The CGIAR System Council seeks a qualified candidate to serve as Chair of its Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA). SPIA is an external, impartial standing panel of experts in impact assessment subject matters appointed by the System Council and accountable to it. SPIA works to increase coherence and alignment in the CGIAR’s delivery against its CGIAR 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy.

In accordance with the May 2023 System Council-approved SPIA Operational Model and Workplan and Terms of Reference, SPIA is responsible for providing rigorous evidence of reach and causal impacts of CGIAR research and for providing independent strategic advice to the CGIAR System on (i) efficient and effective impact assessment methods and practices, including those measuring impacts beyond contributions to science and economic performance, and (ii) on innovative ways to improve knowledge and capacity on how research contributes to development outcomes. Impact assessment is vital within CGIAR as a way to ensure accountability and also to inform system learning and decision making. The new workplan comprises three pillars: 1) country studies of CGIAR research at the System level, 2) causal impact assessments in the 5 impact areas targeted by the CGIAR Strategy, and 3) use of rigorous evidence. More information may be found in SPIA’s Terms of Reference.

SPIA operates based on multi-year workplans and budgets with a proposed budget for the 2023-2030 period of approximately between $4 and $6 million per year for research funding. A flexible funding model will allow add-on funding by System Council members for specific impact assessment studies. Based on the new Operational Model and Workplan, SPIA will consist of a core of at least 6 members, all of whom are nominated by the SPIA Chair upon the conclusion of the terms of current members and appointed by System Council. Additionally, the documents outline the central role played by the full SPIA panel in strategic advice and decision-making on its portfolio of independent evidence generation, paired with a decentralized implementation of the generation of independent evidence of research and impact, methodological development, and capacity strengthening.

The SPIA Chair serves for a term of 3 years with the possibility of renewal for one additional term. The position requires a minimum commitment of approximately 50 days per year.

The work of SPIA will be supported by the SPIA Professional Team, which will provide the technical and operational support to SPIA to implement its workplan and deliver its mandate. Staff will be administratively hosted at CGIAR Centers primarily in the Global South or as part of the CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) in Rome. The SPIA Chair will normally be expected to work from their home base, with frequent virtual meetings and e-mail interaction with members of the Professional Team and IAES staff, as well as occasional in-person engagements. The SPIA Chair will work closely with the SPIA panel members and with the Professional Team’s technical and operational staff. The Professional Team will handle all of the administrative work of SPIA and also provide the day-to-day management of SPIA programs.