IRRI
IRRI
IRRI
The BOT has 15 members who are world leaders in their respective disciplines; and, as a group, sets IRRI policy. Three of the members ex officio: the Philippine secretary of agriculture, the president of the University of the Philippines system, and the IRRI director general. The BOT meets twice a year to review IRRIs research priorities and its allocation of resources and to set the Institutes scientific directions, policies, and strategies.
Internal Audit
Internal Audit provides advice to CGIAR Centers on their operations, including governance, research operations, management of physical infrastructure, finance
and administration, and technology and outreach activities. Through its counterpart in the CGIAR, IA also provides systemwide services to support the enhancement of risk management and control activities uniformly across the system.
Director General
Robert Zeigler The director general is appointed by the IRRI BOT and acts as the chief executive officer of the Institute. He/she directly manages and administers the affairs of the Institute according to policies and decisions of the BOT and/or the Executive Committee. He/she is an ex officio member of the BOT and of all its standing committees, except the Audit Committee. He/she has no voting rights. As approved by the Board at its 19 September 2008 meeting, the appointment of the DG will normally be for 5 years, renewable for another 5 years or whatever period the BOT may deem appropriate. The DGs performance is reviewed annually by the Board.
GRiSP Theme 1
GRiSP Theme 1: Harnessing genetic diversity to chart new productivity, quality, and health horizons Theme leader: Hei Leung Key units: Genetic Resources Center (N. Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton) and the C4 Rice Center (Paul Quick) For a summary about IRRI's related research, see Genetic diversity.
GRiSP Theme 2
GRiSP Theme 2: Accelerating the development, delivery, and adoption of improved rice varieties Key unit: Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology (Darshan Brar)
GRiSP Theme 3
GRiSP Theme 3: Ecological and sustainable management of rice-based production systems Key unit: Crop and Environmental Sciences Division (Bas Bouman)
agricultural engineering, weed science, agro-climatology, entomology, nematology, rodent research, and ecological pest management.
GRiSP Theme 4
GRiSP Theme 4: Extracting more value from rice harvests through improved quality, processing, market systems, and new products Key unit: Grain Quality and Nutrition Center (Melissa Fitzgerald)
GRiSP Theme 5
GRiSP Theme 5: Technology evaluations, targeting, and policy options for enhanced impact Key unit: Social Sciences Division (Sam Mohanty)
analysis, ex ante and ex post impact assessment, and participatory varietal selection).
GRiSP Theme 6
GRiSP Theme 6: Supporting the growth of the global rice sector Key unit: Training Center (Noel Magor)
Training Center
Noel Magor, head Training Center works with researchers and extension agents to facilitate the development of human resources.
Experiment Station
Leigh Vial, head ES (also known as "the Farm") provides vital research support services to IRRIs scientists. It provides professional farm management services and furnishes particular field conditions and facilities as needed by scientists.
External Relations
Corinta Guerta, head ER handles the director general's external appointments and travel schedule and coordinates the functions of the DRPC, NPR, and PR and harmonizes workflows and communication among these groups.
Development Office
Duncan Macintosh, head DO aims to draw in gifts, grants, and contributions from more non-traditional sources (e.g., philanthropists) for IRRI.
Its main activities revolve around increasing IRRIs philanthropic base and developing new fund-raising opportunities with a special focus on Asia and IRRIs 50th anniversary in 2010.
Public Relations
Sophie Clayton, manager PR provides communication leadership within IRRI, including building a network of IRRI communication professionals; develop and help implement IRRI's communication strategy and IRRI-wide communication initiatives; manage media relations; support branding development and issues management; participate in the development of IRRI's Web site; and advance IRRI's social media.
DMS administers IRRIs human resources, information technology, finance, materials and procurement, food and housing, transport, physical plant, travel, and international school relations units.
Comptroller
Sunil Jhunjhunwala, head Financial Operations Elisa Panes, head FO provides high-level stewardship of the Institutes liquid assets, investments, property, and assets, and performs a range of financial services for the Institute. It ensures that Institute property and equipment, donor-funded project assets, and ongoing capital projects, including inventories, are properly monitored, accounted for, and safeguarded from loss.
The IRRI Makati Office handles the Institutes transactions in Metro Manila. This includes providing a venue for receiving guests and handling transactions with banks, suppliers, and government agencies.
Transport Services
Manuel Vergara, head Transport Services manages official transportion needs of the Institute, including a fleet of over 330 motor vehicles of all types, as well as a comprehensive program for vehicle registration, drivers training and licensing, and motor vehicle safety.
Travel Services
Since 1999, HRG Marsman has been the official travel management company of IRRI, offering these services: international/domestic tickets, international/domestic tour packages, international/domestic group tour packages, international/domestic hotel reservations, assistance in processing of new passports or renewal of passports, and visa assistance.
