MARLO (Managing Agricultural Research for Learning and Outcomes) is a web-based research management platform built for CGIAR research programs. It replaces fragmented spreadsheets and email chains with a single, phase-aware system of record covering annual planning, progress monitoring, deliverables, innovations, outcome impact case reports, and quality assurance — all in one place. Originally deployed for CCAFS (2017+) and now actively powering AICCRA across multiple African countries, MARLO has supported 11 clusters, 1,440+ knowledge products, 95%+ open-access compliance, and 92%+ quality ratings.Documentation Index
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Quick Start
Get oriented with MARLO and complete your first planning cycle
Platform Architecture
Understand how MARLO is structured and how data flows through phases
Core Workflows
Walk through annual planning, monitoring, reporting, and QA
Research Outputs
Manage deliverables, innovations, OICRs, and impact pathways
Analytics & AI
Explore Power BI dashboards and AI-powered reporting tools
API Reference
Integrate with MARLO’s REST API for external tools and BI pipelines
Why MARLO
Large research programs like AICCRA and CCAFS span many countries, partner institutions, clusters, and donors. Without a shared platform, teams default to siloed spreadsheets and inconsistent reporting. MARLO solves this by providing:- A single system of record — all planning, progress, and reporting data lives in one phase-aware database
- Embedded quality assurance — reviewers provide structured feedback inline, not in separate tools
- Audit-safe history — past phases are immutable; data only replicates forward
- Multi-program flexibility — run multiple CRPs, Platforms, or Centers on one instance with separate roles and configurations
- Analytics-ready exports — operational data flows automatically into Power BI via Microsoft Fabric
Platform lifecycle
MARLO organizes work around annual phases. Each phase represents a distinct moment in the research cycle:| Phase | Purpose |
|---|---|
| POWB (Plan of Work and Budget) | Annual planning per cluster |
| UpKeep | Mid-year progress tracking |
| Annual Report (AR) | End-of-year narrative + indicator reporting |
Key capabilities
Annual Work Plan & Budget
Plan cluster activities, budgets, and expected deliverables for the year
Deliverables Management
Track full lifecycle with Open Access and FAIR compliance enforcement
Innovation Tracking
Register innovations with Scaling Readiness scores (0–9) and typology
OICR Documentation
Structured outcome impact case reports with maturity classification
Quality Assurance
Structured reviewer feedback with field-level comments and validation states
Multi-tenant Admin
Onboard new programs with independent roles, phases, and configurations
Support
- Email: Marlosupport@cgiar.org
- Maintainer: IBD Team — Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- GitHub: CCAFS/MARLO
- License: GPL-3.0