Report of the Fourth External Programme and Management Review of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)













Table of Contents


SDR/TAC:IAR/96/22

CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND CGIAR SECRETARIAT

Panel:

Ronnie Coffman (Chair)


Randy A. Hautea


Jean-Yves Maillat


David W. Norman


Donald L. Plucknett


Fred Wang'ati




W. John Griffith (Consultant)


Graham Jenkins (Consultant)




Paramjit S. Sachdeva (CGIAR Secretariat)


Amir Kassam (TAC Secretariat)

TAC SECRETARIAT

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

October 1997


Table of Contents


Extract from "Summary of Proceedings and Decisions", CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting 1997, Cairo, Egypt, 26-30 May 1997

Letter from TAC Chairman and CGIAR Executive Secretary, transmitting the Report of the Fourth External Programme and management Review of ICRISAT

TAC Commentary on the External Review of ICRISAT

ICRISAT's Response to the Report of the Fourth External Programme and Management Review

Transmittal Letter from Panel Chairman to TAC Chairman and CGIAR Executive Secretary

Preface

Summary and Recommendations

CHAPTER 1 - EVOLUTION AND STRATEGY

1.1 Origin and Evolution of ICRISAT
1.2 Role of ICRISAT
1.3 Mandate of ICRISAT
1.4 ICRISAT's Strategic Plan and 1994-98 Medium-Term Plan
1.5 Transcending Issues
1.6 ICRISAT's Response to the Recommendation of the 1990 External Review

CHAPTER 2 - COMMODITY IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Sorghum

2.2.1 Evolution
2.2.2 Achievements and Impact
2.2.3 Future Strategy
2.2.4 Assessment

2.3 Pearl Millet

2.3.1 Evolution
2.3.2 Achievements and Impact
2.3.3 Future Strategy
2.3.4 Assessment

2.4. Groundnut

2.4.1 Evolution
2.4.2 Achievements and Impact
2.4.3 Future Strategy
2.4.4 Assessment

2.5 Chickpea

2.5.1 Evolution
2.5.2 Achievements and Impact
2.5.3 Future Strategy
2.5.4 Assessment

2.6 Pigeonpea

2.6.1 Evolution
2.6.2 Achievements and Impact
2.6.3 Future Strategy
2.6.4 Assessment

2.7 Overall Assessment of Commodity Programmes

CHAPTER 3 - GENETIC RESOURCES

3.1 Evolution
3.2 Other External Evaluations
3.3. Achievements

3.3.1 The Collections
3.3.2 Facilities
3.3.3 Genebank Management
3.3.4 Research

3.4. Comments on the CCER and SGRP Reports
3.5 Assessment and Recommendations

CHAPTER 4 - NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

4.1 Evolution and Current Focus
4.2 Achievements and Impact
4.3 Assessment and Recommendations

4.3.1 Integrated Natural Resources Management (INRM) Research Framework
4.3.2 Simulation Modelling
4.3.3 Future Directions for Natural Resources Management Research

CHAPTER 5 - SOCIOECONOMIC RESEARCH AND IMPACT ANALYSIS

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Markets and Policy

5.2.1 Objectives, Activities, and Achievements
5.2.2 Future Plans
5.2.3 Assessment

5.3 Impact Assessment

5.3.1 Objectives, Activities, and Achievements
5.3.2 Future Plans
5.3.3 Assessment

5.4 Gender

5.4.1 Objectives, Activities, and Achievements
5.4.2 Future Strategy
5.4.3 Assessment

5.5 On-Farm Research Sector Review

5.5.1 Objectives, Activities, and Achievements
5.5.2 Assessment

5.6 General Concluding Remarks

CHAPTER 6 - PARTNERSHIPS

6.1 Host Country Linkages

6.1.1 Progress
6.1.2 Assessment

6.2 Research Collaboration

6.2.1 Evolution
6.2.2 Achievements and Impact
6.2.3 Future Strategy
6.2.4 Assessment

6.3 Training and Professional Development

6.3.1 Evolution
6.3.2 Achievements
6.3.3 Future Strategy
6.3.4 Assessment and Recommendation

6.4 Systemwide Activities (SWAs)

CHAPTER 7 - GOVERNANCE

7.1 The Governing Board

7.1.1 Background
7.1.2 Functioning of the Board
7.1.3 Board Performance

7.2 Centre Commissioned External Reviews
7.3 Recommendation

CHAPTER 8 - ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

8.1 Research Management

8.1.1 Priority Setting
8.1.2 Project Planning, Budgeting and Monitoring
8.1.3 Information Systems
8.1.4 Matrix and Project-Based management

8.2 Institutional Management

8.2.1 Leadership and Management
8.2.2 Human Resources Management
8.2.3 Financial Management
8.2.4 Administration
8.2.5. Overall Recommendation

8.3 Organizational Structure

8.3.1 ICRISAT Today
8.3.2 Structuring the 'New' ICRISAT

CHAPTER 9 - THE FUTURE ICRISAT

9.1 Continuing Need for ICRISAT

9.1.1 Option I: Downsized Present Model
9.1.2 Option II: Africa Centre Only Model
9.1.3 Option III: Strategic Partnership Model

9.2 Moving Ahead

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

APPENDICES

Appendix I Composition of the Panel and Biographical Information
Appendix II Terms of Reference for Panels Conducting External Reviews of CGIAR Centres
Appendix III Chronology of the External Review Panel
Appendix IV Documents Provided to the Review Panel
Appendix V Assessment of ICRISAT's Progress in Implementing the Recommendations of the 1990 External Review
Appendix VI Glossary of Acronyms