C GIAR1 N E W S THE CGIAR March 1998 NURTURES AN EVALUATION CULTURE How does the CGIAR l foster an evaluation culture-an ongoing, constructive process of measurement, evaluation, and T TA 1TT'rliTTT I T H feedback that promotes scientific CHINA-CGIAR FORUM USHERS excellence and provides account- IN CLOSER PARTNERSHIP ability?.NC O E A T ES I "We are all agreed on the need to do so," Chairman Ismail For many participants, the centers told me what a great Serageldin stated in his opening China-CGIAR Forum signaled a opportunity it was. It was reward- address for International Centers new phase in the relationship ing to see the China-CGIAR Week 1997. He went on to clarify between CGIAR and China. The partnership strengthened. Al- that the world recognizes CGIAR's Chinese Academy of Agricultural. though individual centers have contributions, but the challenge is Sciences (CAAS) hosted the worked with Chinese institutes for how does the CGIAR measure this China-CGIAR Forum from No- many years, the Forum ushered in a effectiveness, presenting it in a vember 10-12, 1997, in Beijing, closer partnership with the system scientifically rigorous fashion. China. as a whole." "Above all, how do we integrate CGIAR Chairman Ismail Through the Forum, the these assessments in the way we Serageldin, CGIAR Executive CGIAR and China reached a undertake our work today?" Secretary Alexander von der Osten, mutual understanding in many In striving to promote an and senior managers from 12 important areas, including the evaluation culture, the CGIAR is centers represented the CGIAR at nature of the challenges that working with both the learning the Forum. On the Chinese side, continue to confront China, the side and the ensuring of account- more than 80 participants from the contribution that agriculture can ability. The learning side deals Ministry of Agriculture, CAAS, make towards overcoming the with the science, while account- four provincial Academies of challenges, and the crucial impor- ability requires informing key Science and the China Agricultural tance of agricultural research. stakeholders so that they can University, and various research China faces such daunting chal- respond appropriately. centers attended the event. lenges as having to feed 22 percent "An evaluation culture is a "The China-CGIAR Forum of the world's population with 7 learning culture," Jim Peacock, was both timely and successful, percent of the world's arable land. Chair of the Impact Assessment says Alexander von der Osten. Working together, China Evaluation Croup (IAEG) explains. "Representatives of the CG Cen- and the CGIAR structured the "Evaluation means not being afraid ters and the Chinese research event to allow a frank exchange of (continued on page 8) (continued on page 3) 1 CGIAR V Message from the Chairman Isiriail Serageldin _ The CGIAR Calls for a Moratorium On February 4, 1998, the diately began efforts within the of the agreements with FAO and to CGIAR requested a moratorium CCIAR system to analyze the refrain from applying for intellec- on the granting of intellectual issues. Even though these claims tual property rights, regardless of property rights for designated plant have been withdrawn, we are the date the material was received. germplasm held in CCIAR centers' developing a common approach to We want to reiterate our strong collections. We took this action in our handling of potential violations and unequivocal support for the response to possible contraventions of the agreements by recipients of 1994 agreements, which seek to to the agreement that placed the designated materials. guarantee that access to these CCIAR center germplasm collec- The CGIAR holds the resources will not be restricted. tions under FAO's auspices. world's largest international ex situ The CGIAR is deeply committed Our goal has always been collection of plant genetic re- to the conservation, sustainable use, to ensure that material transfer sources - more than 500,000 and stewardship of genetic re- agreements and other instruments accessions that are vital for crop sources. In calling for this morato- are appropriate and consistent with improvement world-wide. These rium, we are sending the strongest the terms and the spirit of the accessions are held "in trust for the signal we can to governments to FAO/CGIAR agreements. When a benefit of the international com- resolve these issues and guarantee small number of organizations munity, in particular the develop- that the materials in the CGIAR attempted to apply for proprietary ing countries." collection remain in the public rights on germplasm obtained from The moratorium will domain. ICARDA and ICRISAT, we imme- provide governments with the time We are fortunate to have to carefully consider and Geoff Hawtin, Director General of resolve issues related to IPGRI, providing strong leadership I This Issue the in-trust collections that throughout this sensitive situation. have been brought into His advice has been