CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) provides operational support as the secretariat for the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) and the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA), and implements CGIAR’s multi-year, independent evaluation plan as approved by the System Council. The IAES and the two independent bodies it supports, facilitate and provide external, impartial, and expert advice related to strategy and positioning, program evaluation, and impact assessment.

In accordance with operational principles developed by the System Council, the IAES focuses on assuring the independence of advice offered to the System while implementing continuous improvement measures towards increased cost-effectiveness. A strong concentration of our effort is expanding the communication channels among the independent advisory and evaluation services and enhancing the channels between the advisory services and System stakeholders. The IAES and the two independent bodies it supports, embrace an operational principle that our work will build up the systematic linkages between science and development through innovation and effective partnership. 

The composition and structure of the IAES is streamlined yet geared to provide well-informed and professional support that ensures that ISDC, SPIA and Evaluation Workstream mandates are fulfilled. The IAES is based in Rome, Italy, hosted at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. 

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