Purpose of the position

This is a Consultancy: Call for Proposals to engage the services of an individual consultant, or a group of researchers affiliated with an institution to conduct a Systematic Review and Comparative Analysis of the use of germplasm and associated data sourced from CGIAR Genebanks.

About ICARDA                                                                                

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.  ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org 

Main responsibilities   

Background        

CGIAR genebanks have a legal obligation to respond to all requests for germplasm relating to research, breeding and education for food and agriculture. Such obligations are regardless of geography or user as long as the provisions of the Plant Treaty or other relevant international policy are respected. Since 2012, CGIAR genebanks have sent germplasm to tens of thousands of requesters in more than 120 countries worldwide, with approximately 80% going to low- and middle-income countries. Details on germplasm distributions are reported annually on the CGIAR Results Dashboard. From 2022 to 2024, the genebanks distributed 337,330 germplasm samples to 123 countries. Annual trends in requests and distributions are unpredictable. In 2023 alone, distributions exceeded 200,000 samples. This distribution rate occurs without any advertising, any prominence online, or any active outreach to potential users. Trends in germplasm demand have not been rigorously studied to date but appear to be influenced by factors such as technological advances, new projects and new funding opportunities, changing capacities, and needs.  

 The impact pathway of the germplasm disseminated annually from genebanks is not easily tracked. It is challenging to keep track of materials as they pass through phases of evaluation, selection, crossing, or passing on to other researchers and national partners. Although all CGIAR genebanks have implemented digital object identifiers (DOI) minted by the Plant Treaty, so far, few users have adopted the same DOI or have referred to them in publications. A few pedigree tracing studies have been carried out and indicate that genebank materials have introduced important traits and genetic diversity into breeding lines, contributing to genetic gain (Villanueva et al., 2020[1], Sellitti et al., 2020[2], Bernal-Galeano et al., 2020[3]). In general, genebanks respond to requests and do not direct where materials are sent or what they are used for. Subject to ‘direct use’ exceptions, as repatriation to farmers, the genebanks are often upstream providers of services, introducing genetic variation into a potentially long breeding pipeline, with impact only measurable after several years. 

 The Genebanks Accelerator, through Area of Work (AoW) 2, aims to enable researchers, breeders, students and other users to access diversity and associated data in a smarter and more targeted way for increased use. Genebanks will work with the Digital Transformation Accelerator to create a CGIAR-wide portal for comprehensive accession data access, enabling AI-guided germplasm searches and requests based on robust analytical workflows and human-in-the-loop approaches. The portal will enhance the information offered and user experience, enable more strategic engagement and better dialogue with users, and improve user services by reducing transaction costs and time when requesting germplasm.   

[1] Villanueva et al. (2020) The contribution of the International Rice Genebank to varietal improvement and crop productivity in Eastern India. Food Security, 12: 929–943

[1] Sellitti et al. (2020) The contribution of the CIAT genebank to the development of iron-biofortified bean varieties and well-being of farm households in Rwanda. Food Security, 12: 975–991 

[1] Bernal-Galeano, V. et al. (2020). Andean potato diversity conserved in the International Potato Center genebank helps develop agriculture in Uganda: the example of the variety ‘Victoria’. Food Security. ISSN 1876-4525. Published online 22May2020.   

Requirements

Purpose of the study 

The study aims to present evidence on germplasm and data use, how it contributes towards CGIAR’s 5 Impact Areas, and inform the design of the proactive user engagement strategy and online portal to be implemented within AoW 2. 

The study will have the following indicative objectives: 

• Identify how germplasm requested from CGIAR genebanks and its associated data have been used in published research (peer-reviewed articles and grey literature), including establishing the baseline of data use; 

• Assess the geographical, institutional, and disciplinary spread of the use; 

• Compare government-published lists of released crop varieties with Genebanks records and the findings from the published literature and establish a link between released crop varieties and Genebanks; 
• Identify evidence of outcomes/impact that contributes towards CGIAR’s 5 Impact Areas; 
• Identify areas in the genebanks that are not represented in published research. 
• The study will cover the following dimensions: 
• Germplasm and associated data sourced from CGIAR genebanks in the last 20 years; 
• Global, with a focus on the Global South; 
• All CGIAR genebanks;  
• Germplasm and data Users, with a differentiation between CGIAR users, including breeding programs, and non-CGIAR users.  
•  Limitations:  
• There will be no field-level validation. 
• Outcome/Impact can be inferred and not directly measured.  

Tentative Research Questions 

Tentative Research Questions are presented below:  

• How has germplasm held in CGIAR genebanks and its associated data been used, within and outside CGIAR, in research, policy, and other disciplines? 

• What is the current use level of germplasm associated data? 

• What is the geographic, institutional, and disciplinary spread in germplasm and associated data use? 

• How do government-published lists of released crop varieties link with Genebanks records and the findings from the published literature? 

• How does published evidence show the contribution of germplasm use and associated data towards CGIAR’s 5 Impact Areas? 

• What are the underrepresented crops, regions, or potential use cases in germplasm use? 

Tentative Methodological Approach 

The systematic review should employ approaches that suit the review questions including: 

• A protocol that has a clear definition of the scope of the review, the method, with explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. 

• Comprehensive literature search and review. 

• Synthesis of findings to identify gaps and key insights. 

Scope: 

• Studies that mention that the source of the germplasm and associated data is the CGIAR genebanks. 

•  Published research will include peer-reviewed articles and grey literature such as conference proceedings, international event reports, and technical briefs, thesis, where germplasm sourced from CGIAR genebanks is described. Recent uses may not be visible in literature due to time lag between the request of germplasm and publication of results leading to underrepresentation of use. The inclusion of grey literature, such as reports and outputs from international events (e.g., conference proceedings, abstracts, presentations) would mitigate the lack of visibility to reflect recent and current use.  

• Publications from 2005 to present. 

• Any crop or region with a focus on the global south but not exclusively. 

In addition to a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature, the study will include a comparative document analysis of government-published variety release lists against published research findings as well as Genebanks records. This additional analysis offers a broader a more comprehensive understanding of germplasm use across multiple evidence sources.

The study is expected to be completed within nine months from the date of signing the contract.  Deliverables include: 

• Inception report (Outlining the approach, methodology, timeline, and indicative final report outline) - MONTH 1 

• Draft protocol – MONTH 2 

• Final protocol submitted – MONTH 3 

• Draft report – MONTH 8 

Final report, draft ready for submission to a journal, clean datasets, and a PowerPoint presentation - MONTH 9   

Benefits

• Payment will be processed in 3 installments in the following sequence:
• 30% after delivery of the final protocol (Month 3)
• 30% after delivery of the draft report (Month 8)
• 40% after delivery of final report, draft ready for submission to a journal, and presentation (Month 9).

How to apply:

The applications should not exceed 7 pages (excluding CVs of team members) and should address the following: 

-          Objectives and revised research questions (1 page) 

-           A description of the study methodology including the systematic review method (3.5 pages) 

-          Involvement of stakeholder groups (½ page) 

-          Dissemination plans (½ page) 

-          Clear work plan in line with the RFPs, and justification of potential deviations (1 page) 

-          Budget that shows clear alignment to the work plan (½ page) 

-          Submit your CV or organizational details and CVs of the collaborators (CVs can be submitted as an Annex, each CV should not be more than 2 pages). 

Applicants are encouraged to make the best use of documents available on the CGIAR Genebanks website.