Assurance & Oversights functions
CGIAR has a deep commitment to partnership, transparency and accountability. This is reflected in the CGIAR governance structure which focuses on enabling CGIAR’s Research Centers and Partners to conduct high-quality research for development based on a solid foundation of clearly defined roles, responsibilities and accountabilities.
Partnership, transparency and accountability is a priority across all CGIAR activities. For example:
- CGIAR is committed to Open Access and Open Data, with all 15 Research Centers signing on to the Open Access and Data Management Policy in 2013
- CGIAR works in accordance with a range of policy and guidance documents that set the overall environment for the system and how it operates
- CGIAR receives advice from a range of advisory services which help to provide accountability, contribute to system-wide learning and support decision making
- CGIAR management of intellectual assets works towards maximizing global accessibility and impact of CGIAR research.
- CGIAR publishes system-wide grant data to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) Standard.
In 2018, the Chairs of CGIAR’s Audit Committees agreed to commission a single firm to carry out an External Quality Assessment (‘EQA’) of all Center Internal Audit services. That work was overseen by the CGIAR System Internal Audit Function, and a copy of the Executive Summary of the Consolidated Report was shared with the System Management Board and its Audit and Risk Committee in April 2019.
In 2018, CGIAR developed an annual ‘CGIAR Integrity Report’, providing summarized analysis on financial irregularity matters reported to the System Organization.
IAES
Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES)
CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) provides operational support as the secretariat for the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) and the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA), and implements CGIAR’s multi-year, independent evaluation plan as approved by the CGIAR Council. The IAES and the two independent bodies it supports, provide external, impartial, and expert advice related to strategy and positioning, program evaluation, and impact assessment.
CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) Team
| Allison Grove Smith | Director |
| Amy R. Beaudreault | Lead, ISDC Secretariat |
| Ira Vater | Senior Manager, SPIA Program Management Unit |
| Domagoj Vrbos | Senior Manager, Operations and Events, IAES & ISDC Secretariat |
| Mae Maghirang | Budget and Finance Specialist |
| Agnes Fojta | Administration and Coordination Assistant |
| Ibtissem Jouini | Senior Evaluation Manager |
| Swetha Ramachandran | Senior Officer, SPIA Use of Evidence |
| Evan Tan | Associate Officer, Communications & Knowledge Management |
ISDC
Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC)
The ISDC provides its advice within the broader context of CGIAR’s Strategy and Results Framework (‘SRF’), and successive multi-year CGIAR Business Plans approved by the CGIAR Council upon the recommendation of the System Board. Guided by terms of reference approved by the CGIAR Council, the ISDC has a mandate for:
- Foresight work to inform CGIAR’s longer term research strategy;
- Horizon scanning to provide analysis on how emerging trends and developments can be taken into account in CGIAR’s work;
- Priority setting exercises and analyses integrating both ex-post and ex-ante analyses;
- Guidance for periodic proposal assessment processes; and
- Other functions, on the strategic direction of CGIAR and the value of its research agenda.
ISDC Council Members and main affiliations
| Lesley Torrance ISDC Chair | Honorary Fellow at the James Hutton Institute and Emeritus Professor of Biology at the University of St Andrews, UK |
| Glenn Fitzgerald ISDC Member | Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne, Australia |
| Ingrid Fromm ISDC Member | Senior Research Associate and lecturer in International Agriculture at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland |
| Magali Garcia ISDC Member | Professor Emeritus, Universidad Mayor de San Andres, Bolivia |
| David R. Just ISDC Member | Susan Eckert Lynch Professor of Science and Business, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, USA |
| Erin Lentz ISDC Member | Associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas, Austin, USA |
| Bhavani Shankar ISDC Member | Professor and Co-Director at the Institute for Sustainable Food, University of Sheffield, UK |
See the Terms of Reference for the 2026 Nominations Panel for the appointment process of ISDC members
See the Terms of Reference for the ISDC Chair
See the relevant section on the Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service website for further information.
