This document provides updates from the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) in several areas: - Two new members joined the ISPC Council and Secretariat. - The ISPC held workshops on science quality, foresight, innovation systems, and impact assessment. Background papers were also commissioned on topics like global food systems. - Updates were given on publications from previous events, case studies, and establishing communities of interest around key topics. - Internal evaluations were conducted and preparations made for external reviews of the ISPC and its processes. - The ISPC continues to provide advice and input to the broader CGIAR system on issues like indicators, governance, and research programs.

1. ISPC Update
Maggie Gill 4 April 2017

2. Staffing changes – Council &
Secretariat
• Jennifer Thomson joined Council March 2017
• Nancy Johnson joined the Secretariat
February 2017 replacing Tim Kelley as
Secretariat lead on SPIA
http://ispc.cgiar.org/

3. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
ISPC Theory of Change
Mission: To help strengthen the quality, relevance, and
impact of CGIAR research to provide solutions to poverty,
hunger, and environmental degradation, as articulated in
the CGIAR System-Level Outcomes.
Goals: To provide independent scientific, research, and
partnership advice to the CGIAR System Council, and
leadership to the CGIAR scientific community to develop,
support, and implement research that contributes to the
System-Level Outcomes and to the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

4. Science Dialogue: SF16
• Follow-up workshop to SF16 held in December
2016 at Oxford
• Potentially 14 papers in the SF16 special issue – to
be published in Agricultural Systems by end of
2017
• Exchange visits for 5 Early Career Scientists
funded
• SF16 evaluation report published
• SF16 summary finalized - to be published in April
2017
http://ispc.cgiar.org/

5. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
Quality of science/research
• Established working group with
representation from the System
• Collated information (sent by DDGs-
Research) on current practice within Centers
• Held workshop with participants from within
CGIAR and external experts

6. Foresight/Horizon scanning
• Mapping of recent and ongoing activities on foresight
within and outside the CGIAR; (Initial CN discussed at ISPC-
14 in Hyderabad)
• Initiated an Independent Foresight Assessment on “Global
Agri-food Systems to 2050: Threats and opportunities”.
Commissioning background papers (about 18 chapters) on
key topics and global trends.
• A Workshop with authors of the independent assessment
and a few partners and stakeholders. In collaboration with
University of Naples, 7-8 April 2017
http://ispc.cgiar.org/

7. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
Agri-food innovation systems and
partnerships
• Case studies – evidence on the nature and of innovation and
impact processes in different contexts and time frames;
• Workshop: Agri-food Systems Innovation: Pathways to
impact, 14-15 December 2016 in Australia;
• Continuing CSIRO / ISPC collaboration on the nature of agri-
food systems innovation and partnership to further explore
the nature of agri-food systems innovation and partnership
and their relationship of these to the scale and nature of
impact achieved;
• Establishment of System-wide ‘Community of Interest’ -
Resetting the conversation on agri-food system innovation;

8. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
Standing Panel on Impact Assessment
• External evaluation of the project Strengthening Impact
Assessment in the CGIAR (SIAC) and the management
response are complete and available on the web.
• Concept note was submitted to DFID/Gates for a second
phase of SIAC.
• Plans are underway for a conference in Nairobi (6-8 July) to
present SIAC1 findings to the research, policy and
practitioner communities. It is being held jointly with PIM.
• Most SIAC-supported studies, including several synthesis
pieces, will be completed by conference. Others will be
finalized shortly after.

9. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
Prioritization/Resource allocation
decision support
• ISPC doesn’t take decisions – we provide advice in
support of decisions
• Evidence in support of prioritization of future
research needs linked to Foresight
• More urgent need to provide thinking on resource
allocation – leading workshop with System Council
in May

10. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
Evaluations
• Internal self-evaluation of Council provided
insight into how we function
• Internal evaluation of CRP review process
• Preparing for IEA evaluation of ISPC
• Strengthening ISPC communication

11. http://ispc.cgiar.org/
System level contribution
• Partner in initiating expert consultation
on AR4SDGs
• Acting as resource on:
• Performance indicators
• Governance issues for SMB
• Informal input to Expert panel on CGIAR
research program on grain legumes and
dryland cereals