Transformation through Inclusive Innovation: Literature Review and Commentary

With this Technical Note, the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) seeks to stimulate novel, thoughtful action by CGIAR leaders and researchers that embeds inclusive practices and behaviors in agri-food systems research. Based on a literature review and expert consultations, ISDC finds that concepts and practices of inclusive innovation are emergent and recommends that CGIAR pursue an inclusivity transition in a learning-while-doing mode. Readers are encouraged to: (1) Consider the Reflection Towards Action at the end of Sections 5-8 and find opportunities to discuss within your team, group, or committee. (2) Use the lens of inclusion to vet new and existing mechanisms supplying evidence to decision processes, such as proposal review, monitoring plans, process and performance evaluation, and others. (3) Draw on the ideas presented in this Note for formulation, reconfiguration, or implementation of frameworks that put CGIAR's 2030 strategy into effect (e.g., partner engagement; portfolio performance management; capacity strengthening)

Application of the Quality of Research for Development Framework to Initiative Reviews: Lessons Learned

To improve future ISDC external review of CGIAR proposals, ISDC conducted an ex-post analysis of the Initiative review process through a reviewer survey, CGIAR stakeholder consultations, examination of QoR4D reviewer scoring divergence, and Initiative Design Team (IDT) responses to ISDC reviews. The Lessons Learned report details the analysis' recommendations grouped by: (1) QoR4D and its application to Initiatives, (2) insights for the design of the Initiative proposal template, and (3) areas for deeper consideration by IDTs and senior leadership in developing future proposals

Identifying and Using CGIAR's Comparative Advantage

Comparative Advantage (CA) is one of the most powerful theoretical insights in economics. It provides a useful framework for identifying areas where CGIAR's efforts are most crucial to achieving its mission - to deliver science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. 'One CGIAR' transition facilitates and promotes the use of portfolio approaches to research and innovation. In that context, ISDC aims to put the concept of CA to effective use in research portfolio management at all levels of the System. Applying a CA analysis can produce a more streamlined, purposive, and intentional research portfolio. It is designed to harness the various competencies of CGIAR entities, and other organizations with which the system interacts, to make the 'sum of its parts' as large as possible. This Technical Note first introduces the CA concept, its aims and benefits, and illustrates how gain from specialization occurs. Then, it reflects on possible sources of CA, and how broad categories (i.e., incentives, human capital, biophysical capital (such as labs, genetic material, and equipment), and social capital) can help identifying outputs in which CGIAR is likely to have CA. The four key steps of a CA analysis are then described, and retrospectively applied to specific deliverables from the Livestock Genetics Flagship of the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock. The final section summarizes these insights

ISDC Review of 19 Initiative Proposals

external review of the first set of 19 CGIAR Initiatives proposals to launch from January 2022. The external review of Initiative proposals is an essential part of good governance and quality assurance, delivering benefits for the researchers, leadership, and System Council. The reviews presented in this report provide confidence to funders that their investments in One CGIAR research are appropriately targeted with high chances for success. The report is divided into two sections: an executive summary and 19 individual review reports. The executive summary includes essential details of the proposal review to better understand the process and review criteria. It also provides a high-level synthesis of the proposals. The individual review reports are the consensus among the three external subject matter experts and ISDC member who conducted the review of each proposal

Trade-offs: The value of understanding the consequences of choice

ISDC leads various rigorous, science-based activities guided by the principle of independence to support the One CGIAR reform. The 2020 approved workplan focuses on delivering thought-leadership to the System on trade-off analysis and analytics, and how these can best serve in the research strategy and program modalities design

ISDC Reflections on Emerging One CGIAR Research Portfolio and Investment Plan

The Executive Management Team (EMT) requested the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) to comment on the preliminary set of Research Initiatives. The rapid evolution of the Investment Plan presents limited information and time to review. Therefore, this document provides brief reflections that used additional information such as material from the 12th CGIAR System Council Meeting and learnings shared from the ISDC Investment Advisory Group (IAG) members

Foresight and trade-off implications for One CGIAR

In early 2020 the CGIAR Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) commissioned foresight reviews and a trade-off analysis report. The goal of the research was to provide ISDC members with an evidence base that would allow them to build foresight reflections and identify key challenges to consider in developing the CGIAR 2030 Research Strategy. As a first step, ISDC commissioned two expert reviews that synthesized a broad sample of existing foresight literature on the five One CGIAR impact areas. The foresight reviews were the initial phase in a stepwise approach to providing a grounding for consensus building, followed by a trade-off analysis report. This research concluded in June 2020 and was presented to CGIAR leadership