Biosafety
N. Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton, head The Institutional Biosafety Committee is responsible for ensuring compliance with local and international guidelines in the conduct of genetic engineering experiments. It is composed of scientist members (2 from IRRI and 2 from UPLB) and community representatives (2 from the Los Baos community and 1 from the Bay community) and is tasked to review research proposals to determine compliance with the environmental and safety issues associated with the Institutes science and workplace based on the Biosafety Guidelines approved by the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP). It recommends actions/proposals to the NCBP based on its review.
Legal Services
Ildefonso Jimenez, head Legal Services engages in legal counseling, handles cases in consultation with IRRIs external counsel, conducts administrative hearings and investigations, and prepares and reviews contracts, including appointment letters, MOAs, and MOUs with collaborating governments and research institutions. It also handles
communications on legal matters and maintains liaison with the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, and the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, among others.
document delivery (free to developing countries), database management, bindery, audiovisual learning center, and training of librarians from other institutions. LDS serves as a public library to the local community as anybody can use its resources and services for free.
ABOUT IRRI
IRRI, or the International Rice Research Institute, is a nonprofit independent research and training organization. IRRI is part of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture (CGIAR). IRRI develops new rice varieties and rice crop management techniques that help rice farmers improve the yield and quality of their rice in an environmentally sustainable way. We work with our public and private sector partners in national agricultural research and extension systems in major rice-growing countries to do research, training, and knowledge transfer. Our social and economic research also informs governments to help them formulate policy to improve the equitable supply of rice.
Our mission
To reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure environmental sustainability through collaborative research, partnerships, and the strengthening of national agricultural research and extension systems.
Our goals
Reduce poverty through improved and diversified rice-based systems. Ensure that rice production is sustainable and stable, has minimal negative environmental impact, and can cope with climate change. Improve the nutrition and health of poor rice consumers and rice farmers. Provide equitable access to information and knowledge on rice and help develop the next generation of rice scientists.
Provide rice scientists and producers with the genetic information and material they need to develop improved technologies and enhance rice production. IRRI's goals contribute to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and ensure environmental sustainability. They are also aligned with the objectives of the Global Rice Science Partnershipthat help deliver internationally coordinated research effectively and efficiently with our partners.
Objective:
To provide high level stewardship of the Institutes liquid assets, management of payroll, accounts receivable, disbursements, property and assets and Insurance by continuously pursuing effective and efficient informative communication and reporting in accordance with the policy and procedure of the Institute.
Functions:
Banking and Investments To manage, coordinate and monitor all bank accounts of IRRI headquarters and outreach offices.
Responsibilities: maintained by the Institute and communicate with all banks for any bank statement discrepancies. Generate cash position report based on the bank statements, check disbursement ledger and daily deposit reports to be used in monitoring availability of funds for check disbursement and investment decisions. Submit documents and coordinate with the banks regarding the opening of bank accounts for IRRI Headquarter and Outreach stations. Monitor and prepare reports, schedules and communication on existing Institutes investments being maintained in different banks. Prepare proposals for investment renewal as well as analysis prior to investments termination. Prepares term sheet for all Medium Term and Long Term Investment proposals from different investment banks. Review the accuracy of all details of investments and analyze the rate of investment submitted by the bank against the letter/fax instructions of investments signed by the Director for Finance. Generate translator table on US dollar and other foreign currency and encode the foreign exchange rate at the Epicor system to be used for financial statement purposes. Prepare daily exchange rate to be used by the money exchange cashier. Monitor daily balances of Institutes bank accounts and prepare the necessary transfer of funds from one bank to another. Prepares quarterly reports of balances of all the Institutes bank accounts and investments for submission to the Board of Trustees. Prepares Quarterly Cash Flow report for submission to the Board of Trustees. Prepares acknowledgement letters to donors for funds received. Cashiering To provide an in-house banking facility to service the cash requirements of the Institute.
Analyze and verify daily, weekly and monthly bank statements of local and foreign banks being
Responsibilities:
Disburse funds to Institutes clients with strict adherence to prescribed policies and procedures.
Receive collections and remittances from staff, donor and other clients. Provide money exchange service for foreign currency conversion and check accommodation for major currencies. Deposit collections and remittances to IRRI banks. Deposit checks of staff, consultants, scholars and post doctoral fellows to respective bank accounts. Coordinate cash withdrawal and check encashment with the banks. Encode and analyze cash transaction. Generate daily cash position report. Release checks to staff and other clients with specific instructions. Monitor and generate report of stock inventory of all accountable forms, Coordinate payments of IRRI utilities with the banks and government institutions. Accounts Receivable
To manage, monitor, and control accounts receivable-related transactions of IRRI staff, collaborating centers, and other international organizations and institutions in accordance with Institute policies and procedures and generally accepted accounting principles.