prescient and sharp focus in recent timely. The CGIAR Nurtures an months. It will also allow We are grateful to Pat Evaluariun Culture 1 for a considered approach Mooney of the Rural Advancement to the issues that will arise Foundation International for his China-CGIAR Forum Ushers as the details of a multilat- help in bringing to our attention in Closer Partnership I eral system for genetic reports that intellectual property resources exchange are rights were being sought on materi- Message from the Chairman 2 discussed in international als obtained directly from our fora. As you may know, centers. CGIAR Happenings 3 the intergovernmental Finally, I ask you all to be FAO Commission on vigilant in your dealings with Highlights of CGIAR Centers' Genetic Resources for genetic materials, to bring to our Achievements 4 Food and Agriculture is attention any efforts by others to currently negotiating the patent or obtain plant breeder's status of plant genetic rights on material from the CGIAR Issued by the CGIAR Secretariat, 1818 H Street, NW resources of agricultural collections, as well as to give us Washington, DC 20433, USA species. whatever suggestions you may have Telephone: (02) 473-8913We are asking all on how we could ensure that our Fax: (202) 473-8110 recipients of designated commitment to open access is Fax: (202) 473-8110 material to honor the spirit maintained in the years ahead. e-mail tgiarARcgner corn 2 dCC IAR China (continued from page 1) views on developments in agricul- ture, show how the CGIAR centers C Happenings have collaborated with their Chinese partners to make this Milestones Awards and Honors progress possible, and explore November was a busy time At a special ceremony on future collaboration possibilities. for ICRISAT, which celebrated its October 31, 1997, during Interna- The Forum opened with 25th anniversary on November 17 tional Centers Week, CCIAR addresses by China's Vice Minister and 18 with a variety of events-a Chairman Ismail Serageldin pre- of Agriculture, the President of seminar on "ICRISAT in the 21st sented the Excellence in Science CAAS, and the CGIAR Chairman. Century: Towards Sustainable Food Awards. Dr. Marianne Banziger Following this were plenary pre- Security," a photo exhibi- (CIMMYT) received sentations by CC Centers and tion, and a painting the Promising Young some of the Chinese institutions competition for children, j Scientist Award; Dr. participating in the Forum. There among others. A N * A.K. Singh (ICRISAT), were also discussions on how to Kuchipudi dance perfor- |jj the Outstanding Local have a stronger partnership be- mance, a classical flute j Scientist Award; Mr. tween China and CGIAR, and a recital, Marco A. plenary session 'Jointly into the and other Rond6n 21st Century.' cultural (CIAT), By examining mutual events also the concerns and commitments, the marked M Out- participants of the Forum identi- the l- * standing fied investment needs and oppor- Jubilee. Local tunities in public sector research, The celebration Scientific Support both nationally and through for CIAT's 30th anniver- Staff Award; and the international collaboration. Break- sary started earlier than ' Kenya Agricultural ing into four working groups, the expected when an Research Institute participants examined specific earthquake shook V (KARI) and ILRI, the areas for COIAR-Chinese collabo- Palmira, Colombia, in the L ., , t Outstanding Scientific rations, along with agreeing on a middle of the night. lij Partnership Award for framework for action. The partici- Fortunately, the center Accepting awards were their collaborative pants concurred that China could did not experience any (clockwise from top): research to enhance reap many benefits by increasing its damage, which put Marianne Banziger; Nioroge smallholder dairy investment in national and interna- everyone in a celebratory Wamatu, accepting on farming in Kenya behalf of KARI, with HankfamninKy. tional agricultural research and by mood. The official Fitzhugh of ILRI; A.K. Also during Inter- enhancing its involvement in the commemoration opened Singh; and Marco A. national Centers Week, global agricultural research system on December 12, 1997 Rondon the attendees unani- through a greater leadership role in with a homage to Ulysses mously adopted a the CGIAR. J. Grant, founding member and resolution honoring Robert "I was impressed by the first Director General of CIAT. McNamara-ex-president of the interest of the Chinese in partici- Many dignitaries attended the World Bank and one of the pating more actively in the CGIAR ceremony, including Colombia's founders of the CGIAR-for his and working more closely with the Minister of Agriculture. many contributions to the CGIAR centers," stated Hubert Zandstra, ICLARM commemorated and to the world's poor. CGIAR Director General of CIP, who its 20th anniversary with an exhibit Chairman presented Mr. attended the Forum and visited at the Australian Embassy. The McNamara with a plaque that had China again in December 1997. exhibit featured a science day with the resolution inscribed on it. Mr. "Even a brief visit makes it clear presentation of research by scien- McNamara praised Mr. Serageldin's that China faces enormous chal- tists, an ambassadors' day, and a leadership, both in the World Bank lenges and is looking to the CGIAR universities' day. Computers and as CGIAR chairman, along to help resolve basic questions demonstrated CD-ROM databases with paying tribute to the other about food production, environ- with detailed and graphic informa- pioneers and founders of the ment, and poverty." tion on more than 7,000 reefs and CGIAR. 