The response of the Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group (IAEG) to the third CGIAR system review. The IAEG basically accepts the review recommendation that that it should be linked with TAC.Agenda document, CGIAR International Centers Week 1998

CGIAR Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group

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1Document No:  ICW/98/19Distribution:  GeneralDate:  October 26, 1998International Centers Week 1998October 26 - 30Washington D.C.Shaping the CGIAR’s FutureComments of the Impact Assessment and EvaluationGroupOn the CGIAR System Review ReportAttached is the Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group (IAEG) note on the CGIARSystem Review.  These comments follow the IAEG meeting held on October 24, 1998.2October 25, 1998IAEG and Evaluation Functions in the System Review Report:Preliminary IAEG Comments1.  The IAEG is pleased and encouraged that the Review recognizes the criticalimportance of evaluation functions within the CGIAR System and that a strongformal evaluation and impact assessment mechanism should be an integralcomponent of the CGIAR System.2.  The IAEG agrees that the present structure and mode of its operation is notoptimal and that evaluation and impact assessment functions could beimproved through restructuring and reorienting within the System and thecreation of a new modality.3.  The IAEG agrees that the restructuring and new modality needs to focus onclosing “...the gaps in the loops of the evaluation cycle so that the findings frommonitoring, evaluation, and impact studies feed back into the processes forsetting strategy, priorities and budgets.”4.  The IAEG further agrees with the Review that an appropriate approach wouldbe to develop a mechanism or modality linked explicitly and directly to TAC.This would likely be the most appropriate way of achieving the desiredintegration of the full range of evaluation functions with planning, priority settingand decision making at the System level.5.  The IAEG believes that the evaluation modality linked to TAC should providefor:  (a) evaluation input into accountability functions (mainly ex post evaluation);(b) evaluation input into planning, priority setting and management (mainly exante analysis and M&E); and (c) evaluation input for learning related toinstitutional evolution within the CGIAR System.6.  The IAEG emphasizes that the new modality should maintain objectivity,rigor, transparency, and credibility in its operations.  The IAEG stresses thatthese prerequisites for evaluation work must underlie the Reviewrecommendation that “...the present IAEG be replaced with a more pragmaticunit...”.7.  The IAEG considers that a newly created TAC linked modality provides anopportunity to strengthen evaluation functions across the System.  An indicativelisting of such opportunities is listed below:3EVALUATION FUNCTIONS INPUTS INTO:Planning andPriority SettingAccountability toMembers andPartnersInstitutionalLearning forSystemEvolutionThematic evaluations andimpact assessmentsacross the System> use in Systemlevel priority settingand strategydevelopment:examples includeIAEG adoptionstudies,Germplasm study,study on impactson poverty> understanding theimpacts ofinvestments onachieving CGIARgoalsunderstandingSystem level(as opposedto center level)weaknessesand strengthsLogframe links: System,Center, and projectmanagement levels> incorporatingmonitoring andevaluation inplanning andmanagement> improvingaccountability atproject unit, center,and System levels,including technologytransfer functions> learningabout whatworks, whatdoes not work,where gapsare, whatneeds to bechanged, andwhyEvaluation of CenterPrograms> center planningin light of Systemlevel gap analysisand priority setting> support to externalreview process> learningmore aboutgaps in theSystemrelated topriority needsto meetSystem GoalsWork with Centers to buildcapacity for evaluation; anddesign of procedures forSystem level evaluations> improving thelinkages at centerlevel betweenplanning andevaluation;improving Systemlevel evaluations> improving centerlevel accountabilitymechanisms andfunding prospectsfor productiveactivities> building anevaluation andaccountabilityawarenessand culture inthe CGIARSystem

Comments of the Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group on the CGIAR System Review Report

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Comments of the Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group on the CGIAR System Review Report

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