Proposed Action Plan to develop a CGIAR Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Development Strategy

1. Proposed Action Plan to develop a CGIAR Capacity Strengthening and
Partnership Development Strategy
CGIAR Consortium, October 12
INTRODUCTION
In response to the challenge to achieve a food-secure world by 2025, the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has undertaken a comprehensive reorganization to integrate
the work of its global system of international research centers into a single Consortium that implements
fifteen new global research programs. The CGIAR’s Strategic Results Framework (2011) identifies several
cross-cutting issues that directly affect its likelihood of success in achieving its four system-level
outcomes of reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving nutrition and health and the
sustainable management of natural resources. Strengthening the capacity of the partners of the CGIAR,
particularly but not exclusively the national systems for agricultural research, is one of those cross-
cutting issues that, to date, have not yet been fully fleshed out in the new CGIAR structure.
This note proposes to advance in 2013 a CGIAR Capacity Strengthening and Partnership
Improvement Strategy to explore and determine the role of the CGIAR and its research
programs in the strengthening of capacity within the consortium and among CGIAR partners
with the following potential objectives:
1. Strengthen the capacity of research partners to undertake applied or downstream
agricultural research for development in high priority countries for CGIAR CRPs that
currently have a low capacity – in order to increase the potential for CGIAR developed
“international public good” innovations to be further developed adapted and adopted.
2. Strengthen the capacity of the CGIAR and its downstream development and delivery
partners that are instrumental in successfully moving innovations from the lab into the
hands of farmers, such as for example local seed companies, or farmer organizations.
3. Strengthen the capacity of individuals and organizations to develop and maintain efficient
and effective international partnerships in the areas affecting the CGIAR’s agenda – from
effective innovation platforms to the development of an effective cadre of researchers that
have international experience and exposure – in all areas necessary and sufficient – to
reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition and maintain healthy ecosystems.
In addition to capacity building strategy development and subsequent mainstreaming in each of
the CGIAR Research Programs, it is proposed that there will be some initial actions that are
more effectively organized at the system or Consortium level, rather than at the CRP level. Such
actions will be based on extensive experience with elements of capacity building readily
available in the system, at many countries and among CGIAR donors and research partners such
as CIRAD and EMBRAPA, where some particularly effective programs exist that focus on two
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2. critical aspects to build individual researcher capacity and at the same time create more
effective institutional partnerships by means of PostDoc (or junior professional, or associate
expert) and visiting scientist programs.
A number of CGIAR partners have had PostDoc or Visiting Scientist programs with individual
CGIAR member centers – and have now approached the Consortium with the request to
organize system wide programs to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. It is expected
that this will have the following advantages or benefits:
Strategic
• Bring new skills, novel research approaches and unusual perspectives necessary to
refine and ultimately achieve the SLOs of the SRF.
• Address current needs/gaps by supplementing with new external capacity CRPs tackling
research problems and themes necessary to achieve the SLOs of the SRF (e.g.,
quantifying and internalizing the value of ecosystem services or incorporation of gender
in research and delivering mechanisms).
• Build stronger synergies with key external research partners, governments and other
stakeholders.
• Foster intellectual exchange across disciplines and CRPs enabling spaces for innovation
and creative problem solving.
Administrative
• Provide access to all CRPs and centers through a single agreement;
• Make easier to arrange a competitive selection across CRPs and centers efficiently and
effectively; and
• Realize the potential befits of harmonizing conditions across CRPs, centers and partner
countries to increase effectiveness and fairness.
Finally, while many of the CGIAR member centers and CRPs list their ability to partner, and their
current partnerships, as a strength, partner feedback indicates that partners frequently have a
different perspective of the CGIAR – often more negative. Consequently, the Consortium is
preparing to implement a Partner Perception Survey in late 2012, to serve as baseline to
measure and monitor future improvement.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Follow the same model as used for gender research to mainstream capacity strengthening
and partnership development across the CGIAR and CRP portfolio.
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3. 2. Appoint a capacity strengthening advisor to the Consortium to develop a CGIAR wide
strategy; support CRPs in developing their strategies and support the development of a
Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Development Network or CoP.
3. Conduct a Partner Perception survey for the CGIAR and for all of the CRPs individually, that
can be used as a 2012 baseline and to develop strategies for improvement against.
4. Establish a CGIAR PostDoc and Visiting Scientist program, in 2013, in collaboration with and
co-funded by countries (e.g. Netherlands, Japan, Brazil) and research partners (e.g. CIRAD,
EMBRAPA) interested in supporting such a program and hosting PostDoc or Visiting Scientist
Fellows.
ACTION PLAN TO DEVELOP A CAPACITY BUILDING & PARTNERSHIPS STRATEGY
For gender research, another of the cross-cutting issues, an approach has been followed by the
Consortium Office that is proposed as a reasonable model to follow to “mainstream” capacity
strengthening in the CRP portfolio as well, i.e.:
1. Appoint a long-term consultant as capacity strengthening advisor to support Consortium
Capacity Strengthening activities.
