The Independent Evaluation Arrangement (IEA) Office is responsible for system-level independent external evaluations through strategic evaluations of CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) and institutional elements of CGIAR.
The evaluation of the CRP on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE, led by the International Water Management Institute-IWMI) is one of the several CRP evaluations which IEA is currently conducting. Led by a fully independent evaluation team with quality assurance and management from IEA, the purpose of the evaluation is to inform decision-making by WLE management, funders and partners. It aims to enhance WLE’s performance and likelihood of achieving its program objectives of intensifying farming activities; sustainably expanding agricultural areas and building resilience into food systems; and restoring degraded rainfed and irrigated agricultural landscapes, while ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and minimizing harmful impacts on supporting ecosystems.
The evaluation will cover all WLE research activities, including projects supported by bilateral and unrestricted funding (from CGIAR Window 1 and 2 Funds). This includes new, CRP-driven research, as well as transferred research that predated the CRP but has continued relevance in the program.
The two focus areas of the evaluation are:
- Research/programmatic performance, including the program relevance, design and results
- Organizational performance covering efficiency and effectiveness related to CRP governance and management structures and processes.
While preparatory work is already underway, including a visit to IWMI during the 2014 Annual Research Meeting, the evaluation’s main inquiry phase is scheduled to take place between March and September 2015. An Inception Report in early 2015 will detail the evaluation methodology, timeline, and action plan. It will also present a plan for engaging stakeholders and communicating findings and evaluation results.
An Evaluation Reference Group has been set up to engage key stakeholders, engaging their inputs at important stages marked by draft documents and team presentations, including the draft Inception Report, preliminary findings, and draft Final Report. This Reference Group represents WLE governance, management, and partners.
The IEA team for the evaluation of WLE will be led by Dr. David Todd, a senior evaluation specialist with expertise and experience in the areas of agriculture, environment, and water management. He will be supported by a team of experts across the range of WLE research themes.
For queries or information on this evaluation, please contact IEA Evaluation Analyst Matthew Fisher-Post (matthew.fisherpost(at)fao.org). More information, including Terms of Reference, Inception Report and Final Report as they become available, will be posted to the IEA website.