17,000 fish species. (continued on page 8) & CGIAR 'f 3 Through their research, training activities, and information dissemination, the CGIAR centers contrib- ute to the mission of the CGIAR-to promote sustain- able agriculture for food security in developing coun- tries. At International Centers Week 1997, the centers b ij Highlights of CGJAR gave presentations on their impact and impact assess- ment work. The following, a sample of the centers achievements, is drawn from these presentations. CIAT various policies affect forests and the forest sector and The international bean improvement program develop policy alternatives. developed by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) illustrates how the center and its CIMMYT national partners can generate significant impact The International Center for the Improvement through improved seed. CIAT's support enabled of Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT) is best known as a national programs in Latin America and Africa to well-spring of higher yielding, disease resistant wheat improve bean production dramatically. In Ecuador, for and maize varieties that have dramatically increased example, new varieties account for an additional the productivity of poor farmers in developing coun- 30,000 metric tons of production per year, worth $39 tries. More than 80 percent of the wheat and maize million at 1996 prices-a benefit 10 times the total varieties being released by national agricultural part- investment in the network. Similar benefits have been ners are based on CIMMYT's germplasm research. achieved through improved seed from CIAT for rice in Over 75 percent of the developing world's total wheat Latin America, cassava in Asia, and beans elsewhere in area and about a third of its maize area are now Latin America and Africa. devoted to growing CIMMYT-related varieties. CIAT scientists developed the CGIAR's first CIMMYT's commitment to genetic conserva- molecular genetic map to combat poverty and hunger. tion is evident in its newly constructed, state-of-the-art This cassava molecular map is an international public Wellhausen-Andersen Genetic Resources Center, good that assists breeders in each step of cassava which contains about 150,000 wheat and 16,000 improvement. maize accessions. CIMMYT has helped rescue more In cooperation with United Nations Environ- than 6,000 endangered samples of farmer-developed ment Programme (UNEP), CIAT has developed maize varieties held in 13 seed banks in Latin America. another breakthrough information tool-a set of CIMMYT has also developed the International Wheat environmental indicators that will be available elec- Information System, a user-friendly data management tronically to help people make better decisions about system available on CD-ROM, so that collectors, land use and sustainable development. curators, and breeders worldwide have a common means of identifying individual varieties of genotypes. CIFOR One of the newest CGIAR centers, the Center CIP for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has The impact of the International Potato Center already significantly contributed to the understanding (CIP) has been achieved through a combination of of sustainable tropical forest management and its yield increases, an expansion of area planted, the relationship to the people who depend on these forests. development of superior seed systems, and the avail- For example, CIFOR's analysis of the recent smoke ability of technologies that allow farmers to reduce crisis in Southeast Asia identified poor standards for pesticide use. logging, which leave flammable debris and open areas Ten case studies of CIP projects since 1992 that burn easily, as major causes of the uncontrolled show that the majority of new potato varieties released fires. But poorly conceived and managed forest clearing in developing countries now have CIP parentage. This for agriculture is an even more serious problem. reflects the value of using locally adapted breeding CIFOR's work on criteria and indicators is helping to materials and indicates that CIP efforts to broaden the improve forest management practices and land devel- genetic base of potatoes in developing countries is opment policies. succeeding. CIP distributed breeding materials devel- CIFOR is uniquely positioned to provide oped by Argentina's national potato program to China, balanced approaches to difficult forest management where the breeding materials are now some of the problems and deliver its products to decision makers. most widely grown potato varieties, with annual Bolivia adopted strong forest management legislation production exceeding 400,000 hectares. In Peru's after local decision makers worked with CIFOR. In coastal valleys spreading to the highlands, CIP-devel- Central America, CIFOR is part of an initiative led by oped breeding materials now dominate much of the the Central American Forestry Council to review how production. 