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Chief Information Officer
(CIO)
Key achievements in 2003
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is one of the younger System
Office units. The position was created in late 2002. Since then the
CIO significantly helped to improve and streamline information and
knowledge management in the CGIAR through a number of initiatives,
including:
1. Development of an ICT-KM Strategy
The External Review Panel (ERP) that reviewed the ICT-KM 2004
Investment Plan said, "The strategic ICT-KM/S process
currently being undertaken by the CGIAR shows that the organisation
is a pioneer in this area."
The CIO, with the support of the Advisory Group, developed a
system-wide ICT-KM rolling 3-year strategy aimed to foster global
virtual team effort across the Centers and partners, to improve
effectiveness and efficiencies, to reduce duplication, to improve
decision making and to nurture communities of practice and
teamwork. The ICT-KM strategy was approved by Center Directors'
Committee (CDC) in May 2003 and generated a number of projects that
aimed at three main thrust areas: (1) ICT for Tomorrow's
Science, (2) Content for Development, and (3) A CGIAR Without
Boundaries.
2. Improving System-wide efficiencies
In 2003, a number of efficiency gains were achieved. Some have a
clear cost-saving aspect, others offer better ways of doing
business. Among those some are worth mentioning:
- A new system-wide agreement to purchase Microsoft Products - an
initiative that brought overall estimated savings of US$ 1 million
for the system.
· The creation of a consortium of CGIAR libraries. This consortium
has negotiated agreement for a number of journals and brought about
saving in the region of US$ 800,000 for the system.
- The contract with CGNET was streamlined. As a result some
savings were possible by identifying items that could be eliminated
from the billing without compromising the services provided. A new
creative approach is proposed in 2004 to provide more services at
more competitive prices.
- The IT managers have been implementing a system-wide
'Active Directory' project that will allow traveling staff
easier access to computer resources in the various
Centers.
- Center-based tools are being promoted for adoption at the
system level. For example, CIAT's Project Manager is now being
adopted by another 4 Centers. This new approach will help avoid
'reinventing the wheel'.
3. Establishment of an ICT-KM Advisory Group
The ICT-KM Advisory Group (AG) is unique in the CGIAR and is the
first cross-functional community within the CGIAR. It is composed
of elected representatives from a broad range of communities of
practice (CoP) and management groups within the CGIAR. This
precedent-setting process has culminated in a plan that provides
the opportunity for the CGIAR to consult, collaborate, and learn
from each other now and in the future.
The ICT-KM Advisory Group has been set up to assist the CIO in
identifying priorities within the CGIAR system regarding ICT and
KM, to support the preparation of action plans and to champion
their implementation.
CIO in collaboration with other SO units in 2003
Good Practice Notes - CIO and IAU
Following IT audits last year, four good practice notes in
cooperation with the CGIAR System Office Internal Audit Unit were
produced in the area of IT management ranging from IT Risk
assessment to IT Performance Indicators to IT Business Continuity
Planning. These notes are useful for helping to avoid unnecessary
duplication and for encouraging the adoption and adherence to best
practices, standards, policies and procedures.
Global Public Goods - CIO, CAS and IAU
Together with the CGIAR System Office Internal Audit Unit and
Central Advisory Service for Intellectual Property, a technical
mission was carried out to support the Centers in the
implementation of their Global Public Goods projects.
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