Colleagues,

Many staff ask me, from time to time, about the ongoing Compensation and Benefits exercise at ILRI. So, it occurred to me that I should put this in the wider context of change management at ILRI, and offer some questions and answers about intended purpose and process, and the outcome.

While we remain focused on the implementation of the ILRI strategy, the environment in which we operate is becoming more competitive and donor requirements more stringent, requiring changes in the way the institution manages its research and related activities, governance, and operations.

Continuing on the road to make ILRI ‘the’ world leader in livestock research for development, we are moving towards a more business orientated approach, putting more emphasis on research product lines, clarity of purpose in all of our initiatives, high performance and talent management with emphasis on effective leadership at all levels of the organization. The continuous development of competence in livestock research and related areas, as well as internal service delivery are also key components of ILRI’s future success.

Talent management is a particularly important factor as it is the people who differentiate between a good and a great organization. Towards this end, ILRI strives to transform the approach to managing people by putting appropriate processes and systems in place.

I would wish to emphasize the importance of:

• Integrity, and upholding good governance with appropriate policies, guidelines and processes
• Cultivating a conducive, safe and progressive organizational culture where all staff feel motivated to give their best
• Engaging in the continuous development of staff within a well-articulated framework of identified competencies critical to the success of the institution.

Towards this end, the Compensation and Benefits project was embarked upon to provide a more modern and comprehensive approach to ILRI’s reward systems. A logical framework of ILRI jobs, a coherent grading system, the articulation of critical ILRI competencies and the effective use of market information are among the key outcomes of this project, which will inform our continued journey of transformation.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) herein will address inquiries that you may have about the Compensation and Benefits redesign exercise. Additional FAQs may be added in the future based on feedback received, and as the project progresses. Please feel free to contact the People and Organizational Directorate team should you require further clarification.

FAQs – compensation and benefits project (003)

Best wishes,

Jimmy Smith| Director General