4 %CGIAR CIP, in cooperation with more than 3,000 farm of the farming of GIFT tilapia done by ICLARM shows that fish farmers can expect higher productivity, higher profit, and higher yield potential, with most benefits Centers' Achievements prgoing to relatively poor consumers. ICRAF The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) develops agroforestry technolo- gies that help replenish soil fertility, using trees to families, has field-tested an Integrated Pest Manage- capture nutrients and make mineral fertilizers more ment program in southern Peru with excellent results. available in the soil. Farmers reduced sprays from six to zero in 2 years, ICRAF coordinates the Alternatives to Slash- equivalent to cost savings of $250 per hectare. and-Burn (ASB) program, a CCIAR global initiative that deals with the environmental effects of slash-and- ICARDA burn agriculture (such as the 1997 smoke crisis in The International Center for Agricultural Southeast Asia) and the technological and policy Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) is working through- options to alleviate those effects. ASB has identified a out the world's dry areas on improving agricultural number of "best-bet" alternatives to slash-and-burn production through improved crop varieties and agriculture as well as policies that decision makers can production practices and by enhancing availability of use to provide land tenure for smallholder farmers and seeds as part of the development of national systems. control future burning by large companies in a way In China, ICARDA helped improve barley lines that that protects the interests of the rural poor, the resulted in a 20-25 percent increase in productivity, economy, and the environment. and faba bean varietal development that raised yields ICRAF's report on the Southeast Asia fires by 30 percent. Assistance in lentil improvement in recommended that Indonesia revise its forest policies, Ethiopia has resulted in raising yields by 70 percent issue fewer government land clearing permits, and without costly inputs, and in Bangladesh new varieties conduct more research on no-burn land clearing resistant to blight and rust have increased national methods. The report predicted that the forest fire crisis yields by 30 percent. in Asia will worsen in coming years unless sustainable Wheat improvement in Syria has enabled the agricultural options and improved policies are put into country to double its production within 5 years and place. achieve self-sufficiency. The research has contributed to wheat- production improvement in Upper Egypt, ICRISAT Syria and Tunisia, which has saved these countries an Over the past 25 years, partners of the Interna- average of US $600 million per year. Winter sown tional Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid chickpea cultivars, with a potential yield increase of 60 Tropics (ICRISAT) have released 365 improved percent over local spring sown cultivars, are now varieties of crops based on germplasm supplied by planted on an estimated 200,000 hectares in Mediter- ICRISAT. ICRISAT's most significant impact has ranean basin countries. occurred in India and Sub-Saharan Africa. Regarding chickpea research, its impact has been the greatest in ICLARM West Asia-North Africa through collaboration with Dedicated to improving the livelihood of poor ICARDA, although it has also been substantial in India. people who depend on aquaculture and fisheries, the Pigeonpea research has had its largest effect in the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources crop's home country, India. Concerted efforts are now Management (ICLARM) has pioneered aquatic re- in progress to tailor this crop to the needs of Eastern source management research for the last two decades. and Southern Africa. ICRISAT's groundnut improve- ICLARM, working with partners in the Philippines and ment research in Africa is beginning to show signs that Norway, produced an improved strain of tilapia, a this research will be highly influential over the coming hardy freshwater fish from Africa, under the Genetic decade. Improvement of Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) project. One of ICRISAT's most significant achieve- Compared with other farmed strains, the GIFT tilapia ments to date has been the introduction of resistance can grow 60 percent