Third External Review of ICARDA, 1993

External program and management review (EPMR) of ICARDA conducted in the early months of 1993 by a panel chaired by Jock Anderson. The document also contains a transmittal from the TAC Chairman and the CGIAR Executive Secretary, the TAC commentary, ICARDA's response, and a transmittal from the panel chair.The report was positive overall, and noted that the management problems identified in the external reviews of 1988 had been overcome. It nevertheless made a number of suggestions for improving the organizational structure, the quality of internal reviews, adopting a more realistic financial strategy, and improving human resource management while reducing the number of internationally recruited staff in this area.The panel found that ICARDA was well regarded by the NARS of the region. The center lacked a mechanism for setting resource allocation priorities across programs, and needed a clear and transparent strategic plan. A clearer strategy for livestock research, in particular, should be developed, in connection with the ongoing CGIAR efforts to set new directions in this field. More attention to measuring impact was also suggested.TAC endorsed the panel's view that the farm resource management program needed greater focus. It also cautioned against expansion of the highlands program, as desired by some countries of the region, given financial constraints on the CGIAR. The devolution of faba bean research from ICARDA to national systems had presented problems, which offered possible lessons on criteria for success in devolution.The panel made a number of comments on the process of external reviews itself, with particular focus on the need to appraise the capability of NARS collaborators, and various trade-offs involved in expediting the review process.Agenda document at TAC 61 and 62, and the CGIAR meeting in October 1993.