2. Develop and put in place a CGIAR Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Development
Strategy.
3. Develop CRP Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Development Strategies for those CRPs
that do not already have such, and review the set of strategies to ensure consistence across the
CRP portfolio.
4. Encourage and support implementation of the CRP Capacity Strengthening and Partnership
Development strategies across the CRP portfolio.
Establishing a robust, properly resourced ability to address the capacity strengthening and partnership
development dimensions of agricultural research and development at the Consortium level in general is
also central to the CGIAR’s new results-oriented approach, very similar to parallel concerns for gender
research in particular. For the first time, the CGIAR has developed a comprehensive Consortium Level
Gender Strategy (2012) that commits to deliver research outputs with measurable benefits to women
farmers in target areas within four years of inception of any given Program and to ensure the
deployment of best-in-class scientific talent for this purpose. Research on gender is now conceived in
the CGIAR’s Strategic Results Framework as a theme that cross-cuts the CGIAR Research Programs
because significant opportunities exist for cross-program synergy and efficiency. A similar approach is
proposed to be followed for the more general and critical question of strengthening capacity both
within the CGIAR and for its partners to deliver impact in close collaboration with the CGIAR.
Consequently, it is proposed that in early 2013 a senior advisor for capacity strengthening will be
appointed at the Consortium office and a Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Development
Network will be established to support the development and implementation of a Capacity
Strengthening Partnership Development Strategy by each Program. Clear and enforceable accountability
mechanisms designed to improve the relevance of the CGIAR’s research to poor farmers, both women
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4. and men, are integral to the Consortium’s approach and will include monitoring of each Program’s
Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Development Strategy results, the resources it allocates to
achieve these and its deployment of relevant expertise.
STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTION SURVEY
The Consortium has initiated a project to carry out stakeholder perception survey to get a baseline of
how our stakeholders perceive the CGIAR’s approach to partnering – particularly as related to the new
CRPs - in 2012. In September a working group has been formed with partnership specialists from among
the Consortium members and CRPs to lead this work, with Daniela Alfaro of the Consortium Office as
project leader. In October a survey firm, GlobeScan, has been contracted to carry out the survey. The
survey will be based on the list of partners provided by each CRP, based on questions that the working
group develops, and will generate a detailed report for all of the CGIAR and summary reports (score
cards) for each of the CRPs. The survey will be conducted in late 2012 and the report is expected in early
2013.
CGIAR POSTDOC AND VISITING SCIENTIST PROGRAM
The Consortium proposes to create a CGIAR PostDoc and Visiting Scientist Program in 2013, in close
collaboration with partners interested to co-fund or host such fellows. The primary function of the
program would be to develop a framework that hosts and harmonizes similar programs from various
countries and partners across the CGIAR through a single competitive call and simple harmonized
administrative procedures and employment and compensation conditions.
1. CGIAR PostDocs, for young scientists placed with CGIAR CRPs, or CGAR’s ARI partners for 18-
month to two-year temporary positions (extendable to 3 years max) for entry-level scientists
with a recent PhD, from all nationalities - but a majority from developing countries and a target
of 50% women; and
2. CGIAR Visiting Scientists, for senior scientists with national partner institutes or CGIAR centers
that are hosted by CRPs or ARIs such as CIRAD in France, while on leave of absence or sabbatical
from their regular positions to gain international experience and/or exposure to cutting edge
research facilities or methods (e.g. senior scientists from national systems that do not have
international experience) to work at CGIAR centers or ARI partners for a period of 6-12 months.
3. CGIAR Scientists at Large, for CGIAR scientists to spend time as visiting scholars at existing – or
new – partner organizations broadening their research perspectives in benefit of the SRF while
addressing specific key problems of the CRRs that might be of cross-disciplinary nature or
involve expertise or skills currently beyond the current CGIAR proficiencies.
Such a program has a range of well-known benefits:
• opening up the CGIAR system to young scientists with recent training in cutting edge methods
and approaches;
• critical “stepping stone” entry level positions for young scientists that are interested to gain
international experience – often a bottleneck for joining international research organizations;
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5. • opportunities for experienced scientists in national systems to gain international experience and
exposure;
• opportunities for CGIAR scientists to update their knowledge in advanced labs or research
groups;
• opportunities to develop and improve partnerships among the CRPs and their partners through,
over time, staff exchange;
• improved staff diversity from nationality and gender perspectives; and
• opening up the CGIAR to new forms of partnership and ideas.
The dual problem for the CGIAR is that: (a) its scientist cadre is aging and inflow of young scientists is
limited; (b) the system is (and is perceived to be) too closed – not open enough to effective partnerships
(interested partners find it hard to get in).
For young scientists with a recent PhD and an interest in an international career the problem is to gain
international experience, as most international positions require international experience to begin with.
This is a problem also for experienced/senior scientists in national systems without (significant)
international experience.
It is proposed here to create a CGIAR PostDoc and Visiting Scientist program that is over and above /
additional to the regular CRP budget, so that these entry level positions do not compete with regular /
experienced staff. The positions are all temporary, not career track – other than in exceptional cases
neither PostDocs nor Visiting Scientists would be converted to regular staff positions.
