Statement of Expectations from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, September 2008
ACIAR formally commits to meeting the expectations of the Minister.
Statement of expectation
1. Contribute to assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development in line with Australia's national interest by:
- formulating research programs for identifying or finding solutions to agricultural programs of developing countries
- commissioning research that will foster agricultural development in partner countries and enhance the capacity of partner countries to undertake agricultural research
- funding research with a focus on achieving sustainable, community-based poverty reduction
- fostering partnerships with relevant multilateral research providers, focusing on the CGIAR research centres.
2. Support the acceleration of economic growth, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, by:
- strengthening rural development through targeted research
- improving access to the results and benefits of ACIAR's work to farmers, policy-makers and natural resource managers
- aligning ACIAR country strategies with whole-of-government country development, AusAID rural development strategies and partner country development priorities.
3. Contribute to investing in people and deliver better education by developing the skills of partner country research scientists through:
- building the capacity of agriculture research institutions and personnel in partner countries including via specialised training activities
- inclusion of capacity building provision in relevant research projects
- improved monitoring and evaluation of capacity building impacts.
4. Strive to maximise the effectiveness of aid delivered by Australia through:
- ensuring an adoption focus in program delivery
- active attention to agreed aid effectiveness principles (such as the Paris Declaration and Millennium Development Goals) including partner country involvement; alignment of priorities with partner countries; harmonisation with other donors and mutual accountability for programs and development results
- undertaking independent reviews as part of ACIAR's Impact Assessment Program
- contributing to reporting on the performance of the aid program, particularly through the annual program reports for countries, regions and relevant themes consistent with the aid program's Performance Assessment and Evaluation policy
- involvement of partner country and multilateral partners in impact evaluation activities.
5. Deliver an active and diverse communications program to achieve best practice in disseminating agricultural research information by:
- ensuring that communication and extension are integral to program delivery
- ensuring that information on project achievements, adoption and impacts are readily available to stakeholder groups and the wider community in Australia and partner countries.
6. Ensure that communication and reporting arrangements are in place to:
- keep me fully informed of ACIAR's activities
- ensure my approval of proposed investments in new partner countries or in post-conflict/post-disaster situations
- consult on the formation of new Corporate Plans and the Annual Operational Plan and Budget for my approval
- provide timely information to the Secretary of DFAT and Director General of AusAID in parallel with information provided to me to reinforce DFAT's role as the principle source of advice to me on portfolio policy and program delivery matters.
7. Support Australian rural industries by ensuring that mutual gains are secured from ACIAR's offshore research activities which can benefit partner countries and Australian agriculture and agricultural R&D potential.
8. Ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, particularly in administering the
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act 1982 (and the ACIAR Amendment Act 2007), through:
- effective and timely advice to me from the ACIAR Commission on strategic directions, forward planning program implementation and resource allocations; country strategies; and other matters as requested.
9. Manage financial matters in a prudent, efficient and effective manner, in accordance with legislative requirements under the
Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, the Finance Minister's Orders, and the
ACIAR Act 1982.
10. Maintain high standards of corporate governance, including in risk management, and foster a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organisation.
11. Promote and uphold the Australian Public Service (APS) values and APS code of conduct and ACIAR's Service Charter.
12. Develop key performance indicators to reflect and measure ACIAR's success in meeting these expectations, and present that material in regular reports to me, consolidated into an annual report each year:
- with clear cross-references to Australia's development assistance policies and research capabilities; and
- addressing the Australian Government's research priorities.
