Technical Advisory Committee Fifty-Fourth Meeting, 10-17 March 1991: Report of the Meeting

Abstract

Report of TAC 54 held in The Hague, March 10-17, 1991, Alex McCalla presiding. TAC reviewed the strategic plan of CIAT, and agreed with its broad directions. TAC looked forward to reviewing the operational implications set forth in the CIAT MTP. The Committee considered the external review of IBPGR, which was in process of becoming an independent center within the CGIAR system. It also discussed the program and management reviews of ICRISAT and its draft strategic plan. TAC prepared commentaries on both centers (included in the report) for consideration of the CGIAR. A progress report on experience gained with the external review process was discussed, and scheduled for CGIAR consideration. A revision of the process was urgently required.TAC agreed on the analytical process to be followed in dealing with CGIAR priorities and strategies. A draft paper on priorities only would be considered at TAC 55. Discussing resource allocation, the Committee endorsed the present rule that centers needed to seek TAC approval for changes exceeding 1% of their budgets.As follow-up to the expansion of the CGIAR, TAC considered IIMI's strategic plan, which would serve as background for the review of the center's 1992 p&b submission. The Committee amended a draft paper on the ecoregional approach to CGIAR research, to be presented to the Group in May 1991. Discussing the response to be made to the CGIAR request for an elaboration of the relationship between IARCs and NARS, TAC members expressed diverse opinions about the role of the CGIAR in strengthening NARS. They decided to prepare an issues and options paper for the CGIAR meeting in May 1991, and develop a policy statement in the light of the discussion.