The Steering Committee

The structure of the Committee

The Forum’s Steering Committee represents the seven categories of stakeholders:

• 6 seats for Regional Fora (RF) bringing together National AR4D systems of each region.
• 1 seat for international agricultural research centres (IARCs)
• 1 seat for NGOs
• 1 seat for Farmers’ Organizations
• 1 seat for the Private Sector
• 1 seat for the Donor Support Group
• 2 seats for the facilitating agencies (FAO and IFAD).

Most members of the committee can serve for 3 years, though this period can be extended for another 3 years (maximum) in order to coincide with the GFAR General Meeting. The exception to this rule are the southern regional fora chairs, who serve on the committee as long as they hold the position of regional fora chair.

The Committee’s functions
The Committee reviews and approves the Global Forum’s general policy and strategy. Their aim to ensure that both the Global Forum’s policy and strategy are consistent with its mission and objectives, as well as with the recommendations made at the Forum’s General Meeting. The main duties of the Committee include the following:

• To approve the Global Forum’s rules and regulations.
• To elect the Global Forum’s Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
• To select a ranked shortlist of up to three candidates for the post of Executive Secretary of the Forum which is then presented to the FAO’s Director General for appointment according to set procedures to ensure fair play.
• To ensure that the Forum’s Secretariat is staffed with highly competent persons who can contribute to the Forum’s objectives.
• To discuss and approve the GFAR Business Plan and the Secretariat’s Program of Work.
• To approve the Global Forum’s annual budget as well as its three-year budget forecast – both of which are prepared by the GFAR Secretariat.
• To approve the annual Technical Reports and the annual Financial Reports presented by the GFAR Secretariat, making sure that the funds provided by the donors are being used judiciously.
• To facilitate the flow of information and the exchange of experiences among stakeholders of agricultural research.
• To discuss and endorse the various initiatives that stakeholders want to carry out when strengthening their own constituencies or when carrying out joint activities amongst themselves.
• To promote those activities or initiatives it considers to be appropriate ways of achieving the objectives of the Global Forum.
• To organize the Global Forum General Meeting every three years, or according to the date determined by the Forum.
• To commission an external evaluation every five years to assess the progress being made in the direction of the objectives and goals of GFAR.
• To establish any sub-committees or working groups deemed necessary to accomplish its mandate in an efficient and effective manner.
• To take any other decision that the GFAR-Steering Committee members feel necessary in the overall interest of GFAR.
• To assess at least once every two years the performance of the Executive Secretary. This will be done with inputs from the Management Team.