It is recalled that the main function of the ITPS* is to provide scientific and technical advice and guidance to the GSP on global soil issues primarily and to specific requests submitted by global or regional institutions.

The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) is composed of twenty-seven recognized experts ensuring proper regional coverage, superior scientific expertise (covering the range of scientific and practical expertise encompassed by the GSP) and gender balance. The ITPS has the following regional distribution of experts:

• five from Africa
• five from Asia
• five from Europe
• five from Latin America and the Caribbean
• three from Near East
• two from North America
• two from South West Pacific.

Members of the ITPS should act in their personal capacity and provide neutral expert advice on matters relating to their recognized field of expertise to the GSP and GSP Partners. Potential member candidates will be assessed against the following qualifications:  

• a recognized academic profile  (postgraduate level);
• demonstrated experience at international level in  different soil-related activities, ranging from research to  development;
• a  record of  sound publications subjected to peer reviews;
• a position that would not preclude  the provision of  advice independently from their employment status and nationality.

Nominations should be sent by GSP Partners to [email protected] on or before 20 May 2015. They should include the name of the candidate, contact address, the candidate’s CV with a list of peer-reviewed publications and other relevant publications, and a letter of recommendation from the nominating partner.

The GSP Secretariat will screen and consolidate a final short list of candidates on the basis of the above criteria and will submit it to FAO Members by 30 May 2015. They will then select them according to their procedures and regional distribution, and will submit the list of selected regional experts by 15 June 2015 to the GSP Secretariat.

Once selected, the experts will be appointed by the Plenary Assembly  to serve for a two-year term as members of the ITPS.

* See Rule VI of the agreed Rules of Procedure of the GSP

The 27 experts endorsed by the first Plenary Assembly and composing the first Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (2013-2015).