Responsibilities:
Ensuring strict adherence to Institutes policies and procedures for travel and receivables
Monitoring and control of employee advances and following up on liquidation matters to ensure efficient and prompt settlement of accounts Management, monitoring, and control of transactions affecting employees personal accounts Ensuring that receivables from collaborating centers and other Institute debtors are properly controlled and in compliance with memoranda of understanding and Institute policies and guidelines Prompt and accurate processing of reimbursements Maintenance and updating of accounts receivable programs Preparation and analysis of financial statements of collaborating centers and other international organizations and institutions Reviewing and monitoring benefits of IRS to ensure strict adherence to IRS personnel policies and procedures Checking and analysis of accountabilities of resigned/terminated staff Disbursements To achieve full compliance with Institute policies and procedures covering purchasing and disbursement.
Responsibilities:
Ensuring that foreign and local supplier invoices, requests for payment, advances, and other related disbursements
are properly processed without delay and properly monitored and controlled in accordance with Institute policies and guidelines Submission of timely and accurate analysis of accounts payable general ledger accounts Proper coordination with Purchasing, Warehouse, and Systems offices as well as with concerned units and end users on all matters affecting payables Prompt attendance to all issues of suppliers and other parties related to Accounts Payable transactions Ensuring completeness of records, agreements, and contracts affecting Institute debtors and suppliers Verifies and checks as to its correctness all supporting documents attached to the Accounts Payable Vouchers such as invoices, request for payment and the appropriate approval of all signatories before preparing the necessary documents for payment. Generate automated checks through the e by Epicor A/P module and transmit them using our on-line banking facilities as follows: Citidirect On-line Banking (previously known as Citibanking)v Citibank prepares and issues the peso checks to our manila-based suppliers. Equitable PCI Fastwritev EPCI prepares and issues the peso checks to our Laguna-based suppliers. Bank of America Host to Hostvo This is used for our dollar disbursements only. Prepare manual checks and the corresponding bank advice as required. Submit these documents to the authorized signatories for signing. Prepare telegraphic/wire transfer and demand draft payments through our Citidirect Online Banking Facility. Prepare or generate Letter of Authority (LOA) for the automated checks, wire transfers and demand draft per on-line banking facilities used. Submit the LOA to the authorized signatories for signing. Payroll Process and prepare monthly payroll of all NRS, ensure accurate encoding of all employee timesheets, maintenance and updating of all permanent loans such as; ECCI, Fund A, SSS loans. This also include prompt submission of payroll reports/payslip to the bank for payment to staff. Coordinate and fund IRS payroll through AIARC. Review calculations of pay, insurance, pension and charges imposed. Calculate the unused leaves of resigning IRS.
Responsibilities: NRS
Responsible for payroll maintenance of all expense accounts with close coordination with Budget office
for identification of proper charging and ensure prompt recording of adjustments. Determine and encode all the necessary deductions/allowances before any payroll processing and check accuracy of data. Responsible for daily back up of payroll system and ensure file recovery in case of job termination.
Prepare request for payment for payroll fund and all related remittances to third parties such as Pagibig, SSS, Philhealth, Pension Fund, etc. Ensure that all outside reports to government and other agencies are met on due time. Answer queries on SSS matters, Fund A loans, backwages/salary adjustments and other payroll related matter. Coordinate with other staff on the preparation of schedules of all payroll liability accounts and analyze/reconcile all accounted differences. Assist the Payroll-Disbursement supervisor during month-end and year-end closing activities. IRS/IRF/PDF 1. Calculate the payroll, insurance, pension and AIARC charges for booking purposes. 2. Check AIARCs payroll journal and monthly report and reconcile with IRRIs books 3. Prepare the unused leaves of the departing IRS 4. Calculate and update the commitments pertaining to IRS benefits, such as unused leaves and repatriation benefits 5. Prepare the employer-provided benefits needed by the Internal Revenue Service of the US. 6. Issue the annual gross earnings of Filipino IRS Property and Assets To ensure that Institute property and equipment, donor-funded project assets, ongoing capital projects, and inventories are properly monitored and accounted for and safeguarded from losses.
