Fourth External Programme and Management Review of ICARDA

Report of the fourth external program and management review (EPMR) of ICARDA, conducted between April 1999 and February 2000 by a panel chaired by Donald Plucknett. The document also includes an excerpt from the report of the CGIAR Mid Term Meeting 2000, a transmittal letter from the TAC Chair and CGIAR Executive Secretary, TAC's commentary, ICARDA's response, and a transmittal from the panel chair.ICARDA was advised by the panel, TAC, and the CGIAR to restrict its efforts to Central and West Asia and North Africa, eschewing attention to dry areas elsewhere. The proportion of unrestricted funding has fallen from 80% to 30%, a cause for disruption and concern. It was agreed that a study of the impact of the decline in unrestricted funding across the system was needed. ICARDA was commended for commissioning eight external reviews of its program.The CGIAR agreed that there should be an interim review after two years to see how ICARDA was doing, particularly on focusing its work on natural resource management, and strengthening the program in social science. Outreach to NARS was strong and innovative, but the panel recommended a strategic review to avoid overstretching. TAC was concerned about the limited impact reported for the cereal and legume programs. A recommendation from the 1994 review for impact studies of ICARDA's major technologies is repeated in this review.The panel recommended, and the CGIAR supported, establishment of management information system for projects. The panel saw a need to further improve human resource management, professional development opportunities, and the performance evaluation process. This review was considered at TAC 77 and again, after being revised at TAC's request, at TAC 78. It was endorsed by the CGIAR at its meeting in May 2000.