This is the Report of the Fifth External Review Panel appointed to evaluate the programme and management of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The membership of the Panel and their background are given in Appendix I. The Terms of Reference of this Fifth External Programme and Management Review are shown in Appendix II.
The Panel’s approach to the Review was participatory and forward looking. In conducting the Review, the Panel considered the driving forces within the Centre and the CGIAR System, as well as in the external environment that influence the operational framework for IPGRI. The Panel wished to concentrate on the most strategic issues facing the Centre, after examining information pertaining to all the principal areas of the review.
The information on which the Panel based its decisions regarding the key concerns and issues and its assessments and conclusions, were gathered in a number of ways. The Panel made extensive use of 13 Centre Commissioned External Review Reports. The Panel interacted with Centre Board, senior management and research staff, both at headquarters and at several regional sites. It conducted a staff survey among all IPGRI staff. The Panel members met with national programme representatives and other IPGRI partners and stakeholders during field visits at various locations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. The Panel itinerary is given in Appendix III. The Panel also conducted a questionnaire survey among IPGRI’s stakeholders and received over 100 responses. Telephone interviews were conducted with stakeholders in Latin America and selected institutes elsewhere. The list of people contacted either during field visits or by telephone is given in Appendix IV.
The Panel obtained additional information through a survey letter sent to all other CGIAR Centres and to all CGIAR Members and Regional representatives. Furthermore, both the interim Science Council of the CGIAR and the IPGRI management and Board raised issues that they considered important for the review.
Finally, the Panel had access to documents and data made available by IPGRI in advance and during the Main Phase of the review. The iSC and CGIAR Secretariats provided documentation covering CGIAR strategies, finance and organization, strategic studies and review reports. A complete list of documents given to the Panel is shown in Appendix V. One of the documents provided by IPGRI was the Centre response and follow up to the 4th EPMR recommendations, which together with the Panel’s comments, is provided in Appendix VI.
