Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
University of Florida
Gainsville, Florida 32611
U.S.A.
6 February 1995
Dr. Donald L. Winkelmann
Chair
Technical Advisory Committee/CGIAR
FAO
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
Mr. Alexander von der Osten
Executive Secretary
CGIAR
World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.
Dear Don and Alexander:
I am pleased to submit to you the report of the Panel conducting the Mid-Term Review of ICLARM. The primary purpose of this review was to assess ICLARM's progress in responding to the recommendations of the 1992 External Program and Management Review, in implementing an effective research program and in improving its governance and management. The Panel also carefully considered the developments at ICLARM since the management crisis of 1993 that led to the resignation of both the Center's Director General and Board Chair.
The Panel's findings with regards to its Terms of Reference are quite positive. For example:
· ICLARM has moved effectively to implement virtually all of the 1992 EPMR Panel's recommendation. The notable exception is the failure to finalize the Headquarters Agreement in the Philippines - for reasons beyond the control of the Center.· The Panel concludes that, under the leadership of Dr. Meryl Williams, an able, dynamic and effective new Director General, and with the sound and experienced guidance of a new Chair, Dr. John Dillon, significant progress is being made in implementing an effective research program and in improving the Center's governance and management. Although there are remaining vestiges of the internal strife in 1993, we feel that these circumstances do not provide a significant continuing deterrent to ICLARM's future progress and effectiveness.
Although most of the report is positive, the Panel identified a few areas of concern. For example,
· A range of perceived problems was identified by Board, Management and staff, relating to administrative policies, regulations and procedures. These issues are being discussed with the Director General and Board Chair. The Panel concludes, however, that many of these concerns are being effectively addressed by actions already initiated and led by the Director General, with the oversight of the Board.· The Panel's overriding concern relates to its strong perception that ICLARM is significantly underfunded, both in terms of unrestricted core and total resources. As the only Center in the CGIAR System having responsibility for living aquatic resources, and considering the importance of such systems in providing nutritious food and food security to people of the developing world, the Panel concludes that TAC and the development assistance community need to give much higher priority to meeting the financial needs of ICLARM. Moreover, the Panel hopes that this can be done without penalizing the other Centers in the System which undoubtedly have resource needs as well. With more adequate funding, the Panel concludes that the future of ICLARM can, indeed, be very bright.
The Panel has considered the Egyptian offer in some detail and would be willing to share with you its thinking on the matter. The tentative nature of the situation is such that we did not say more about it in our report. However, the Panel suggests that ICLARM would need to undertake an analysis as to what specific technical operation would be best suited to a research facility in a non-tropical environment. In addition, TAC would need to consider carefully the issues involved within the context of CGIAR priorities and strategies as well as some possible modification in ICLARM's strategic plan.
Finally, I would like to thank the members of the team for their contributions. They are a capable, knowledgable and experienced group with whom I greatly enjoyed working and who made this review a very pleasant and rewarding experience.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
E.T. York
Chair
ICLARM Mid-Term Review