faster with better survival rates, in pearl millet to the downy mildew fungus that causes and can yield three fish crops per year, rather than two. a disease so severe it threatened to make farmers The GIFT tilapia provides a means of involving abandon production of the crop in India. In recogni- more poor people in aquaculture production and tion of this achievement, ICRISAT received the King making fish more affordable for them. Tilapia farming Baudouin Award. in Asia has contributed to a rise in overall fish produc- tion for the first time in 5 years. An impact assessment CGIAR 5 IFPRI The International Food Policy Research Insti- tute (IFPRI) works in 43 developing countries to generate new knowledge that will provide the basis for Highlg S O appropriate policies. In Pakistan and Bangladesh policy a makers used the results of IFPRI research to change policies related to ration shops, food subsidies, credit programs, and other food and agriculture related policies. This resulted in saving $200 million in fiscal costs, which was used to set up a food-for-education percent since the early 1990s, making it an important program for children from low-income households. cash crQp. IITA's soybean utilization project has helped In Vietnam, IFPRI research demonstrated_that spread improved soybean varieties throughout Nigeria. liberalizing the export quota system and introducing More than 47,000 people, including 30,000 women, private traders would generate higher-incormes, and - have been trained on how to produce and use soybean these steps were critical to the-continued growth of the in their diets. About 140 food products with satisfac- rice market. As a result, the Vietnamese government tory nutritive- value and consumer acceptability were changed the rice marketing system. -' developed, some of which:have' been scaled up to IFPRI's 2020 Vision project is a trailblazer in industrial level production. Enterprises processing international policy. Launched in 1993, the project has soybean for food and livestock feeds have increased held briefings in 26 developed'and developing coun- from 5 in 1987 to more than 60 in 1996. Between tries. The impact of the project can be gauged by the - 1987 and 1994, the use of soybean to treat malnutri- demand for Vision 2020 publications, the extensive tion more than doubled in Nigeria;'in Oyo State 35 media coverage, and the on-going demand for presen- percent of hospitals were using'soybean treatment by tations around the world. 1990. In 1995, IITA distributed more than 500,000 IIMI seeds, covering nearly'4,000'families of broad-based To meet the challenge posed by the grbwing.. improved pop'ulations of cassava, f6 21 countries in the scarcity and competition for-water, IIMI (International cassava growing belt'of Sub-Saharan Africa. Irrigation Managemant-Institute) has developed indicators of relative -water scarcity.-IIMI recently I ' LRI completed an assessment of-water supply and denmaiad The International Livestock Research Institute for the year 2025 in 118 countries. The analysis shows'' (ILRI) works to alleviate the severe problems of that demand for water withdrawal will increase 45 - tropical animal agriculture,in a holistic way. ILRI's percent. IIMI has also developed standard indicators research on livestock and the environment partially that measure crop production according to water focuses on re-establishing the balance' that traditionally consumed, land used, and financial investments. exists between ruminant animals and savanna grass- IIMI's research is instrumental in changing lands. ILRI research has documented, for example, the water management and related issues. In Pakistan, IIMI, *.vays in which small-scale farmers can rely on their used sophisticated modeling to document that- increas- -:animals manure to augment and sustain their crop- ing the depth of plowing before the monsoon season ping. controlled soil salinity. If implemented by fArmers, this Twenty years ago, ILRI and national partners could result in the recovery of millions of hectares of started researching optimal ways to integrate forage saline, out-of-production lands. In Sri Lanka, IIMI legumes into'smallholder cropping systems in West developed a program to control 'malaria through water Africa. A recently completed adoption study indicates management. . - that more than 27,000 adopters are realizing more With scientists at Utah.State University, IIMI than $2 2 million ih net benefits, producing an internal is developing the world's first Water and Climate Atlas, rate of return of 48 percent from this research. a global database that integrates the available agricul- A joint IITA/ILRI research project showed that tural climate data into one computer program and cattle fed diets, including cowpea produce an extra represents the most comprehensive, quality-controlled. .50.,g'of mpeat.per hectare per year and manure provid- climactic data set in existence. ing 25 percent more nitrogen. This manure, plus the nitrogen fixed by the cowpea, combine to support an IITA additional 900 kg of maize grain per hectare per year. Research at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has increased both yield IPGRI stability and overall production, enabling small farmers The International Plant Genetic Resources to gain substantial benefits. In West and Central Institute (IPGRI) has been conducting a specific Alfrica, overall maize production has increased by 259 project on impact assessment for almost 4 years. 