Phase VII  

The Inter-regional Cooperation Network is overseen by a Network Coordinating Group (NCG), composed of members agreed by the Network and combining specific expertise and geographical representation. The NCG formulates proposals for the attention of the ECPGR Steering Committee (SC) on Network priorities and activities, following the planning and prioritizing mechanism established by the SC.
Member countries nominate representatives in the Inter-regional Cooperation Task Force. These people are considered as resource persons that can be mobilized for Network-related activities.

At the onset of Phase VII, the NCG proposed to focus efforts towards international cooperation on two areas of work:
documentation and information systems
policy implementation

The NCG has also proposed the following:

Coverage:
In addition to collaboration with the SSA networks, collaboration with CWANA networks, including the Central Asian and TransCaucasian Network, seems logical, given historical ties and ecological similarities (Mediterranean Basin).
Scope:
The following topics can be identified but need further discussion with other regional networks:
- collaboration on characterization and evaluation of genebank collections qualifying for inclusion in conservation strategies of the Global Crop Diversity Trust; more in particular, on crops of common interest the options for consortium development may be explored;
- capacity building in documentation and information expertise, and support for database development, in particular central databases (regional or crop-wise);
- further collaboration in policy implementation, in particular in the implementation of the International Treaty and the implementation of the concepts for Prior Informed Consent, Mutually Agreed Terms and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

A meeting of the NCG was held on 5 April 2005 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to develop more detailed plans for Phase VII.
For more information, please see the meeting minutes [here].

Contacts

Inter-regional Cooperation Task Force members