Spanish French German Russian Japanese Arabic Home About This Site Contact Us Site Map Search
CGIAR: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
Nourishing the Future through Scientific Excellence
More on the Alliance
Collective Action
Interactive Map of the Alliance of CGIAR Centers
Biographies of the Directors General
 

More on the Alliance

 

From Alliance to Consortium

The reform proposal unanimously endorsed by the CGIAR in Maputo explicitly asked that the Alliance of CGIAR Centers take the lead in creating a new Consortium of CGIAR Centers that, working with partners and independent science and partnership advice, will be responsible for developing the strategic research agenda and programs, and for implementation for results.

As a first step the Alliance recognized the need for a smaller group of their membership to make decisions on the processes needed to needed to bring about the new Consortium and the design of the Strategy and Results Framework and associated research agenda (the Mega Programs). In December 2008, the Alliance created a Consortium Planning Team (CPT)** to do just this.

Progress since Maputo:

Consortium Design

  • following a thorough and transparent search and selection process, the Alliance engaged the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to advise on the architecture of the Consortium. Based on background research and extensive consultations a draft Consortium Constitution and draft terms of reference of its Board and CEO (or Executive Director) will be prepared by late April. This draft will be discussed by the full Alliance during their May meeting and presented as work in progress to the June CGIAR Executive Committee meeting.

Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Programs

  • In February a workshop to clarify concepts that were not sufficiently defined (such as ‘what is a Mega Program and a portfolio of Mega Programs’) as well as frame the work for developing the Strategy and Results Framework was organized. All Centres were represented as were a number of partner institutions and Challenge Programs. The Consortium Planning Team built upon the results from this workshop to design terms of reference for two teams to work on the Strategy and Results Framework and on developing ‘mock ups’ of Mega Programs. Joachim von Braun (IFPRI) was selected by the full Alliance to Chair the ‘strategy’ team and John McDermott (ILRI) chairs the Mega Program ‘mock up’ team.

  • The Alliance is pleased to be able to share with our stakeholders the Strategy Team’s first report outlining the process and progress to date. The Alliance will be reviewing the progress to date at the Alliance Meeting (11-13 May 2009). Based on the discussions and comments arising from the Alliance meeting, the Strategy will be further refined and the draft Strategy will be presented at the CGIAR June Executive Council meeting. Hopefully this meeting will endorse the draft and will give a green light to proceed with the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Programs.

    The Mega Program     ‘mock up’ team has prepared three Mega Program “mock ups” that are now available for stakeholder comment.  We must emphasize that no decisions have been made on the final portfolio of Mega Programs. This can only be done when there is an agreed Strategy and Result Framework and after an appropriate process of consultation with members and partners. What is presented in these documents are models developed to explore what Mega Programs might be, what they might aim to do, how they might operate and what the business model for these might look like.

    • The Strategy Team's first report and the three Mega Program "mock ups" are available at the Alliance of CGIAR Center's knowledge repository and 'communication for consultation' site. See the link below.

New Visit the new Alliance "communication for consultation" web site: click here to see their knowledge repository on the transition to the new CGIAR

 

 

 

** The Consortium Planning Team (CPT) is comprised of Steve Hall (World Fish and Chair of the Alliance Executive), Pamela Anderson (CIP), Robert Zeigler (IRRI), Julio Berdegué (Board Chair, CIMMYT), Andrew Bennett (Board Chair, CIFOR) Guido Gryseels (Board Chair ICARDA and Chair of the Alliance Board) and Anne-Marie Izac (ex officio, Chief Alliance Officer)

 

Governance of the Alliance
The Alliance of CGIAR Centers considers that the success of its governance, management and operations resides on the oversight given by the Alliance Board (AB), and the decisions taken by the Alliance Executive (AE) that are implemented by all Centers and facilitated by the Chief Alliance Officer (CAO).

Revitalizing the CGIAR: A summary of Alliance Next Steps --> click here for the December 18, 2008 Communiqué

The Alliance Board is made up of the Board Chairs of each Center member of the Alliance. The Alliance Board provides overall governance and strategic oversight for the Alliance's activities. It is the Alliance body that has specific conflict resolution responsibilities in the event of conflict within the Alliance. A conflict resolution mechanism has been put in place by the Alliance Board to facilitate this task.

The Chair of the Alliance Board is elected by his/her peers for a two–year term.

The Alliance Board organizes and implements an orientation program primarily for new Board members of CGIAR Centers. In 2005, the Alliance Board, in partnership with the CGIAR Secretariat, commissioned a stripe review of corporate governance of CGIAR Centers and is monitoring the Centers’ implementation of the Stripe Review’s key recommendations.  

The Alliance Executive is made up of the Directors-General of each of the Centers that are members of the Alliance. It is the body which makes the decisions necessary to the smooth functioning of the Alliance. These decisions concern both programmatic and administrative issues. Click here for the biographies of the Directors-General.

The Chair of the Alliance Executive is one of the Directors General of the 15 Centers, elected for a one-year term by his/her peers. The AE Chair may serve no more than two one year terms.

The Alliance Deputy Executive (ADE) is a support and implementation organ of the Alliance. It is composed by 2 standing-committees: an ADE-Science dealing with common cross-center issues on research strategy, implementation and quality, and an ADE-Finance dealing with financial, audit and administrative compliance with the CGIAR system demands. The ADE-Science and the ADE-Finance work with Center scientists and administrative staff to implement relevant decisions of the Alliance Executive. The chairs of ADE-Science and ADE-Finance are elected yearly among committee members (one vote per center if required). The Chair of the ADE-Science is the ADE Chair.

The mission of the Alliance Office (AO) is to enable the Centers to contribute more effectively and efficiently to the mission of the CGIAR by cooperating and implementing collective activities whenever and wherever possible. The Alliance Office provides strategic advice and supports and facilitates collective activities undertaken by the Alliance. The Alliance Office works to define and enable the emergence of a clear Alliance position (speaking with one voice) on strategic issues for the CGIAR and facilitating the communication of this position to relevant stakeholders. It facilitates the implementation of Alliance decisions and facilitates links between the Alliance and other parts of the System. The Alliance Office is headed by the Chief Alliance Officer.

Summaries of Meetings

Resources

Newsletters 2005-2006