24maynotes3

Strategy Meeting 24 May 2012, Group 3

Facilitation by Shirley Tarawali and George Levy (12 participants 3 groups) Notes by Muthoni Njiru

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INTRODUCTION

What is a Strategy? For most in an org. is what senior mgmt work with, but other staff does not get it and push it aside (those are management issues) abstract to daily tasks.

Why a strategy? Gives a map of the direction we should take and the roads there.

Purpose of this strategy: Answer what ILRI is trying to achieve. How will we know if we are getting there (what indicators)? Become a guide that will become a daily tool for decision-making.

What does ILRI want to achieve by 2022 and how will we do this? Is money an issue? Influence on others? Are these the components of the framework?

…This will inform the strategy team on the mindset of the ILRI focus groups…

Orientation of the process: Pathways out of poverty 2002-2010 (PAST) Interim Strategy 2011-2012 (Current) NEW STRATEGY (2012-2022) (FUTURE)

Strategy Team: Peter, Mario, Tom, Bruce, Steve, An, Shirley (Conceptualization of a story line, driving force to create the Strategy…ILRI’s vision, mission??

DISCUSSIONS:

What would success for ILRI look like? Success Indicators Work force: -Balanced workforce that has an equitable gender representation in all level of staffing. -Improved partnerships with interaction within projects and out.

Reputation: -Renowned point of reference for Livestock research with sufficient capacity. -Donors are eager to fund our projects because we deliver beyond expectations. -Leader in self-sustainability (resource mobilization).

Outcomes: ILRI impacting poor farmers on improving market through clear evidence on how ILRI was involved: e.g. surplus milk not spilled due to ILRI’s involvement in markets. Success stories coming from the farmer. Connection is clear between the farmer and ILRI (relationship is clear) Biotechnological success in vaccine generation for orphan diseases affecting the world

What to keep and what to take away?

	RESEARCH	WORKFORCE
Keep	Maintain aggressive awareness {publications, seminars} Social Media is good but have focus and not information overload Quality infrastructure Safety and Security Partnerships (NARS, Agriculture) Quality of research	diversity of topics, regions, and skills. Multicultural environment Beautiful grounds
TAKE AWAY	Unify research by removing sciences boxes (biotech, economics, Social sciences, Gender? Research methods? Communications) to Holistic research approaches. Under utilization of lab facilities Inter-departmental cohesion: needs improvement Need to have more impact from the research we conduct	Boxes -hierarchies creates divide (IRS, NRS), regional exchange Remove alignment of staff at all levels Lack of ownership amongst staff The constraints of staff relations with management Lack of succession planning Lack of overall job satisfaction by staff in feeling like they are under appreciated.