Partnership and co-funding through in-kind “national” contributions
It is proposed that the primary funding for this program will come as in-kind contributions from national
programs. That is, a number of CGIAR partner countries have an interest to run young professional or
PostDoc programs together with the CGIAR. To gain scale, effectiveness, fairness and visibility it is
proposed here to create a CGIAR-wide program that would pull these national programs together
(rather than the old model that was bilateral per center).
For example, The Netherlands runs young professional programs and has expressed an interest to re-
develop the current group of center-level programs into a single CGIAR-wide program. Similarly, CIRAD
of France is interested to establish a joint PostDoc and Visiting Scientist program with the CGIAR.
EMBRAPA of Brazil has also expressed an interest to pursue a joint PostDoc program.
The CGIAR Consortium’s contribution will be to help organize these programs into a single, effective
program at scale, and to match or complement national funds where necessary.
CGIAR PostDocs
The program would be open to individuals with a recent PhD (obtained ideally less than 3 years ago)
who have not yet had another PostDoc position. These are essentially training positions, not career track
positions; even good PostDocs that perform well would be expected to move on after their fellowships
end. That is, they are not well compensated, selection cannot emphasize “prior experience”, and there
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6. is a strong obligation for the host institution to ensure that there is adequate mentoring and training of
the PostDoc.
CGIAR PostDocs would be hosted by the CRPs, either at one of the participating CGIAR member centers,
or possibly with one of the ARI partners of the CRP that has the appropriate lab facilities.
CGIAR Visiting Scientists
This program would be open to scientist working in national programs or universities with a good track
record in their area of research, but limited international experience. The idea is that the Visiting
Scientists would be hosted for 6-12 months with a CRP (either CGIAR member center or CRP partner
with appropriate lab facilities) and return to their employer thereafter Visiting Scientist Fellows would
have to be nominated by their employer, with support of their employer (e.g. maintaining their national
level salaries) and would be supported by the CGIAR through a living and travel allowance, and possibly
a research costs allowance (i.e. not a regular employment package).
CGIAR Scientists at Large
This program would be open to CGIAR senior scientists to spend time as visiting scholars at existing
research or academic partner organizations broadening their research perspectives in benefit of the SRF
or addressing specific key problems of the CRP. The partner organization would host the CGIAR scientist
for 6-12 months to undertake cross-disciplinary research, to acquire new expertise or skills currently
beyond the current CGIAR proficiencies or to work collaboratively addressing a particular key research
question(s) that is/are relevant to one or more CRPs or to achieve the SLOs of the SRF.
Preliminary Operational Ideas
After feedback and consultation on this preliminary proposal, presuming there is positive feedback, the
two/three programs could be started up as experimental or pilot programs in 2013. This would require
developing and agreeing the harmonized employment conditions in the second half of 2012, and finding
countries / partners interested to participate in the program.
Initially CIRAD has expressed an interest to establish a joint PostDoc and Visiting Scientist program –
sarting with 5 PostDocs and 5 Visiting Scientists in 2013. EMBRAPA has expressed a possible interest in a
joint PostDoc program with potentially 20 PostDocs initially. The Netherlands has also expressed a
desire to re-negotiate its current center-based APO or junior expert program (with 4 CGIAR member
centers) into a CGIAR wide program through the Consortium (currently some 20 junior experts placed).
Even though this note presumes “sponsorship” by a few countries, it is worth noting that the young
professional program operated by the Netherlands, for example, is comprised of developing country
nationals, EU nationals and Dutch nationals (and the current group of about 20 placed with the CGIAR
includes 12 originating from developing countries and only 4 Dutch nationals).
It is expected other countries may find this attractive also.
Operationally it could work as follows (for both the PostDoc and the Visiting Scientist Fellows):
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7. 1. The national program or partner with an interest to join the CGIAR PostDoc and Visiting Scientist
Program and the Consortium negotiate conditions (number of positions, matching or
complementary costs carried by the Consortium, funded from Window 1 and proposed as part of
the annual Financing Plan).
2. Partners accept the harmonized set of employment or hosting conditions (to be) developed by the
Consortium and its members so that all CGIAR Fellows get treated fairly and equitably, regardless of
the country that sponsors them or the CRP/center/partner that employs them.
3. Development of a selection and employment/hosting process in steps that could involve:
a. Aligning areas of interest or priorities between sponsors or partners and the CRP portfolio.
b. Developing annual or bi-annual calls for proposals (job descriptions) from CRPs or ARIs for
PostDocs or Visiting Scientists they would like to host.
c. Joint selection by the Consortium and partners of the positions to be (jointly) funded.
d. Recruitment and selection of candidates for selected positions jointly by partners and the
Consortium;
e. Fellowships awarded for PostDocs and Visiting scientists.
f. Regular reporting, monitoring and evaluation by the Consortium in collaboration with partners
4. Twice per year the CGIAR runs an induction / training program for new Fellows.
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