A Clear Pathway Forward

In the last issue of Embracing Change, we noted a number of tough questions that needed to be tackled at this point in the reform process. Among them were questions related to the power of the Consortium, donor commitment to the Fund, the role of the Independent Science and Partnership Council and the full cost impact of the new system. Resolving such issues was the focus of the recent CGIAR Executive Council (ExCo) meeting on November 3-4.

In the lead up to ExCo there was concern among many that the meeting could be quite contentious. However, the meeting proved tremendously successful with broad buy-in and agreement on key aspects of the reform between the CGIAR Members and the Alliance of the Centers. Much of this success can be attributed to a high level of advance preparation. The Centers deserve significant recognition for their advance work as they developed a clear and unified opinion on the key issues they felt needed to be resolved, and shared and discussed these views at an informal donor-Alliance consultation the day before ExCo. Issues addressed included how to reconcile inconsistencies and increase coherence among the reform documents, commitments to the Fund and funding levels for 2010, how bilateral funding will be handled in the future, and recommendations on transitional funding arrangements. These clarifying “advance party” discussions removed potential stumbling blocks and cleared the way for a revised ExCo agenda that resolved most outstanding issues and aligned participants on the pathway forward to the December Business Meeting.

How the Elements of the New CGIAR are Taking Shape

Over the course of 2009 the blueprint agreed to by the CGIAR (see figure 1) has been further developed into concrete proposals for the elements of the new CGIAR partnership. The last critical juncture for the reform process was the prior meeting of the Executive Council in June.  ExCo was able to see significant progress achieved over the five months between meetings. The following overviews key developments.

Consortium

The Alliance of the CGIAR Centers confirmed unanimous support for the reforms and for moving forward with the establishment of the new Consortium.  A revised draft Constitution, a preliminary analysis to support the design of the Consortium Office and an assessment of shared services have all been completed. The selection of the Consortium Board is also well underway with members to be announced by the end of 2009. Once the Board is established, it will recruit the new Consortium CEO and set up the Consortium Office in the second half of 2010.

Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Programs

The Alliance updated ExCo on the development of the draft Strategy and Results Framework (SRF) and initial set of potential Mega Programs. Three concerns were identified. First, the evidence base and philosophical underpinnings of the SRF require further elaboration. Second, the logic for deriving a set of Mega Programs from the SRF needs clarifying. Third, further consultation within the Alliance and a stronger linkage with the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) consultation process is needed. ExCo agreed that further development of these areas is needed and that the Alliance will spearhead a process to address them over the coming months in close coordination with the GCARD process, the Independent Science and Partnership Council, and other partners.

The Alliance also indicated that the concept of a Mega Program requires further clarification and will develop a think piece for the Business Meeting toward that end. The following were re-affirmed, however, as criteria for potential Mega Programs:

• a clear impact pathway,
• addresses one or more of the strategic objectives,
• sufficient scale to deliver on results and or measurable impacts,
• reflect the CGIAR’s comparative advantage in catalyzing research,
• effective mobilization of resources, capacity and synergies among partners,
• an investment time horizon of 6-20 years, and
• simple and cost effective management.

Approval and initiation for one or more fast tracked Mega Program(s) is expected during the second half of 2010.

The possibility of doing research outside of the Strategy and Results Framework with support from bilateral funding outside of the new Fund was raised. To avoid diluting the effectiveness of the new approach of a unifying strategy for the system, ExCo agreed that the bulk of research should indeed fall within the Strategy and Results Framework and that research outside the agreed strategy should not compromise the ability of Centers to deliver on the framework. Most importantly, all work carried out by Centers would be on a full cost financing basis to ensure all expenses required to support a program are covered.

Fund

Establishment of the new CGIAR Fund is on track. The Fund will harmonize donor contributions in a multidonor fund with three windows for funding – unrestricted (for the entire CGIAR portfolio and critical core activities), program (for specific Mega Programs) and institutional (donor earmarked to individual Centers). ExCo considered the possible future phase-out for the institutional window and agreed such a date might be set after the transition, but deferred that decision to two years from now.

ExCo discussed how to ensure funds continue to flow during the transition as disbursement through the new Fund cannot happen until the Consortium is established. As such, existing arrangements will need to be maintained until the Consortium is functional. Support to cover transition costs will also be provided in addition to 2009 levels of core funding.