6 CCIIAR hybrid rice. Indian scientists received 84 genetically diverse cytoplasmic male sterile lines (female parents) and 232 experimental rice hybrids and their respective restorer lines. IRRI also supplied hybrid rice breeding Centers' Achievements Q materials adapted to tropical conditions. ISNAR The International Service for National Agricul- tural Research's (ISNAR) presentation at ICW 1997, highlighted through a few national examples, its Outputs include information resources on impact commitment to long-term institutional development assessment, a review of economic impact assessment and its role in research policy and management. for plant genetic resources, and a set of 23 case studies In Indonesia, ISNAR helped research leaders covering a range of thematic and country-level activi- develop guidelines for strategic planning in the ties. country's 17 new agricultural technology assessment The outcome of the following three case institutes. The institutes aim to increase the relevance studies provide examples of IPGRI's impact: of agricultural research by bringing scientists closer to * Germplasm Collecting farmers and production problems. Over 200,000 germplasm samples have been collected In Kenya, ISNAR was instrumental in the in over 500 missions, providing a major boost to creation of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute national and international conservation and use (KARI) and in the developing of its first master plan a programs. IPGRI has spearheaded standardization of decade ago. ISNAR continues to collaborate with procedures and strengthening of the scientific base for KARI in the institutionalization of improved priority locating valuable genetic diversity and making it setting processes and the development of the more available for use. rigorous tools needed to address new issues. An * Training important intermediate outcome is the establishment Over 1,800 national program scientists have been of a priority setting committee supported by trained trained by IPGRI. IPGRI trainees show high retention KARI scientists leading to more effective research and significant multiplier effects through secondary focusing on the needs of stakeholders in Kenya. In the training. process, Kenya will have developed the improved data * Musa Germplasm Management and tools needed to deal with regional research and Exchange of Musa genetic resources was virtually non- natural resources management issues. existent before the creation of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain WARDA (INIBAP). The diversity of healthy Musa germplasm The West Africa Rice Development Associa- has greatly facilitated global efforts in genetic im- tion (WARDA) has effectively used task forces com- provement of this crop. prised of national rice scientists to efficiently generate and transfer improved rice technologies to small IRRI farmers. More than 75 national rice scientists from 17 To extend its assistance, the International Rice countries serve on nine WARDA Task Forces, which Research Institute (IRRI) relies on partnerships. IRRI's received over 100 research grants since 1992. The task Crop and Resource Management Network is currently force mechanism has contributed significantly to working with national research and development improving rice production. For example, the task force organizations to facilitate the free exchange, participa- working with mangrove farmers has leveraged a tory evaluation, and promotion of promising knowl- dramatic increase in the adoption of modern varieties edge-intensive technologies and decision-making aids with significant economic benefits. Today, the man- for more efficient crop and resource management in grove varieties generate about $5.4 million a year in rice-based farming systems. added income. When requested, IRRI provides assistance WARDA researchers have had a major impact directly to national governments. Working with the by crossing African with Asian rice. The 0. glaberrima Cambodian government, IRRI restored its rice produc- landraces have developed resistance to common tions to levels before the war-torn 1970s and 1980s. In stresses. These characteristics have been successfully 1995-96, 3.3 million tons of rice were produced, 40 transferred into the new interspecific hybrids. percent more than the previous crop and 30 percent 0. glaberrima also has excellent vegetative growth to more than the preceding 5 years. By 1996, Cambodia suppress