Responsibilities:
Monitoring receipts and subsequent movements of property and equipment to ensure that all assets are properly
recorded, documented, and fully accounted for Assuring completeness of data related to capital assets through maintenance of the asset management module Monitoring warehouse stock movements and capital projects of the Institute Maintaining Finance files and ensuring that accounting records are properly stored and managed. Insurance
To ensure that the Institute is fully covered against risks. The unit is also responsible for monitoring the status of insurance claims. Following are the types of insurance coverage maintained by IRRI:
A) Non-Life Insurance 1. Property All-Risk Insurance The insurance coverage of all IRRI properties including buildings, equipments, machineries, etc. located in both the Institutes research center and staff housing facilities. 2. Motor Vehicle Insurance This includes Compulsory and Extended Third Party Liability, Comprehensive, and Automobile Personal coverage of all IRRI vehicles. 3. Comprehensive General Liability B) Life Insurance 1. Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance This includes coverage for all NRS based at IRRI Headquarters and Outreach Offices 2. Group Life Travel and Personal Accident Insurance This covers all IRRI NRS traveling outside the country on official IRRI business 3. Personal Accident Insurance for IRRI Scholars 4. Personal Accident, and Medical Reimbursement Hospitalization Insurance for IRRI Consultants and Visiting Research Fellows
C) Medical Insurance The medical insurance coverage for 1) NRS and dependents and 2) Scholars are currently under Third Party Administration (TPA). Under this set-up a fund was set up to serve as source for paying medical utilizations of covered members. This fund is carefully monitored by the unit to make certain that it does not go below the required level so as not to affect the availment of this type of coverage. The monitoring function includes checking all medical insurance billings and supporting documents, i.e, LOAs, charge slips and SOAs.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND REPORTING UNIT Objectives To plan, develop, and carefully administer funding according to the requirements of the Institute as established in the mediumterm plan (MTP), memoranda of agreement, memorandum of understanding, and donor-approved project proposals. To ensure that financial statements, schedules, and reports adhere to Institute policies, CGIAR guidelines, and generally accepted accounting principles. To provide financial information to donors, budget holders, IRRI management, and all other users in a timely and accurate manner. FPR - PLANNING Responsibilities Management of the preparation of the budget for the Institute's MTP and annual funding requests to CGIAR Preparation of Institute budget and providing management with information and materials for review and approval of the Board of Trustees Assistance in the preparation of budget proposals for restricted projects and challenge programs and ensuring that adequate overhead and other costs are fully recovered Budgetary control of personnel services (IRS, international research fellows, postdoctoral scientists, and NRS), monitoring cost allocations of the same, and ensuring that staff time and costs are properly financed Monitoring of budget spending and major currency movements, and undertaking regular variance analysis Maintenance of monthly funding projection based on actual collections and current exchange rates Coordination with Director for Program Planning and Coordination (DPPC) on budget proposals and project extensions Coordination with administration and human resources unit on staff issues Preparation of U.S. annual income tax return of the Institute Distribution of monthly/quarterly summary of general operating costs with analysis on over/underexpenditures and pace of spending Assigning cost center codes in accordance with the coding structure and medium-term plan Maintenance of current estimates that reflect budget realignment required and savings from prior period (for ongoing restricted projects) and new projects Updating historical files of funding, by donor, from inception to current year FPR REPORTING Responsibilities The Reporting Section (RS) is the overall financial coordinator of Institute programs. RS oversees monitoring, accounting, and reporting on financial aspect of projects in compliance with signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) and in accordance with Institute standards. This main function can be further subdivided into two: o Project/budget management Ensures that all expenses are in accordance with MOU and IRRI policies and procedures o Reporting to donors and other internal users Ensures accurate and timely preparation of financial reports Maintenance of a complete record of all pertinent documents of each project in coordination with the Institutes Financial Planning Section and various project leaders to ensure that financial implementation adheres to project agreement and applicable IRRI policies Coordination with donors, collaborators, project leaders, and scientists to clarify financial issues, and give updates on the financial status of projects Review and verification of expenditures of projects (restricted and unrestricted), divisions, centers, and units to ensure adherence to budgetary requirements Proper recording of all legitimate transactions and timely submission of financial reports Comprehensive clearing, review, and verification of the following items to check fund availability and proper account charging of expenses: o Purchase requisitions o Request and authorization for official travel o Request for personnel, professional services, postdoctoral fellows, scholars, and emergency employees, and their extension o Fund transfers Monthly analysis and reconciliation of book and bank balances to account for all project transactions Maintenance of a subsidiary ledger and/or a detailed schedule of selected balance sheets and income statement accounts Checking the completeness of country office expenses and validation of account codes to ensure accuracy of financial reports booking Prompt analysis and reconciliation of country-office accounts Accurate and timely preparation of payroll, allowances, and other entitlements of Board of Trustees, postdoctoral fellows, scholars, trainees, and workshop/meeting participants Assistance in the Institutes annual physical inventory count Preparation of billing/invoices for donors and sponsors Performance of all other related duties that may be assigned from time to time by the supervisor, assistant manager, and manager