SPIA
Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA)
SPIA is an external, impartial standing panel of experts in impact assessment subject matters appointed by the CGIAR Council and accountable to it. Within the context of the CGIAR System, operating according to multi-year CGIAR Business Plans to increase coherence and alignment in CGIAR’s delivery against it Strategy and Results Framework (‘SRF’), and guided by terms of reference approved by the CGIAR Council, SPIA is responsible for providing rigorous, evidence-based and independent strategic advice to the CGIAR System on:
- Efficient and effective impact assessment methods and practices, including those measuring impacts beyond contribution to science and economic performance; and
- On innovative ways to improve knowledge and capacity on how research contributes to development outcomes
SPIA Panel
| Travis Lybbert SPIA Chair | Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California Davis, USA |
| Sujata Visaria SPIA Member | Reader, Bayes Business School, City, University of London; Associate Professor of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR |
| Monica Biradavolu SPIA Member | CEO and founder of QualAnalytics |
| Susan Godlonton SPIA Member | Associate Professor of Economics at Williams College, USA |
| Jenny Aker SPIA Member | Daniel G. Sisler Professor of Development Economics at Cornell University |
| Jennifer Burney SPIA Member | Professor & Marshall Saunders Chancellor’s Endowed Chair of Climate Policy and Research, School of Global Policy & Strategy, University of California, San Diego, USA |
| Robert Darko Osei SPIA Member | Professor of Development Economics, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Legon |
| Shilpa Aggarwal SPIA Member | Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Indian School of Business |
Useful Documents
- 2024 Plan Approval: Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service & Supported Independent Bodies
- 2024 Consolidated Technical and Financial Report for Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES), Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC), and Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA)
- Terms of Reference for IAES, SPIA and ISDC
- Terms of Reference: System Council Strategic Impact, Monitoring & Evaluation Committee
Ethics
Internal Audit
Purpose
The purpose of the CGIAR Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function is to strengthen CGIAR’s ability to create, protect and sustain value by providing the CGIAR Board, through its Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (IPB-AFRC), with independent, risk-based and objective assurance, advice, insight and foresight. The Function also supports management and works with Center internal audit functions to promote coordinated assurance across CGIAR.
How we work
The Core mandate of the Internal Audit Function is to provide independent assurance to the Integrated Partnership Board and its Audit, Finance and Risk Committee on the effectiveness of governance, risk management and control processes across the Integrated Partnership. ·
- Support oversight and decision-making by providing evidence-based insights and identifying areas where risk exposure may exceed CGIAR’s risk appetite or tolerance.
- Contribute to CGIAR’s combined assurance approach by coordinating with other assurance providers to support a coherent view of risks, controls and assurance coverage.
- Strengthen accountability, transparency and trust by promoting consistent reporting, follow-up and assurance practices across the Integrated Partnership.
The Function connects and strengthens assurance across CGIAR while preserving Center accountability. Through coordinated planning, reporting and follow-up, it provides governing bodies and management with an independent, actionable view of risk, control effectiveness and organizational resilience.
The Function operates under the authority of CGIAR Board and performs its work in accordance with the Global Internal Audit Standards (GIAS) of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), including the principles of ethics and professionalism.
The team
The Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function is led by the Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Executive. The Function works with Heads of Internal Audit across CGIAR Centers and is supported by the Integrated Partnership Quality Assurance Lead. Center internal audit teams remain accountable for delivering Center-approved audit plans, while contributing to coordinated assurance where relevant.
| CGIAR IP Internal Audit Function and System Organization | Elbert Hidding Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Executive |
| Quality Assurance Lead | Patrick Kamau Quality Assurance Lead |
| AfricaRice and IITA | Takawira Fumhe Head of Internal Audit |
| Alliance Bioversity/CIAT | Irene Muchiri Senior Manager |
| CIP and IFPRI | Raksha Shah Senior Internal Audit Manager |
| CIMMYT | Jihee Eom Head of Internal Audit |
| ICARDA | Antonio Villamor Head of Internal Audit |
| ICRISAT | Sunil Addanki Head of Internal Audit |
| ILRI | Frederick Gathogo Head of Internal Audit |
| IRRI, IWMI, WorldFish | Oluseyi Onibokun Director Audit Asia |
| Internal Audit Function Support | Inese Berzina Consultant |
Risk-based Audit Plan
The Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function develops an annual risk-based audit plan focused on the most significant risks and opportunities across the Integrated Partnership where internal audit can provide relevant assurance, advice or insight.
The plan helps ensure that internal audit work is aligned with CGIAR’s strategic objectives, partnership obligations and priority risk areas. It is delivered through thematic and cross-cutting engagements across Centers and the System Organization, in accordance with the Global Internal Audit Standards and agreed Terms of Reference for each engagement.
In addition, each Center prepares its own risk-based audit plan for Center-specific audit engagements. The Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function coordinates with Centers to identify opportunities for alignment, reliance and systemwide assurance, while preserving Center-level accountability.
Resources
Terms of Reference for the Integrated Partnership Internal Audit Function (2025)
CGIAR System Organization Internal Audit Charter (2025)
Brief introduction to Internal Audit at CGIAR
CGIAR System Internal Audit Function Charter