TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND CGIAR SECRETARIAT
SDR/TAC IAR/98/2
Report of the Third External Programme and Management Review
of the
International Food Policy Research Institute
(IFPRI)
TAC Secretariat
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
April 1998
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Donald Winkelmann, Chairman
10 April 1998
Dear Mr. Serageldin,
We are indeed pleased to submit to you the report of the Third External Programme and Management Review of IFPRI, which was conducted recently by a Panel chaired by Dr. Samuel Paul of the Public Affairs Centre in Bangalore, India. The Review report and IFPRI's response were considered by TAC at its 74th meeting at Hyderabad in March 1998. The Panel Chair was present at the meeting, and IFPRI was represented by its Director General.
Besides the Panel's report, there are two attachments to this letter: the TAC commentary, which summarises the Committee's reactions to the Panel's report and to the response of IFPRI's Board and management; and IFPRI's response to the Panel's report.
TAC is pleased that EPMR Panel considers the overall quality of work, outputs and performance of IFPRI during the review period to be impressive. Since the last EPMR, IFPRI's senior management has done an outstanding job of restoring organisational cohesion, morale and stability. The Review Panel found IFPRI's research programmes to be of high quality and relevance, and notes the Institute's solid reputation among its peers and collaborators. IFPRI intends to re-examine its priorities later this year; and TAC has made a number of suggestions regarding possible future directions of IFPRI's work, including attention to institutional economics. It also concurs with the Panel that the Institute needs to develop a better strategy for its Outreach Programme and to integrate it effectively with research.
Mr. Ismail Serageldin
CGIAR Chair
World Bank
1818H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
USA
355 E. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
(1-505) 988-1284
FAX: (1-505) 988-1285
[email protected]
Overall, we endorse the Panel's view about the sound leadership of IFPRI and the effectiveness of its governance and management. IFPRI is in excellent shape, and folly deserves continued strong support from the CGIAR community.
Yours sincerely,
Alexander von der Osten
Executive Secretary, CGIAR
Donald L. Winkelmann
TAC Chair