Regarding the composition of the Fund Council, the Fund’s decision-making body, ExCo agreed to a model with 21 members and a chair. Representation will maintain balance between the North and the South, with eight seats each. The donor seat allocation will reflect regional balance and recognition of the share of funding. Five seats will be allocated to stakeholders including foundations, multilateral donors and international agencies. The Council representation is inclusive and aligned with current trends toward providing a larger and more equitable voice for developing countries. The recent shift from the G-8 to the G-20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation is a clear example of this trend.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the new CGIAR clarifies accountabilities, sets out a results-based monitoring and evaluation system for performance management, and establishes an independent evaluation arrangement. The Consortium will be responsible for the monitoring system for managing research performance and results. Regular independent evaluations of Mega Programs and the CGIAR partnership will be commissioned by the Fund Council through an independent evaluation arrangement. Options for this arrangement are being explored. ExCo emphasized the importance of a learning system across the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms while ensuring expertise, independence, and efficiency. An Alliance-donor working group is finalizing the framework in preparation for the Business Meeting.

Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC)

The following roles and responsibilities for the ISPC were approved by ExCo. The ISPC will be a standing panel of world-class scientific experts that will:

• commission and oversee evaluations of scientific quality, partnership arrangements and development effectiveness of proposals submitted by the Consortium to the Fund Council;
• support the important role of the CGIAR as honest broker in various global debates;
• provide funders with advice on trends and emerging issues;
• convene periodic high-level scientific dialogues on high priority issues and help catalyze partnerships of the CGIAR with other global science communities in partnership with the Consortium and GFAR;
• commission, in partnership with the Consortium, ex-post impact assessment studies of the development effectiveness of CGIAR investments; and
• provide ad hoc independent advice and expertise to the funders of the CGIAR through services to the Fund Council and the Funders Forum.

An interim ISPC will be launched in December 2009 with the current Science Council fulfilling the interim ISPC role until the new ISPC is recruited.

An Update on the GCARD consultation process: Enhancing Development Impact from Research-- Building on Demand

The consultation process of the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) has been in full swing for three months. It consists of a step-by-step approach in six regions coordinated by the corresponding regional fora that make up the Global Forum of Agricultural Research (GFAR) 1/. The overall objective is to meet the knowledge and technological needs of resource poor, small holder farmers so as to have development impact through a refinement of regional and global agricultural research priorities, as identified by different stakeholder groups and representatives in each region in an inclusive manner.

Some 3,000 research and development workers are currently directly involved in the GCARD consultation process.  The step-by-step consultation process includes regional reviews of agriculture for development, regional e-consultations, regional face-to-face meetings, regional reports, a second round of e-consultations, and finally a global summary report. The summary report will serve as a baseline for discussions at the GCARD in Montpellier in March 2010 where an action plan and strategy will be finalized to improve ARD systems globally.

The regional face-to-face meetings have now been finalized. The GCARD Task Force is currently compiling the feedback received from the face-to-face meetings from the Regional Forums to further debate and work on the suggested research priorities during the GFAR steering committee meeting. Stay tuned at http://www.egfar.org/egfar/website/gcard  

1/ APAARI for Asia Pacific, CACAARI for Caucasus and Central Asia, ARINENA for West Africa and North America, FARA for Sub-Saharan Africa, EARD for Europe, and FORAGRO for Latin America and the Caribbean.

What to Expect at the Business Meeting

The CGIAR Members will come together for a final Business Meeting in Washington, DC, on December 8th, 2009. The Business Meeting is expected to finally adopt the new model for the CGIAR, marking a new chapter in this important global partnership. Outstanding key issues that remain to be addressed include an analysis of the cost of the new system and the process for elaborating the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Programs. While complete transition will continue into 2010, the old system will formally come to an end as we usher in our new era and new way of working together for a better future.

Calendar

Be Part of the Change

Learn more about the Change Initiative

• Visit the CGIAR Change Management Website where you can find more materials about the change including a written summary and video of the new CGIAR model, earlier editions of Embracing Change, and the change calendar: http://www.cgiar.org/changemanagement/index.html

• A new webpage on the CGIAR Fund Development has been created to share information, updates, and key documents on Fund development activities, as well as related events: http://cgiar.org/fund/index.html 

• An Alliance website on Communication for Change provides progress updates and draft documents about two elements of the transition that the Alliance leads—development of the Consortium of Centers and the Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Programs: http://alliance.cgxchange.org/

Contribute to the Change Blog or Embracing Change

The CGIAR Change Blog is a forum for views and news on the change process. Post these online at: http://cgiarchangemanagement.wordpress.com/

Embracing Change is a platform for exchanging information on the transformation of the CGIAR. Your contributions are welcome and encouraged. Email your submissions to change@cgiar.org with Embracing Change in the subject line.