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At the CGIAR Executive Council Meeting in June 2009, the Alliance was given the ‘green light’ to continue with the design of the Consortium and the Strategy and Results Framework (SRF).
The Consortium Planning Team (CPT) decided to retain the services of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to finalise the Constitution, conduct a ‘net cost assessment’ of the Consortium Board and Office relative to the current system and to propose design options for the Consortium Office, including an analysis of possible locations for the Office. The CPT also decided to decouple the BCG consultancy from the shared corporate and research support services consultancy. It selected Accenture, among the five firms invited to bid for this shared services consultancy.
Consortium Constitution
ExCo requested various amendments to the draft Constitution. In amending the draft Constitution, the Alliance used an iterative process, approved by the Consortium Planning Team. The draft amendments were discussed, for feedback, with an Alliance reference group of Board Chairs and DGs and with a Member Reference Group (Australia, Canada and Norway). This iterative process led to amendments deemed satisfactory to the two reference groups. The draft Constitution was discussed by the full Alliance (October 29-31) and and then by the Members of ExCo (3-4 November, 2009). The Alliance has now instructed its legal counsel to formulate the Constittuion in appropriate legal language while maintaining the substantive contecnt and meaning of the current text. As part of this revision, matters such as nominations for Board members and detailed terms of reference for the CEO will be moved to a separate document on Consortium Board rules and procedures.
Design, Location and Functions of the Consortium Office
The Boston Consulting Group was commissioned by the Alliance to provide a design of the Consortium Office including its functions (under the Constitution) and a possible location. Interviews were conducted with the Science Council Secretariat, CGIAR Secretariat, Alliance and individual Centres to develop a base-line understanding of current CGIAR System functions and activities, including the current CGIAR-wide performance management process.
This design has benefited from a study of analogous organizations, as well as input from the Alliance. In designing the Consortium Office BCG have been cognizant of many stakeholders’ concerns that the Consortium be as focused, simple, streamlined, and cost-effective as possible. Whereas the Consortium Board will consist of part-time members, the Consortium Office will work under the direct leadership of a full-time CEO. So that the Office operates most effectively BCG recommends that the functions are divided into four key organizational units: 1. Research Strategy & Performance 2. Finance and Administration 3. Communications and Stakeholder Relations 4. Strategic HR & Change Management A Shared Services unit will also be part of the new Consortium. The organizational set-up and activities of this function are being detailed under a separate consultancy. However, from a governance perspective, it is recommended that this unit report directly to the Consortium CEO. One of the first and most important decisions the new Consortium Board will have to make is where to locate the Consortium office. The Alliance and a wide set of donors and stakeholders were requested to nominate potential Consortium Office locations (during July and August) via an on-line survey. BCG used existing databases to assess various criteria for selecting the location of the Consortium Office from the list of nominated locations. The results of their analysis was shared with the Alliance and will serve to inform the decision, by the new Consortium Board, about the location of the Consortium headquarters (Consortium Office). The very important criterion of host country government’s willingness to host the Consortium is not part of the metrics and will, of course, have to be addressed by the Consortium Board (e.g., through negotiations and a bidding process and with the guidance of legal counsel). The results of all this work are completed and were reviewed by the Alliance at their meeting in October (29-31) and will be part of the package of information provided for the incoming Consortium Board. A copy of BCG's final report is one of the attachments below. Consultancy on shared corporate and research support services (please follow the link for more information)
Consortium Board Search, Selection and Appointment (please follow the link for more information)
The Consortium Constitution (please follow the link for more information)
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Consortium Design and Establishment- Phase II Activities |