Join CGIAR Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC)-Chair

Suitable candidates may apply or be nominated for the positions listed. Applications / nominations must provide the four required documents set out in this guidance document.

Deadline for applications / nominations: 30 April 2025, 18:00 (CET)

Summary

The Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC) is an external, impartial standing panel of eight experts with expertise in science and development pertaining to agriculture and food systems. The Chair is appointed by the CGIAR System Council (SC), the representative body of funders of CGIAR and country representatives.

ISDC provides rigorous, independent strategic advice to SC and the CGIAR System as a whole. Members are responsible for providing strategic oversight and scientific assessments while ensuring robust and impartial advice to the SC and affiliated governance bodies. This includes advice on CGIAR Strategy, research structure and processes, funding requests, and research proposals. In addition, the ISDC leads:

• Foresight work to inform CGIAR’s longer-term research strategy;
• Horizon scanning to provide analysis on how emerging trends and developments can be considered in CGIAR’s work;
• Priority-setting exercises and analyses integrating both ex-post and ex-ante analyses.

Therefore, it is vital that ISDC includes skills, disciplines, and backgrounds relevant to the CGIAR research and innovation agenda.

Role of Chair

CGIAR is seeking to fill the Chair position to join current members who represent a diverse group of recognized experts in their respective fields. The commencement date would ideally be 1 October 2025. The Chair of ISDC is appointed by the System Council based upon a merit-based, open and competitive selection process. The Chair is appointed for a period of 3 years with the possibility of a once-only 3-year extension.

The Chair role is an honorarium-based appointment. The Chair serves 105 days yearly, broadly corresponding to a 50% time commitment.

This is a demanding role with tight timelines that would make an additional full-time position nearly impossible. The Chair is expected to attend a minimum of eight international meetings a year at various locations throughout the mandate region of the CGIAR (i.e., for approximately 40 days yearly). Work outside normal office hours is expected, depending on time zones and organizational needs. In addition, as described in the ISDC Chair Terms of Reference (TOR), the Chair is responsible for the following:

• Articulates ISDC’s vision, including how ISDC relates to System Council’s other advisory bodies (e.g. the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment, ‘SPIA’, and the evaluation workstream of Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service, IAES).
• Leads development of relevant processes for identifying demand for ISDC services from the System Council to guide ISDC workplans.
• Conveys to the System Council and other stakeholder audiences, the ISDC’s independent advice and recommendations on strategic issues, foresight, research priorities and the quality of the research programs.
• Maintains a close working relationship with the CGIAR System Council Chair and the Integrated Partnership Board Chair and the Executive Managing Director and Chief Scientist of CGIAR.
• Acts as an Active Observer of the System Council and the Integrated Partnership Board.
• Responds to requests from the Chair of the System Council’s Strategic Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (‘SIMEC’) to attend or send a delegate to SIMEC meetings and proactively engage with SIMEC on scientific matters.
• Chairs ISDC meetings and represents the views of ISDC Members to relevant audiences.
• In consultation with ISDC members, allocates the workload of the ISDC between its members, ensuring that the ISDC discharges its independent advisory role in an effective manner.
• Engages regularly with the SPIA Chair, including through participation in SPIA meetings as appropriate.
• Together with the IAES Director, ensures the effective management of Conflicts of Interest of ISDC members.
• After discussion with the IAES Director on potential conflicts of interest and their effective management, responds to requests from Centers/science leaders to participate in activities organized by CGIAR Centers and/or research programs and platforms, where this can enhance the ISDC understanding of CGIAR at the operational level.
• In collaboration with the IAES Director, develop the multi-year work plan and budget for the ISDC taking into consideration System Council guidance on priorities.
• Chairs the selection panel for the appointment of the IAES Director.
• Serves as the substantive supervisory reporting line of the IAES Director with respect to the overall execution of the work plan and budget.
• Oversees the performance of the IAES Director according to the host institute's relevant policy and procedure.
• Participates in the selection process for the recruitment of ISDC Secretariat Lead (a team member of IAES).
• Contributes to the annual performance assessment on the ISDC Secretariat staff through the IAES Director.
• In consultation with the IAES Director, contributes to decisions on the renewal or separation of ISDC Secretariat staff.

Requirements

Expertise Needed

The position of ISDC Chair requires a recognized global thought leader in a field pertinent to CGIAR’s mission.

