Study of the External Review Processes in the CGIAR

Abstract

Vernon Ruttan's study of external review processes in the CGIAR, commissioned jointly by TAC and the CGIAR Secretariat. Preliminary discussion with Ruttan took place at TAC 39 and 40. The report was considered at TAC 41 and TAC 42, and at the May 1987 CGIAR midterm meeting in Montpellier. In a brief report, Ruttan made ten recommendations, including: a strategic, rather than operational, focus for program reviews; special attention by management reviews to board performance; and extension of the review period to eight to ten years with interim reviews when required. He also touched on a number of other concerns, such as: the cost of reviews in terms both of budget resources and workload on the centers; the role of TAC; relations with the private sector; and relations with non-associated international research centers.Extensive annexes cover the process used by Ruttan, excerpts from the two earlier CGIAR System Reviews, a summary of center staff evaluations of the review process, and summaries and critiques of each of the external reviews of centers conducted through 1986.