Prof. P. Bernard Tinker
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Oxford, South Parks
Road Oxford OX1 3RB, U.K.
TEL (0044-865) 275079
FAX (0044-865) 275060
Glebe House
Broadwell, Lechlade
Glos. GL7 3QS, U.K.
TEL (0044-367) 860436
FAX (0044-367) 860436
27 January 1993
Dr. Alex McCalla
Chair, Technical Advisory Committee/CGIAR
University of California
Davis, CA 95616, USA
Mr. Alexander von der Osten
Executive Secretary
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433, USA
Dear Dr. McCalla & Mr. von der Osten,
I am pleased to submit to you the Report of the First External Programme and Management Review of the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF).
The Panel has been guided by the terms of reference provided by TAC, which were to make a detailed appraisal of the Programme and Management of the Centre and all its activities. The assignment was unusual in that the Centre initially had few research activities, and has had to build these up rapidly following its acceptance into the CGIAR system in 1991. This state of rapid change may have caused some problems for the Panel in deciding the exact state of affairs at a particular point in time, but made the Panel's job exceptionally interesting.
As the Report shows, we are convinced that the process of transformation from an information agency and an advocacy organization, which commenced some 8 years ago, is now showing substantial advances in the development of a strategic research agenda, and the final shape of the organization is becoming clearer. ICRAF is showing great dynamism in pursuing its research goals, including the development of ecoregional activities in several parts of the world and the new collaborative initiative on 'Alternatives to Slash & Burn'. At the same time, we were pleased to note that it is aiming to retain its excellent contacts with NARS, its on-farm orientation and its acclaimed training and information role that were such a feature of its earlier work. It already occupies an important position in research on farming sustainability.
ICRAF is coming towards the end of a major planning process, in which it has developed its Draft Strategy document and its draft 1994-8 Medium Term Plan. These provided valuable and detailed information that was a great help in the Panel's work, and also an insight into the wider goals and vision of the Board and Management. The internal structure of ICRAF has gone through a series of changes, and we believe its new matrix structure is sound, though needing some further attention in detail.
Consultations and interactions with ICRAF staff and management at every level were extensive and frank. We greatly appreciated the detailed and helpful documentation and presentations provided by ICRAF, and the efficient and friendly way in which all members of the staff, from the DG down, gave us support.
I wish to thank warmly all members of the Panel for their unstinting efforts to make the Review accurate and fair, and the excellent colleagues assigned to us by the TAC Secretariat, Dr. Hans Gregersen and Dr. Philip Kio, and by the CGIAR Secretariat, Dr. Michael Collinson. Without them the Panel could not have completed its task.
Finally, all the Panel Members join with me in expressing gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this Review Panel. We have been impressed and encouraged by the dedication and enthusiasm of ICRAF's staff, and hope that this Review will help them in ICRAF's future development.
Yours-sincerely,
P.B.H. Tinker
Chair, ICRAF External
Programme and Management Review Panel
