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In this issue...
News
Highlights of the Statutory Meetings at Marrakech
High Level Consultation on Biodiversity and MDGs
FARA: Inclusive Research Partnership
IFAP Research Committee
High Value Crops Workshop
ICM4ARD
DURAS Project Leaders' Workshop
The first Meeting of the YPARD
GFAR-DURAS Roundtable on CGS
Articles
GFAR Communications Strategy
The re-redesign of EGFAR
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Highlights
Highlights of the Marrakech Meetings
Approval of new GFAR Charter
The annual statutory meetings of GFAR were held in Marrakech from December 1st to 4th 2005, prior to the CGIAR AGM. The GFAR Steering Committee (SC) during its meeting on the 4th of December, gave its final approval to the new GFAR Charter. |
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The GFAR Statutory Meetings were held in Marrakech, Dec. 1st - 4th 2005 |
A review of the GFAR Charter was discussed and approved by the SC during its meeting in Nairobi in October 2003, and following some preliminary reviews carried out by a three-person team, the SC subsequently reviewed the Charter, and gave its final approval to the revised version during the Marrakech meeting. Some of the new provisions in the new Charter are:
a) Transformation of Advanced Research Institutes (ARIS) to Regional Forum. The ARIS from Europe and North America are classified in the new Charter as regional forum from Europe and North America. The term ARIS therefore no longer exists in the new Charter. The stakeholder constituents of GFAR now comprise the following categories: National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) through their Regional Fora, the European Regional forum, the North American Regional Forum, International Agricultural Research Centres, Non-Governmental Organizations, Farmer's organizations, the Private Sector, the Donors' Community, and the Facilitating Agencies.
b) Transformation of the NARs Sub-Committee to a Programme Committee. In the new Charter, the NARs Sub-Committee is now a Programme Committee with a new composition and functions that would allow it play a more programmatic role.
As for its composition, the Programme committee comprises: two representatives from each of the five southern RF and one representative from each of the northern fora. One of the representatives from the southern fora should be the Executive Secretary of the fora, and the other from a stakeholder group other than that of the Executive Secretary, with at least one from each of the non-research groups (NGO, Farmers' Organization and the private sector), for a total number of 12 members.
And as for its functions, the main one now is to oversee planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of agreed GFAR programs at global, regional and/or sub-regional level.
c) Specified tenure of office for Chairs and Vice-Chairs of committees. The chairs and vice-chairs of the SC and the PC will now serve for one three-year term only
d) Clarity in terms of the role of the SC in the appointment of the Executive Secretary and his term of office. With regards to the appointment, the text states: "The SC will select and propose a ranked shortlist of up to three candidates for the post of Executive Secretary of GFAR to FAO's Director General for appointment. The appointment will be made from this shortlist, unless a legal impediment intervenes, or the proposed appointment is not consistent with the provisions of FAO's Administrative manual. With regards to the term of office the text states: "The Executive Secretary will serve for an initial period of three years renewable in line with the host institution's rules and regulations, and based on an assessment and decision of the GFAR Steering Committee for up to a maximum of 9 years".
New Chair and Vice-Chair for GFAR
The Steering Committee finalized a process set in motion during the Entebbe Mid-year meeting, for the selection of a new chair and vice-chair of GFAR. The current incumbents are nearing the end of their terms of office. The SC approved the election of Dr Adel El-Beltagy as the new chair of GFAR to take effect from May 2006, and Mr. Jack Wilkinson as vice-chair of GFAR to take effect from December 2006.
The full text of the new Charter is available on line:
egfar.org../pdf/GFAR_charter_2005.pdf
O.S.
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