Priority assessment at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR): confronting the challenges of a policy-oriented natural resources management research portfolio.

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter reviews the history of systematic attempts to select research priorities for the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), beginning with the four sets of consultative processes used to identify the initial priorities suggested for the Center at establishment, of which CIFOR's first (1996) strategy selected a subset. In 2000, CIFOR attempted to undertake a systematic priority assessment approach through application of a derivative of the Research Application Area Framework developed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). Although the approach helped to clarify trade-offs among research topics and regions, it had limited success in fostering a more clearly focused research agenda. Between 2000 and 2007, the Center relied on consultative and implicit priority assessment methods, as it developed programme strategies and regional strategies. In this context, scientists reported that they chose priorities primarily on the basis of knowledge gaps and perceived problem prevalence. During 2007, CIFOR made another attempt at more systematic priority assessment, so as to inform a new strategy for 2008-2018. This consisted of a five-step qualitative exercise, which involved defining a long list of research alternatives, elaborating on the details of research themes and impact pathways, applying a Delphi process to discuss and rank alternatives, using a structured scoring process to compare alternatives regarding specific criteria and finally selecting priority topics.