In delivering its mission, CGIAR draws on a wide range of scientific domains and brings together bio-physical and social sciences. Systems thinking and transdisciplinary approaches are core features of CGIAR’s work. In addition to eminence in their fields of expertise, the Chair must also demonstrate strong leadership capabilities and a capacity to facilitate consensus amongst diverse groups of scientists. Experience in making science relevant for policy makers and managing a science–policy interface would be a distinct advantage.

To assist CGIAR in maintaining a well-balanced ISDC member composition, we seek candidates whose origin and experience reflect the regions where CGIAR’s work is focused and are aligned to the CGIAR 2025-2030 Research and Innovation Strategy.

Details of Role

Membership: ISDC consists of eight standing members, one appointed as Chair and one Vice Chair nominated by the chair. ISDC is guided by Terms of Reference (TOR) and supported by a secretariat within the CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES).

Appointment: The Chair of ISDC is appointed by the SC and accountable to it, with recommended candidates put forward by a nominations panel.

Representation: ISDC Chair serves in their personal capacity and must comply with IAES prevailing conflict of interest policy provisions for ISDC members.

Term: ISDC Chair is appointed for a three-year period, with a one-year assessment period to confirm continuation of the term and the possibility of one additional three-year term.

Time commitment: This is a 50% position, equivalent to 105 days per calendar year as outlined in the ISDC Member Competencies, time commitment and honorarium arrangements.

Activities: An approved workplan outlines the main activities. The ISDC Chair is required to attend approximately eight in-person international governance meetings a year (System Council, Integrated Partnership Board, SIMEC, and ISDC meetings). This is a minimum time contribution of 40 days, which may include weekends. Depending on time zone, work outside normal office hours is expected.

Teamwork: The Chair must be willing to work as a team member, contributing actively to ISDC deliverables. The Chair must value divergent scientific opinions and demonstrate a willingness to develop consensus.

ISDC Chair is expected to demonstrate experience and/or expertise in several domains outlined in the Chair TOR. Consideration will be given to individuals who:

• Demonstrate “systems thinking”, i.e., the ability to work across different disciplines, integrating knowledge from various fields to address complex global challenges.
• Have the ability to recognize the mechanisms by which science and research deliver development and innovation outcomes in line with CGIAR’s mandate.
• Have the capacity to deliver timely, strategic advice.
• Values cultural, organizational, educational, and geographic diversity.
• Possess strong leadership and governance skills, with experience in guiding organizations and initiatives towards achieving strategic objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; English required and proficiency in other UN languages a bonus.
• Ability to work as/in a team and willingness to lead consensus building.

Persons will not be eligible to be appointed to ISDC, and should not apply, if they are:

• A current employee or executing a material consultancy with CGIAR, or have been employed by or served as a material consultant to CGIAR at any time during the two years prior to the date of application.
• Actively serving on a CGIAR Board or any of its committees.
• Working directly in a Funder agency represented on the System Council.
• Other eligibility may be considered during the process based on any potential, perceived or actual conflicts based on the candidate’s past and current personal and professional affiliations in accordance with the Conflict of Interest Policy.

Requirements for applications and nominations

Individual applications or nominations

• of potentially qualified people are welcomed by 30 April 2025, and should be submitted with the four following documents:
• One-page cover letter (max 500 words) - stating the applicant/nominated person’s name, contact details, summary of expertise and experience, and suitability for the role based on the competencies listed. In case of a letter of nomination, please include details of the nominee and a statement regarding your relationship.
• Full curriculum vitae;
• The names and current contacts of three referees who provide a diverse group of persons to contact; and
• Declaration of past and/or current involvement with CGIAR and any potential perceived or real conflicts based on your past and current personal and professional affiliations, in accordance with the IAES Conflict of Interest Policy.
• In the case of nominations, confirmation of interest and availability from the nominated person needs to be provided.

CGIAR’s commitment to diversity:

CGIAR fosters diversity that powers its innovation, contributes to excellence in its work and partnerships, and is critical for realizing its mission to deliver science and innovation that advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Our priority is to appoint people to roles across CGIAR that reflect our global character. CGIAR encourages qualified applicants from all cultures, races, religions, national or regional origins, ages, abilities, and genders.