Annual Report 2012

Director General's message

Without vibrant, dedicated, and caring young scientists, IRRI would not have much of a future. Indeed, rice research and the resulting progression of rice farmers and consumers out of poverty would also be threatened.

So in 2012, we held a unique first-of-its-kind-event at IRRI headquarters in the Philippines, the IRRI Young Scientists Conference: Sustaining Excellence in Rice Research. Very timely, since 2012 marked the golden jubilee of the arrival of the first scholars and trainees at IRRI, the conference provided a venue for budding scientists to share their research across different disciplines with a wider audience. The 2-day program featured around 80 presentations, which showcased the enormous breadth and depth of the innovative and high-quality research being done by IRRI’s young researchers. The future of rice science is indeed in good hands! 

I am pleased to report that the IRRI workplace is as positive, harmonious, and productive as ever—for both our young and veteran staff members. Our key asset remains our personnel who represent a wide range of disciplines, talents, cultures, and nationalities. In 2012, the IRRI workplace continued to be dynamic and exciting, with the attraction, retention, and development of highquality, motivated, and innovative staff given high priority, including many of the new young scientists I laud above. As a result, we continue to have a reputation as a Center that delivers.

In April, Bruce Tolentino began his duties as Deputy Director General (DDG) for Communications and Partnerships. In September, Bas Bouman took over the reins of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) from Achim Dobermann. Achim can now focus full-time on guiding our dynamic research agenda as he continues as the DDG for Research.

For more details of our research highlights, milestones, achievements, and financial support in 2012, I invite you to browse through our online Annual Report. Just follow the links below and on the upper left.

Robert Zeigler
IRRI Director General



 

Human resources

Our expert international and national scientific and support staff at headquarters and our country offices grew to nearly 1,300 in 2012. Our international staff of around 100 is now double what was in 2005.  In these numbers, we find an ever-increasing diversity with 31 countries represented on the staff.

IRRI is proud to be an engendered workplace, with 37% of all IRRI staff worldwide, 57% of all headquarters-based nationally recruited scientists, and 33% of IRRI’s senior management committee being women.

The year 2012 was another significant year for human resource modernization activities that include the development of new career paths, the introduction of additional individual and team performance recognition programs, and a continued consultative workplace relations program. IRRI continues to provide a wide range of learning and development opportunities. It continues to be a family-friendly organization with an annual   calendar of social and wellness activities to support our staff in their work-life  balance.  For more information see Personnel and International staff changes.

Financial information

IRRI’s total revenue for 2012 was around US$96 million, including $13 million that was invested in Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to carry out Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) activities. This is an increase of total revenue from 2011, which was around $88 million, including $12 million invested in AfricaRice and CIAT.

Donor investment is fundamental to achieving our goals and in 2012 major donor groups included CGIAR ($37 million), CGIAR centers and programs ($4 million), national governments ($30 million), philanthropic foundations ($16 million), international organizations ($6 million), the private sector ($2 million), and universities ($1 million). For more information see Audited financial statements 2012  and Financial support from donors.