CONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Alex F. McCalla
Chair
8 September 1994
Dear Mr. Serageldin,
We are pleased to submit to you the Report of the First External Programme and Management Review of IIMI which was conducted from 17 February to 8 March 1994 under the Chairmanship of Prof. Bernard Tinker of the United Kingdom. The Review Report and the written Response of the IIMI Board of Governors were considered by TAC at its 64th Meeting in June in the presence of the Panel Chair. IIMI was represented by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman of the Board, Dr. Roberto Lenton, Director General, Dr. Khalid Mohtadullah, Deputy Director General, and Dr. Jacob Kijne, Director of Research.
Like all the external reviews of the CGIAR Centres since 1991, this Review was conducted through a single panel with both programme and management expertise. In line with current practice, the Panel submitted a single integrated report, an approach which has consistently demonstrated the advantages of similar joint reviews.
In addition to the Report of the Panel, there are two attachments to this letter. The first contains the TAC Commentary, which summarizes TAC's reactions to the Panel's Report and the written Response of IIMI's Board and management to the Review Report. The second attachment is the written Response of IIMI.
The Review shows that IIMI is making progress in its transition to become a full-fledged CGIAR institution, and that there have been many changes required of IIMI over a short period since its entry into the CGIAR System in January 1991. However, there is some way to go before IIMI has reached full CGIAR standards. This task will be IIMI's greatest challenge in the next few years, and TAC will carefully monitor the progress made by the Institute. IIMI has the commitment and will to complete the transformation, and the Review Report contains many helpful suggestions on what must be done to accomplish this expeditiously. The Board is in agreement with most of these and has initiated a move to implement them.
Mr. Ismail Serageldin
CGIAR Chair
World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20433
USA
Mail address: Technical Advisory Comm/CGIAR, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Tel: (916) 752-8648/8649 - Telex: 4900010239 UCD UI - FAX (916) 752-8572
Office Location: 219 E St., Suite 2C, Davis, CA
The case for an international research programme on irrigated agriculture is overwhelming on food security and sustainability grounds. Research on water management will be one of the most important challenges in agricultural research for several decades to come. IIMI is a main operator in this field, and is well placed to help in mobilizing the international research effort, and thus needs support at a level where it can make a significant contribution.
We recommend continued strong support of IIMI by the CGIAR. With the kinds of changes envisaged in IIMI's strategic research agenda and in its global leadership role, the Institute is likely to achieve a prominent place within the CGIAR System in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Alex McCalla
Chairman, TACAlexander von der Osten
Executive Secretary, CGIAR
