THE India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)—which has a Filipino scientist at its helm—has been rated “outstanding” for the second year in a row by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

The “outstanding” rating, based on the performance-linked measurements of CGIAR, recognizes ICRISAT’s good science, great impacts and institutional and financial health.

It places ICRISAT’s performance on top of the 15 international agricultural-research institutes that are members of the CGIAR.

ICRISAT director general Dr. William D. Dar—a former secretary of the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture—said the second consecutive “outstanding” rating is a manifestation that ICRISAT is in tune with the changing institutional context and task environment in pursuing its mission of helping bring about propoor growth and sustainable development in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Dar dedicated ICRISAT’s success to the poor farmers and poor people in the dry tropics of the world.

“Our commitment to delivering results that are profound and superior led to this reward,” he said.

Dar has been the institute’s director general since January 2000.

ICRISAT is pursuing holistic integrated genetic and natural-resources management approach as its overarching research strategy to attain scientific excellence and relevance in agriculture through its mandate crops: sorghum, millet, groundnut (peanut), chickpea and pigeonpea.

It has research projects in the Philippines involving groundnut, sweet sorghum (for biofuel, food, feeds and forage), chickpea (garbanzos) and pigeonpea (kadyos).

Under Dr. Dar’s leadership, ICRISAT also won other CGIAR recognitions of excellence such as:

-Two King Baudouin awards (2002 and 2004)

-One CGIAR Best Scientist award (2002)

-Two Promising Young Scientist awards (2003 and 2004), and

- Superior Rating in 2003

The CGIAR Performance Measurement (PM) System is an annual feature in the CGIAR monitoring and evaluation system. Performance is measured along three dimensions—results, potential to perform and stakeholder perceptions. The PM system provides CGIAR centers with a method to better understand their own performance and demonstrate accountability.

It is also used as an input in CGIAR-member fund-allocation decisions. The present assessment on ICRISAT results in an additional $1.10-million annual allocation from the World Bank over the base allocation of $0.98 million, giving ICRISAT a total of $2.08 million. The World Bank is one of the donors of ICRISAT.

Since 2000, ICRISAT has been able to steadily strengthen its ability to increase donor funding for the institute. In the last five years, it has consistently registered a budgetary surplus. Its gross revenue grew from $24.2 million in 2003 to $42.1 million in 2007.

The significant indicators that contributed to ICRISAT’s outstanding rating are:

1. Results—outputs, outcomand impact:

- Output targets achieved: 98 percent (49 out of 50)

- Outcomes assessment: 7.80 (scale 1-10)

- Center commitment to document impacts: 7.30 (scale 1-10)

- Overall impact assessment performance: 8.55 (scale 1-10)

2. Potential to perform—quality and relevance of research:

- Peer-reviewed publications: 3.10 per scientist

- Publications with developed country partners: 49 percent

3. Institutional health—governance, culture of learning and change, diversity; and financial health—short-term solvency, long-term financial stability and efficiency of operations:

- Short-term solvency (liquidity) in days: 206 (range 90-120)

- Long-term financial stability in days: 148 (range 75-90)

- Efficiency of operations (indirect cost ratio): 23 (out of 30)

(ICRISAT/PSciJourn News Service)