Adopted at the 7th IGM (on 22 March 2002)
Ammended at the 9th IGM (on 24 March 2004)
Amended at the 12th IGM (on 21 March 2007)
Revised: 1st August 2008
Framework of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research
Introduction
Changes in the Earth system are clearly impacting upon the societies and economies of the countries within the Asia-Pacific region, which supports more than half of the world's population. Recognising this, the APN was established in 1996 as an inter-governmental network in the Asia-Pacific region to foster global change research in the region, increase developing country participation in that research, and strengthen interactions between the science community and policy-makers.
The purpose of this document is to define the Framework and organisational arrangements and procedures of the APN. The Framework provides a vehicle for implementation of the Second Strategic Plan (2005-2010). The mission, vision and goals from the Strategic Plan are copied below.
1. Mission
The mission of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is to enable investigation of change in the Earth's life support systems as it occurs in the Asia-Pacific region to:
i. Identify, explain and predict changes in the context of both natural and anthropogenic forcing,
ii. Assess potential regional and global vulnerability of natural and human systems, and
iii. Contribute, from the science perspective, to the development of policy options for appropriate responses to global change that will also contribute to sustainable development.
2. Core strategies
The core strategies of the APN are to:
i. Encourage and promote research that has the potential, in addition to improving understanding of global change and its implications in the region, to contribute to the establishment of a sound scientific basis for policy-making with regard to issues for which global change is an important factor.
ii. Identify, in consultation with policy-makers and practitioners, present and future needs for such research.
3. Vision
Changes in the Earth system are clearly impacting the societies and economies of the countries within the Asia-Pacific region. These countries support more than half of the world's population. Recent research and supporting observations have provided new insights into some of these changes and their impacts, but have at the same time opened a number of new and challenging scientific issues.
The APN seeks to identify such emerging issues and to promote and encourage regional cooperative research to address these. In doing so, the APN assures that the results of this research contribute to development of a sound scientific basis for policy- and decision-making related to issues for which global change is an important factor.
The APN strives to enable developing countries of the region to participate increasingly in, and to benefit fully from, cooperative research in the region. Finally, recognising the interactive role of regional processes in the overall Earth system, the APN also seeks to link the research it sponsors with research conducted in other regions and under the aegis of global-scale programmes.
4. Goals
In order to achieve its mission, the APN has identified five goals. Each goal will be achieved as outlined below, particularly through APN-funded activities; these activities are selected from the Annual Regional Call for Proposals (ARCP) process, as well as the APN's capacity development programme, CAPaBLE.
Goal 1. Supporting regional cooperation in global change research on issues particularly relevant to the region
Goal 2. Strengthening appropriate interactions among scientists and policy-makers, and providing scientific input to policy decision-making and scientific knowledge to the public
Goal 3. Improving the scientific and technical capabilities of nations in the region
Goal 4. Cooperating with other global change networks and organisations
Goal 5. Facilitating the development of research infrastructure and the transfer of know-how and technology
5. Membership
i. Membership is open to all countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The current APN member countries are listed in Appendix 1.
ii. Each member country appoints:
a.
a national Focal Point; responsible for coordinating national activities and participating in the annual Inter-Governmental Meeting (IGM)
b.
a global change research expert, who acts as the scientific contact in the respective country and participates in the annual Scientific Planning Group (SPG) meeting
iii. Following an official governmental written request from a country in the region, this country may become a member subject to the approval of the IGM. A member country may withdraw from the membership of the APN at any time by submitting written notice to the Secretariat.
6. Organs
The Organs of the APN are:
i. the Inter-Governmental Meeting (IGM); a meeting wherein national Focal Points serve as the APN's general policy and decision-making body and approve the operational arrangements and activities for the year
ii. the Steering Committee (SC); acts on behalf of the IGM between the IGMs
iii. the Scientific Planning Group (SPG); reviews and recommends, to the IGM, scientific proposals for APN support and provides scientific advice to the IGM
iv. the Secretariat; maintains the daily operations of the APN and staffs the IGM, the Steering Committee and the SPG
The operations of the APN are subject to the Organisational Arrangements and Procedures formulated by the Inter-Governmental Meeting.
