Secretariat

The Secretariat’s role is to coordinate and implement the initiative’s day-to-day activities, ensure the implementation of the GA and SC decisions, and ensure the smooth operations and procedures of all PREZODE Committees and Working Groups. An Executive Committee formed by the three founding institutes of PREZODE (CIRAD, INRAE, IRD) provides assistance and in-kind support to the Secretariat.

The Secretariat benefits greatly from the support of designated regional and scientific focal points. These focal points play a crucial role in facilitating communication, coordination, and the sharing of knowledge. They act as key liaisons, ensuring that regional perspectives and scientific expertise are effectively incorporated into the Secretariat’s activities.

Aims and Activities:

• Support the SC and the GA for the organisation of meetings and reports;
• Prepare draft proposals that the SC would discuss, validate, and submit to the GA;
• Organize elections for GA and SC;
• Support the additional working groups, or operational committees, on specific topics created by the SC;
• Ensure the availability of tools to facilitate coordination, collaboration and communication between members;
• Prepare communication materials to foster exchange with external stakeholders, or potential partners;
• Support the review and evaluation of the activities performed;
• Report each year on its activities and on budget-related issues;
• Deal with all issues relating to personal data protection in pursuance of applicable rules.

To conduct its activities with efficiency, do the follow-up of the activities and the reporting and to operationalize activities, the Secretariat sits in the Steering Committee as an observer.

Composition

The Secretariat is composed of project managers and administrative staff led by the General Secretary.

The Secretariat’s human, financial, and material resources shall be provided on a voluntary basis by PREZODE members. A call will be launched among members to support the Secretariat. Members agreeing to do so will enter into a specific Consortium Agreement.

As a provisional measure, the meetings of the Secretariat shall be convened by the preparatory committee established before the creation of the Secretariat. The definitive hosting arrangement for the Secretariat shall be approved subsequently by the members of the GA. 

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