ECPGR Inter-regional Cooperation Network Task Force
Terms of Reference
Background
With the purpose to meet the recommendations from the Braunschweig Symposium 1998 regarding collaboration with other regions, the ECPGR Steering Committee, during its seventh meeting in 1998, recommended that a Task Force initiate activities within the framework of the Technical Cooperation Network (proposed change to Inter-regional Cooperation Network), for Phase VI.
Purpose of the Task Force
The ECPGR Inter-regional Cooperation Network Task Force (TF) will aim to:
- bring together the different European partners involved in international cooperation;
- identify priorities for inter-regional cooperation involving European partners;
- enhance joint fund-raising efforts;
- enhance collaboration between European partners involved in development cooperation.
Members of the Task Force
The members of the ECPGR Inter-regional Cooperation Network Task Force are suggested by the ECPGR National Coordinators in consultation with the ECPGR Secretariat. It is understood that the structure is flexible. The present Task Force is made of the following members:
- Mr Lambert Visser, Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen, The Netherlands, chair
- Ms Celia de la Cuadra, Centro de Recursos Fitogeneticos, CRF-INIA, Madrid, Spain
- Mr Ladislav Dotlacil, Genebank Department RICP, Ruzyne, Czech Republic
- Mr Fabrizio Grassi, Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura, Roma, Italy
- Mr Vladimir Meglic, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Mr Nikolaos Stavropoulos, Greek Gene Bank, Centre of Macedonia and Thraki, Thermi-Thessaloniki, Greece
- Ms Eva Thörn, Director, Nordic Gene Bank, Alnarp, Sweden
- Ms Beate Weiskopf, German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Eschborn, Germany
Mode of operation of the Task Force
The ECPGR Inter-regional Cooperation Network Task Force will be co-ordinated by a Chair selected by the Task Force Members. The implementation of the Network activities will be through participants designated by the Task Force. The Task Force members will:
- carry out the agreed workplan in consultation with the ECPGR Steering Committee and with their own resources as input in kind to the Network;
- continuously review progress, achievements and future work plans of the Network;
- ensure effective links with the ECPGR Crop and Thematic Networks;
- regularly exchange information between them;
- interact with other regional networks;
- meet for a second time in February 2001, to review progress of activities and adjust workplan.
Scope of the Network
The scope of the ECPGR Inter-regional Cooperation Network as defined by the Task Force will be mainly based on areas of activities identified during the Braunschweig Symposium such as:
- Information exchange
- Training/capacity building
- Research
- Emergency action in disaster situation
- Seed security
Activities of the Task Force
The ECPGR Inter-regional Cooperation Network Task Force will initiate the following activities:
- Set priorities for technical cooperation in consultation with other regions.
- Assist in finding sources of funding of proposed actions.
- Seek collaboration with other relevant initiatives.
- Submit proposals to the Secretariat for ad hoc activities of the Task Force.
- Liaise with the ECPGR Crop Networks and Working Groups.
- Establish and implement agreed workplan.
- Agree on sharing responsibility for individual tasks.
- Contribute to raising public awareness.
- Monitor progress made.
Criteria to be sued by the task Force for priority setting
The task Force will give priority to activities mainly according to Regions and Crops, and specifically considering:
- Networks established, operational and effective;
- crop specific knowledge;
- contacts already established;
- mutual benefits and interest between the partners.