weeds. In West Africa, weeding is done was not only meeting its own rice needs, but also had a manually and weed removal constrains rice production surplus for exports. because of labor shortages. This progress on rice In India, IRRI played a key role in helping to hybridization is important to women, who are respon- establish a strong and sustainable research program on sible for 80 percent of rice cultivation. C A V CGIAR MP 7 Evaluation (continued from page 1) or offended to have others look at Another part of an evalua- the appropriate type of yardstick to your work. It means that one tion culture is the integration of measure its effectiveness and believes in the value of feedback the evaluation itself in the way the impact and consider the efficiency, from others, sees feedback as work is being done, which requires relevance, and consistency of the positive, and uses feedback to take a systemic way of incorporating the measuring system. action and improve performance." best practices. In this type of By nurturing an evaluation Evaluation for the CGIAR situation, when researchers design culture, the CGIAR is looking exists both on the center and the their projects, they think about forward. The next steps in building system level-the two levels what indicators of success they an evaluation culture include the reinforce each other. To create an would like to see used-thereby, following: evaluation culture, the centers, the emphasizing ex ante, rather than ex * build stronger peer review and IAEG, the members, and the post, evaluations. impact assessment systems at the partners all need to be involved in "If you are thinking about center level; the process. how and what are the appropriate * further improve the external One critical aspect of an ways to evaluate something and review process; evaluation culture is the harmoni- you build it into the design itself, * strengthen IAEG; zation of best practices on evalua- then you are really nurturing an * increase dialogue between IAEG tion, the nurturing of an evaluation evaluation culture as opposed to and centers to work on common culture across the system as a producing reports, which is not problems. whole. That means, for example, necessarily the same thing," said 'Armed with the self- that if different centers are using Chairman Serageldin. knowledge that the evaluation cost-benefit analysis for particular As the CGIAR seeks to culture brings, let us build on our crop improvement programs, they cultivate an evaluation culture, it strengths and confront our short- should benefit from each other's faces a number of obstacles, comings," Chairman Serageldin methodologies and, perhaps, even particularly methodological issues. remarked. Only from that kind of have a uniform definition. By It needs a common understanding candid self-assessment will we doing this, the centers can improve in methodology and information, prepare ourselves for the endless the methodology by spreading best such as how one defines impact. challenges, obligations, and oppor- practices across the system. The CGIAR has to weigh what is tunities that we encounter. Announcements (continued from page 3) Robert Havener has assumed the position of Interim Director General at IRRI. He succeeds George Rothschild. Shawki Barghouti is the new Director General of ICRISAT, replacing James G. Ryan. Dr. Barghouti was Chief of the Agriculture and Water Operations Division, South Asia Country Department at the World Bank. Martha ter Kuile departed as Chair of CIP; Adrian Fajardo-Christen assumed the Chair on an interim basis. As of January 1, 1998, Sam Dryden is Chair of the Private Sector Committee and Assia Bensalah Alaoui is the Vice-Chair. CIMMYT has appointed Shivaji Pandey as the new Director of the Maize Program, which develops more efficient, productive, and environmentally friendly maize varieties. The new Director of Research at ICRAF is Anne-Marie Izac, a Resource Economist. Dr. Izac succeeds Roger Leakey. Shirley Geer is the new Senior Information Officer for the CGIAR Secretariat, .: eplac irig Ernest Corea, who was honored on the occasion of his retirement for his service to the CGIAR Secretariat. Prior to this position, Ms. Geer was the Director of Communications at the World Resources Institute. In October, the CGI.AR's Public Awareness and Resource Mobilization Committee launched the Public A. arene.s Campaign for Agriculture. The campaign, directed by Barbara Rose, will communicate the relationship between agriculture and key issues of the day through the promotion of a series of studies, efforts to link international agriculture to current media Issues, and a cadre of ambassadors. 8 ff CGIAR Reader's Survey We are in the process of revising CGIAR News and would like to know how we can improve the newsletter to better suit your needs. Please take a few minutes to fill out the following survey- we would greatly appreciate hearing from you. 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