Organisational Arrangements and Procedures
A. The Inter-Governmental Meeting
1. Mandate
The Inter-Governmental Meeting (IGM), as the APN's general policy and decision-making body:
i. sets policy for the programmes, finances and other activities of the APN, etc.
ii. adopts rules and procedures for the APN
iii. oversees the development and production of the APN's annual operating plan
iv. reviews and approves the annual financial report and budget for the APN
v. reviews and approves projects and activities to be undertaken or supported by the APN, based on recommendations made by the Scientific Planning Group
vi. provides thematic guidance to the Scientific Planning Group, the Steering Committee and the Secretariat
vii. identifies, approves and keeps under review the implementation of long-term plans, including the APN's Strategic Plan
viii. carries out regular evaluations and reviews of the Strategic Plan
ix. performs other functions, as necessary, to achieve the mission and goals of the APN
2. Participation
i. National Focal Points, of each member country, may participate in the IGM and may be accompanied by their SPG Members.
ii. Pacific Island States may be invited to participate in IGM and SPG Meetings and other activities, as appropriate.
iii. Any non-APN member country that wishes to attend an IGM must indicate its interests to and receive an invitation from the Steering Committee, following consultation with national Focal Points.
iv. International global change organisations and national and international funding organisations engaged in supporting global change research may be invited by the Steering Committee to send observers to the IGM.
3. Meeting Procedures
i. The IGM convenes annually/biennially.
ii. The IGM elects a Chair, usually from the host country, and one Vice-Chair from among the member country delegates.
iii. The Chair facilitates all sessions of the IGM. He/She may delegate this role to the Vice-Chair, with the agreement of the IGM.
iv. The Chair (Vice-Chair) ensures orderly and timely conduct of the IGM and that issues are decided by consensus.
v. All participants may take part in discussions at the IGM; however only member country Focal Points may approve APN policies and programmes.
vi. The Secretariat maintains a record of the IGM and the Chair's Summary is adopted by the IGM.
B. The Steering Committee
1. Mandate
The Steering Committee (SC) as designated by the IGM:
i. acts on behalf of the IGM during the period between the IGMs, implementing IGM decisions, with assistance from the Secretariat
ii. facilitates administrative and management arrangements necessary to implement the programme of activities of the APN. This includes thorough consideration of the APN budget implications for project proposals that are found, by the SPG, to fit the APN research priorities so that it can make recommendations to the IGM;
iii. consults the national Focal Points regarding the potential attendance of observers as referred to in section A. 2 Participation - iii
In particular, the SC guides the Secretariat in:
iv. developing funding for the APN and its programmes and activities by encouraging member countries to contribute funds or in-kind support
v. exploring potential funding from other sources, e.g., international agencies and the private sector
vi. liaising with international global change agencies and seeking their support and involvement in APN activities.
2. Membership
i. The SC includes:
a. three Focal Points elected by the IGM, in addition to one Focal Point from the country to host the next IGM
b. the Focal Point from the country to host the next IGM has a one-year term on the SC while the other three Focal Points are elected for a two-year term
c. the two SPG Co-Chairs
d. if an SPG Co-Chair is also a Focal Point, then another Focal Point will be included
ii. The SC may co-opt experts as members to participate in SC activities for a term of one-year (renewable).
3. Procedures
i. The SC elects one of its Focal Points to act as its Chair.
ii. The Chair is responsible, with the assistance of the Secretariat, for managing SC activities.
C. The Scientific Planning Group
1. Mandate
The Scientific Planning Group (SPG):
i. reviews research proposals received by the APN, especially those in response to the APN annual calls for proposals, and on the basis of this review, recommends to the IGMs approval proposals for APN funding
ii. recommends themes to be included in the Science Agenda
iii. works with the Steering Committee and the Secretariat in arranging other scientific activities
iv. interacts on the APN's behalf with other international research programmes on global change
v. responds to scientific requests from the IGM or the Steering Committee
2. Membership
i. Each member country of the APN may appoint one member to the SPG.
ii. Members should be selected for their ability to contribute to development and implementation of APN scientific activities through:
a. relevant knowledge of high priority APN science issues;
b. participation in research or programmes directly related to APN activities;
c. capacity to initiate and strengthen science-policy links; and
d. availability to participate in the annual SPG meeting.
iii. A member country may appoint an alternate to participate in SPG activities, including meetings, when the regular SPG Member is unavoidably unavailable.
iv. International organisations (such as DIVERSITAS, IAI, IGBP, IHDP, START, WCRP, etc.) and research institutions, involved in global change research activities, may be invited to attend the SPG meeting as observers and to participate in SPG activities.
