The CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) started in 2012 as a cross-center and cross-cutting initiative, with the purpose to tap the underutilized potential of root, tuber and banana crops for improving nutrition and food security in the poorest regions of the world.

Over the past two years the RTB team has identified opportunities for improving not only the scope of work but also the program structure, and late April RTB management submitted an extension request to the CGIAR Consortium Office for the period 2015-2016. This extension request indicates the next steps that will help to develop and improve the original proposal.

Among the major changes considered for the extension phase is the transition from output-based to results-based management (RBM), which entails a shift from planning and reporting by disciplinary Themes to “flagships” – a combination of deliverables, linked products, impact pathway, and strategic objectives. The framework for the extension period is a hybrid, retaining the original seven Themes as basic building blocks.

The CGIAR Consortium is supporting this shift to RBM and has designated RTB as one of the five research programs that will be piloting RBM starting 2014 with four flagships, with a roll-out phase scheduled for 2015. RBM will be implemented for four to six more flagships during 2015-2016, along with the development of user-friendly monitoring and evaluation with a “dashboard” showing key outcome indicators.

The extension phase will also involve increased gender integration, expanded linkages to regional and subregional organizations, broader alliances of partnerships, long- term discovery research and improved RTB business cases. Read more