ICARDA Annual Report 1993

An institution such as ICARDA that aims at maintaining the high standards and dynamism of its work must have a suitable mechanism for monitoring the progress of its performance and evalu¬ating the relevance of its mandate and mission in everchanging circumstances. ICARDA has developed a process of regular internal reviews of both its research activities and managerial performance, which is helping to keep it abreast of developments and enhance its ability to respond in a timely and responsible manner. In addition, once every five years ICARDA undergoes an External Program and Management Review under the auspices of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research with which it is associated. Such a review, the third in the Center's history, took place in 1993, the year covered by this Annual Report. ICARDA was gratified IF.at the Review Panel was generally approving of the Center's research and management. The Center sees in their comments a clear message that ICARDA is engaged in relevant, useful and much needed research, that it is open to new ideas and promising innovations, that it is fiscally and administratively well managed, and that it is a responsible guardian of stakeholder interests. Nothing expresses this positive assessment better than the opening remarks of the Review Report. In the Panel's view, "Whatever the contemporary perspective taken: a) growing food deficits, and demands for self-reliance in the region, b) environmental degradation, and the pressing need for sustainable agricultural systems, c) ecoregionality and the quest for enhanced relevance in agricultural research, d) capacity-building imperatives, and the Center's appraised contribution, ICARDA makes a compelling case for its continued existence and the case will probably grow in strength for years to come. It is one of those cases that, if ICARDA did not exist, it would have to be created." ICARDA is happy to rest its case on this testimony.