TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Donald Winkelmann, Chairman
16 April 1997
Dear Mr. Serageldin,
We submit to you the Report of the Fourth External Programme and Management Review of ICRISAT, conducted recently by a Panel chaired by Professor Ronnie Coffman of Cornell University, USA. The Review Report and the ICRISAT's written Response to the Report were discussed by TAC at its 72nd Meeting, held in Rome in March 1997. Present at the meeting were the Panel Chair, and the ICRISAT representatives, Dr. Rajendra Paroda, the Board Chair, and Dr. James Ryan, the Director General.
The Report of the Panel is accompanied by two attachments to this letter. The first contains the TAC Commentary, which summarizes TAC's reactions to the Panel's Report and to the Response of ICRISAT's Board and management. The second attachment is the Response of ICRISAT to the Panel Report.
TAC supports the major conclusions and recommendations of the Review Panel, in the light of the interpretation and qualifications listed in the TAC commentary. The Panel has made a positive assessment of the future role and importance of the Centre, but has recommended a strategic realignment of the Centre's research, to build on its considerable strengths in science as well as to develop stronger partnerships with the NARS in Africa and Asia. It has also recommended that ICRISAT's Board and management provide stronger leadership of the institutional change currently underway at the Centre.
ICRISAT has recently faced shortfalls in funding, an unanticipated depletion of the senior management team, and a difficult staff relations situation at its headquarters in Patencheru. However, recent decisive actions by the Board are indicative of positive changes already underway, which deserve the full support of the CGIAR community.
We are sure that, while the challenge inherent in the changes recommended by the Review Panel is substantial, ICRISAT is capable of meeting it. Accordingly, it would be appropriate and timely for the Group to re-confirm its confidence in ICRISAT's role in supporting the many poor people of the semi-arid tropics.
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Yours sincerely, | |
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Alexander von der Osten |
Donald L. Winkelmann |
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Executive Secretary, CGIAR |
TAC Chair |
Mr. Ismail Serageldin
CGIAR Chair
World Bank
1818H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
USA
355 E. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 · (1-505) 988-1284 · FAX: (1-505) 988-1285 · [email protected]
