Since 1998, IPTRID has the status of Special Programme of FAO, co-managed with partner organizations. It is Multi-donor Trust Fund. The governance structure of IPTRID is formed by: (i) the IPTRID Consultative Group (CG); (ii) the IPTRID Management Committee (MC); and (iii) the IPTRID Secretariat. In addition, but not as governance body per se, the ICIDIPTRID Advisory committee (AC) has been supporting the Programme since its inception (see Figure 1).
The CG is the highest decision-making body of IPTRID and is composed of a maximum of 22 members, including a chairperson, representatives of funding partners, members of the Network and invited developing countries. It is responsible for providing policy direction, strategy, fund raising and budget approval. Its members help to secure funding for the IPTRID core activities and particular initiatives. The CG Chair may invite observers and/or IPTRID Secretariat staff to attend. The CG will meet at least every 12 months and at shorter intervals if the MC considers this necessary. An extraordinary meeting of the CG can be convened by a majority request of CG members.
The MC is considered a subcommittee of the Consultative Group and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the work programme and advising the Programme Manager on technical and management actions. The MC Chair is the FAO representative appointed by the ADG of the Agriculture Department of FAO. The MC Chair will convene formal MC meetings at least twice a year or more frequently if deemed necessary by the CG Chair, the MC Chair or at the request of the Programme Manager. Issues dealt with come from the Programme Manager or from any of the MC members. The MC consists of the following members approved by the CG: one permanent member each from the host organization, the donors and ICID, four members selected from the Network other than ICID and two ex-officio: the Chairperson of the CG and the Programme Manager. The four members from the Network are nominated for two years.
The IPTRID Secretariat, headed by the Programme Manager, is responsible for implementing the Programme approved by the CG. This is done through a team of high-level experts of the Secretariat and drawing on IPTRID’s Network of knowledge institutions and resource centres. This network counts among its members a number of centres of excellence, of international, regional and national renown such as FAO, ICID, IWMI, HR-Wallingford (UK), Alterra- ILRI (The Netherlands), CEMAGREF (France), IAM-Bari (Italy), DGDR-MAPA (Spain), NWRC (Egypt), SIC-ICWC (Aral Sea Basin) and EIER-ETSHER (West Africa). The Secretariat proper consists of two units, namely:
The Programme Secretariat, located at FAO Headquarters, as a special programme
The Network Secretariat located at HR Wallingford, UK.
The Programme Manager is an FAO staff member, based at FAO Headquarters. Financial contributions from IPTRID donors are managed by FAO in accordance with the relevant provisions concerning technical assistance under Funds in Trust Arrangements.
The AC advises the CG, MC and the Secretariat on technical aspects of the IPTRID Programme and promotes collaboration between IPTRID and ICID national committees.
The relationship between IPTRID’s different governance bodies is summarized in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Relationship between IPTRID’s different governance bodies
