From: The Secretariat
July 1997
CGIAR Secretariat · Mailing Address: 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. · Office Location: 701 18th Street, N.W. Tel: (1-202) 473-8951 · Cable Address: INTBAFRAD · Fax: (1-202) 473-8110 · E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
External Review of ICRISAT1
1 Extract from "Summary of Proceedings and Decisions - Report on Parallel Session II", CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting 1997, Cairo, Egypt
The external review of ICRISAT was discussed by the CGIAR in Parallel Session II under the chairmanship of Ms. Mervat Badawi (Arab Fund). Review Panel Chair Ronnie Coffman, presented a summary of the panel's findings and recommendations. The new vision and strategic direction the panel saw for ICRISAT, the important changes that have occurred at the center, and the center's accomplishments during the review period were highlighted. As well, some shortfalls and areas of concern were noted. The EPMR suggested a strategic realignment of ICRISAT, building on the center's strong science and developing partnerships with African and Asian NARS. During a period of substantial management change, this would require strong leadership from the board and management and continued donor support.
ICRISAT Board Chair R.S. Paroda indicated that the board concurred with the panel's conclusions and recommendations, and noted that some of the major recommendations were already being implemented. He also emphasized that the board will make every effort to advance the change process and implement the recommendations of the review as fully as financial resources permit. ICRISAT Director General James Ryan presented the response of management, and pointed out the specific areas where the center had initiated changes in accordance with the review panel's recommendations, particularly pertaining to the research agenda.
TAC member Ted Henzell presented TAC's commentary on the outcome of the review. TAC supported the major conclusions arid recommendations of the panel.
In the discussions, the review panel was commended for clearly defining the programmatic and management issues faced by the center and for offering recommendations to address them. It was recognized that, to some extent, the problems encountered by the center could be attributed to the reduced funding that it had experienced.
The following recommendations were highlighted and endorsed:
· the need for ICRISAT to formulate an operational mandate that clearly spells out the strategic elements and focus of its work;· the need for the center to focus on research where it has a comparative advantage at regional and global levels;
· the need for the center to be more decisive and resolute in making choices among the many attractive research themes identified in the current and previous medium-term plans, particularly in relation to the natural resources management component;
· the need for a strategic realignment of ICRISAT by adopting a new paradigm based on the strategic partnership model, whereby strategic and global germplasm research would be concentrated in ICRISAT's Asian center, while natural resources management research would be concentrated in Africa, where major bottlenecks exist, and research partnerships and networking would be enhanced via ecoregional approaches;
· the need for ICRISAT's board to be diligent in its basic functions of providing financial and management oversight; and
· the need for the center to foster effective partnerships with NARS as part of its operational strategies.
The strategic partnership model was considered attractive, yet it was noted that it was likely the most difficult to work in practice. Some concerns were expressed on the synergism and integration that might be lost as a result of program separation, which might threaten to break the center into two over the long-term, with the concentration of germplasm work at one location and of resource management work at another.
In concluding the discussion, the session chair conveyed the optimism expressed by members about the future of ICRISAT; given the reaffirmation of the center's role in contributing to agricultural development in the semi-arid tropics and the assurance of continued support from members. The solid track record of ICRISAT's research was recognized. It was emphasized that ICRISAT is a most challenging center because of its wide array of commodities, its coverage of different continents, and its ecoregional approach.
Conclusion: Following its review of the EPMR report and the response from the board and management of the center, the Group endorsed the recommendations of ICRISAT's EPMR and those in the TAC commentary, and reaffirmed ICRISAT's important role in the semi-arid tropics. Further, the Group welcomed the significant changes that have occurred in the center during the past few months, particularly the reorganization of the board, the selection of a new Director General, and the efforts underway - to the credit of the outgoing Director General - for a smooth and orderly transfer of management. The Group supported TAC's recommendation that a briefing on actions taken by the board and management be presented to TAC 73 in September.
