Independent Science Panel

The Independent Science Panel (ISP) of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is established to ensure independence of the programmatic directions of CCAFS. The ISP is accountable to, and appointed by, the CIAT Board of Trustees as the CGIAR Lead Center of CCAFS. The Lead Center has the right to review all decisions made in CCAFS in respect to potential legal, financial or reputational risks that such decisions may pose, and communicate its concerns through the appropriate channels.

Structure

The ISP has a Chair appointed by the CIAT Board, nine members, and three ex officio members (one from the CIAT Board, representing CIAT on behalf of the CGIAR, one representing Future Earth and the Program Director). Ex officio members do not have voting rights. The ISP appoints one of its members as Vice-Chair.

Members

The membership consists of internationally recognised scientists in the field of climate change and food security, as well as technical expertise drawn from civil society, development agencies and/or the private sector with a strong record of ensuring outcomes and impacts. Membership should be balanced in terms of disciplinary mix, gender and geographic diversity. The nomination process for ISP members will seek input from the ISP Chair and the ex officio members representing CGIAR and Future Earth, who will consult their constituencies.

Members are appointed for 3 years with possible reappointment for an additional period of up to 3 years to ensure a staggered rotation of members.

Click to view the current ISP members.

Responsibilities

In order to ensure the independence of the programmatic directions, the responsibilities of the ISP are:

To set overall programmatic priorities.
To consider annual business plans as submitted by the Program Director and provide advice to the CIAT Board of Trustees
To review proposed annual budget allocation and provide advice to the CIAT Board of Trustees.
To approve the activity plan and budget of each Program Participant. The Chair and Program Director will consider changes to the annual activity plans; and consult with the ISP members if needed.
To recommend to the Lead Center, if required, a modification of a Program Participant Grant.
To recommend termination of a Program Participant Agreement (PPA) if the Program Participant is in breach of its responsibilities.
To develop a mechanism to ensure that the emerging results from ex ante analyses are leading to strategic allocation of resources.
To consider an annual report as submitted by the Program Director.
The ISP Chair will report annually to the CIAT Board of Trustees and liaise with the Director General as needed.
CGIAR and Future Earth ex officio members will regularly update their constituencies on CCAFS progress, and alert them to any emerging opportunities or threats that are of significance.

Meetings

The ISP generally meets twice a year, in May and October.

Minutes from past meetings

November 2011 - Cali, Colombia (4 mb - PDF)

May 2012 - Copenhagen, Denmark (0.5 mb - PDF)

October 2012 - Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Upcoming meetings

6-7 May 2013 - Hanoi, Vietnam

10-11 October 2013 - Rome, Italy

Note: The Independent Science Panel replaces the CCAFS Steering Committee which operated until July 2011. Click to view meeting minutes.