A robust Management Response (MR) System is essential for ensuring that evaluation recommendations lead to concrete actions and improvements. Recognizing this, the Evaluation Function of the CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) released two reports in 2024-2025: a benchmarking study and a review of CGIAR MR system.
In this session, presenters will outline the approach, methodology, and key recommendations from the CGIAR MR system review, showing how the review team has conducted a highly engaging approach with key stakeholders to foster ownership and acceptance of the results. The reviewers assessed the system’s effectiveness and efficiency in promoting timely, evidence-based decision-making, and alignment with the organization’s 2030 Strategy. They examined how well the system supports learning, accountability, and strategic adaptation across the CGIAR system.
In addition, the results of a benchmarking study which mapped MR systems across a range of multilateral and development organizations will be presented. Drawing on guidance from MOPAN and the United Nations Norms and Standards for Evaluation (NORM 14), the study explored best practices in oversight, structured follow-up, and tracking mechanisms to support evaluation uptake. The findings provided a comparative foundation for CGIAR’s own system, helping to shape the Terms of Reference and inform the methodology of the subsequent internal review.
The session will conclude with a Q&A, encouraging the audience to discuss how these approaches to monitoring, accountability, and learning can be applied in other organizations.