3. Meeting Procedures
i. The SPG convenes annually, in conjunction with the IGM.
ii. The SPG elects two Co-Chairs from among its members. The election is held at the end of the SPG meeting. It is usual for one Co-Chair to be elected from a developing member country and the other Co-Chair to be elected from a developed member country.
iii. The Co-Chairs are elected for a term of two years; the terms are offset to provide continuity. A Co-Chair whose term is ending remains in office until the end of the IGM.
iv. A Co-Chair may be re-elected at the expiry of his/her term.
v. A Co-Chair participates in all SPG relevant meetings, as agreed upon between the two Co-Chairs. If both are absent or otherwise unavailable, another SPG Member participates, at the request of the two Co-Chairs, or with the agreement of the SPG.
vi. The Co-Chairs are responsible, with assistance from the Secretariat, for the orderly and timely conduct of meetings. The Co-Chairs ensure that SPG issues are decided by consensus.
vii. The SPG agrees on the processes for the conduct of its activities, including meetings. Observers may participate in SPG discussions and activities.
viii. The SPG prepares and submits reports of its meetings and activities to the IGM.
4. The SPG Sub-Committee
i. convenes prior to the SPG meeting
ii. reviews and prioritises, with the cooperation of the Secretariat, ARCP proposals received for APN funding, for consideration by the SPG
iii. the SPG Sub-Committee Members are:
a. two SPG Co-Chairs (ex officio)
b. two other SPG Members, elected by the SPG at its meeting in the previous year
iv. the SPG Sub-Committee may invite additional representatives to attend its meeting as observers
5. The Capacity Development Committee （CDC）
i. convenes prior to the SPG meeting
ii. reviews and prioritises, with the cooperation of the Secretariat, CAPaBLE proposals received for APN funding, for consideration by the SPG
iii. the CDC members are:
a. Steering Committee Chair (ex officio)
b. two SPG Co-Chairs (ex officio)
c. one donor representative
iv. the CDC may co-opt up to three experts as members to participate in CDC activities for a term of one-year (renewable) among members with strong link to the International Organisations (such as DIVERSITAS, IAI, IGBP, IHDP, START, WCRP, etc.) and regional programmes that are involved in capacity development activities
v. the CDC may invite additional representatives to attend its meeting as observers.
D. The Secretariat
1. Mandate
i. The Secretariat is the principal administrative organ of the APN. The APN Secretariat address and contact details of the staff are listed in Appendix 2.
ii. Resources and support for the Secretariat are provided by the host country, including the Central and Local Governments. In addition, the host country provides the services of a senior expert in global change issues, seconded as the Director of the Secretariat.
iii. The Secretariat:
a. facilitates the day-to-day operations of the network;
b. provides secretarial support to the organs of the APN; and
c. implements IGM, SC and SPG decisions on behalf of these organs.
iv. The Secretariat operates under the administrative arrangement of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). For further information, refer to Appendix 3.
7. Financial Arrangements
i. The APN maintains a special funding/financial account within the IGES administration. The purpose of this account is to independently administer contributions pledged by member countries and other sources.
ii. The APN special account is subjected annually to external audit.
iii. As described in the Secretariat section, D.1.ii., resources and support for the Secretariat are provided by the host country; however this does not exclude other member countries from providing support to the Secretariat.
iv. Member countries are strongly encouraged to contribute to the budget on a regular and/or project basis.
v. In-kind support from governments and/or institutions of the member countries is also encouraged. This includes providing human resources, supporting workshops and meetings, particularly the IGM, SPG and SC meetings, and providing equipment.
vi. APN funds are administered in a transparent and cost-effective manner.
vii. The Secretariat manages the APN account and presents annual financial reports to the IGM.
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