Technical Advisory Committee Sixty-Seventh Meeting, 11-17 July 1995: Report of the Meeting

Report of TAC 67 held at FAO in Rome, July 11-17, 1995, Don Winkelmann presiding. The Committee heard from experts on issues identified at TAC 66 for attention in the next iteration of CGIAR strategies and priorities. These were: future food demand and supply; poverty, strengthening NARS, the role of ARIs, natural resources management; and gender issues. TAC started on a framework for setting CGIAR priorities, to be discussed at ICW95.TAC heard a progress report on the study of research needs for natural resources management in the CGIAR, and in that connection considered the reports of the CGIAR Task Forces on ecoregional research and sustainable agriculture. It also considered the revised proposal from CIAT and IBSRAM for research on soil, water and nutrient management, and recommended funding as a systemwide initiative. The Committee considered the draft report of a review panel on institution strengthening, and heard a progress report on the related study of policy research.The generally positive external review of IITA was presented. TAC prepared a commentary on it for consideration of the CGIAR. TAC also commented on a progress report from the panel working on an intercenter review of roots and tubers research. TAC acted on revised funding requests for 1996 from several centers, and also on new and changed proposals for a number of systemwide activities. It heard suggestions about the next round of medium term plans from the CGIAR Secretariat, and decided to discuss a three year rolling approach with the center directors in October 1995. As requested at MTM95, TAC discussed the issues of consistency and candor in external reviews of centers, as a basis for use by the TAC chairman in reporting back at ICW95