An Update on Implementation of CGIAR Reforms

At the 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM08) in Maputo, Mozambique, the CGIAR Members unanimously adopted the proposal for a revitalized CGIAR, the culmination of the 2008 Change Management Initiative. The decision affirmed the need for the CGIAR to change its governance structure and way of doing business to better serve a world that is changing fast in financial, social, climatic and environmental terms. The agreed reforms will clarify accountabilities, foster results-oriented research agenda setting and management, streamline governance and programs for greater efficiency, open the system for stronger partnerships and foster an exciting research environment.

From proposal to implementation

With the adoption of the reform proposal, the change initiative entered into a new phase of putting ideas into practice. Over the course of 2009 and into early 2010, the key elements of the new CGIAR - the Consortium of Centers, the new Fund, the Strategic Results Framework, Mega-Programs, Accountability Framework, the Global Consultation on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) and more - are being developed.

To guide this process, the CGIAR Members appointed a Transition Management Team (TMT). The TMT oversees the process that is articulating the next level of detail of the reform and ensuring that each proposed change adds value to a new and improved CGIAR that is more effective in delivering positive development outcomes and higher impacts on poverty and hunger. Led by CGIAR Chair Katherine Sierra, the core members of the TMT are:

• Stephen Hall (CGIAR Alliance Executive Chair; Director General, WorldFish Center)
• Mark Holderness (Executive Secretary, Global Forum for Agricultural Research)
• Jonathan Wadsworth (Senior Agriculture Research Advisor, Department for International Development, UK)
• Ren Wang (CGIAR Director)

Rudy Rabbinge (CGIAR Science Council Chair) acts as advisor to the TMT Chair, Iftikhar Mostafa (CGIAR Secretariat Governance and Partnership Advisor) serves as secretary to the TMT, and associate members are called upon as needed to provide input on their areas of expertise. Click here to read the TMT terms of reference.

Progress on several fronts
Now four months into the transition phase, the progress can be seen in the initial development of several of the building blocks of the new CGIAR.

Consortium Planning Team
A Consortium Planning Team (CPT)**, established by the Alliance in December 2008, is leading the process of developing the Consortium and the Strategic Results Framework and Mega-Programs. A draft Consortium framework document and Terms of Reference for the Consortium Board and the chief executive officer (CEO) are being prepared by the CPT in consultation with Center leadership. These materials will be reviewed by the Alliance at their May 11-13 meeting in Rome.

The Fund
With regard to the new Fund, the CGIAR Secretariat is working with the World Bank to develop a framework for establishing the Fund with the World Bank as the trustee. Work to date has centered on the internal World Bank mechanics and trusteeship requirements. The key expectations of the trustee, trusteeship scenarios, the roles and responsibilities of the Fund, the accountabilities of the governing bodies of the Fund, and the responsibilities of the Fund Office are being considered and developed into a draft Fund framework document. CGIAR Members will gather for an informal consultation workshop in London on April 29-30, 2009, to provide input into the Fund framework document.

Strategic Results Framework
Joachim von Braun, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), is leading a team of six people from the Centers, Science Council and external organizations to prepare a draft of the Strategic Results Framework. John McDermott, deputy director general for research at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), is leading a team composed of Center staff to create three examples or "mockups" of Mega-Programs. From May to October, the Alliance will carry out consultations with Members, Center management and staff, partners and stakeholders to seek input for further development of these elements.

Accountability Framework
A one-day accountability workshop took place in Washington, DC, in early March. The workshop helped develop a shared view on what an accountability framework should mean in the CGIAR context, provided insights into good practices and provided the TMT new insights on how to move forward in designing the accountability framework for the new CGIAR. The accountability framework will describe the relationship between the Consortium and the Fund, and identify key agreements, arrangements and accountabilities.

Global Consultation on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD)
The roadmap to the March 2010 Global Consultation on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) is being developed by a task force with partner, Member and Center representation to ensure that regional consultations in lead up to the GCARD provide bottom-up input to the reform implementation and that the GCARD process is linked to the CGIAR Strategic Results Framework and Mega-Program efforts.

Taking stock at ExCo16 in June 2009
The draft Consortium framework, Fund framework, Strategic Results Framework, Mega-Program mockups and Accountability Framework documents and an update on the GCARD will be presented to CGIAR Members at the 16th Executive Council Meeting (ExCo16) which will take place at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia, on June 4-5, 2009 for their consideration and guidance on the next stages of development. The final CGIAR Business Meeting in December 2009 will mark the next significant step in the reform process with the anticipated approval of the new CGIAR Fund and the inaugural Fund Council meeting.

Staying abreast of the changes
The Change Management website provides several resources to help informed on the Change Initiative, including videos, a blog, the Embracing Change newsletter and the TMT Journal Update. Click here for further information.

** The Consortium Planning Team (CPT) comprises 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).