made subject to a rigorous external peer review. TAC further notes that while the panel has made a quantitative estimate of the number of ISNAR publications, this assessment is not accompanied by further analysis as to the adequacy of this publication record.
Board of Trustees
The Committee notes that there is a difference of opinion between the ISNAR Board and the panel on whether the Board conducted formal evaluations of the Director General. This seems to have resulted from different interpretations of what constitutes a "formal evaluation". In the future, the ISNAR Board could make use of the more formal assessment instruments that are available.
TAC encourages the ISNAR Board of Trustees to give more leadership in providing guidance on strategic issues, and to take an active role in the forthcoming strategic planning exercise.
Overall, TAC agrees with the panel that ISNAR would benefit from significant changes. The Committee is encouraged that the incoming Director General will initiate a strategic planning process as soon as possible. The Centre should keep TAC and the Members of the CGIAR informed of the progress made.
