Governance

ASB Governance

The Global Steering Group (GSG) is a policy and decision-making body whose primary role is to provide overall governance and guidance to ASB. The GSG operates as a consultative group in determining priorities for the consortium.

Composition

North-South balance in the GSG is an important asset for ASB. It helps integrate across disciplines and interests, especially the top-down aspects of global environmental concerns and the bottom-up nature of rural development.

The GSG is made of institutions that support the objectives of ASB and accept the operating principles , including international centers, national agricultural research systems (NARS), non-governmental organizations and advanced research institutes (ARIs).

The ASB Global Steering Group and scientists from the partnerhip, at the 2008 governance meeting in Poznan, Poland.

Standing (L-R) Sonya Dewi (ICRAF), Gerald Nelson (IFPRI), Meine van Noordwijk (ICRAF), Brent Swallow (ASB-GCO), Jim Gockowski (IITA), Doug White (CIAT), Peter Akong Minang (ASB GCO), Robin Matthews (MLURI), Cesar Sabogal (AI), Martin Tchienkoua (IRAD), Miguel Barandiaran (INIA).

Squatting (L-R): Dennis Garrity (ICRAF), Fahmuddin Agus (AARC/CRIFC), Eleanor Milne (MLURI).

Currently, the institutions represented on the GSG are:

National institutions:

International institutions :

Membership

GSG membership remains flexible with pragmatic criteria based on the following guidelines:

Strong interest, active participation and a demonstration of sustainable involvement in the consortium;
Implementation of ASB activities at the national and regional levels;
Contribution to thematic activities; and
Ability to contribute to core funding in different dimensions.

Representation on the GSG is based on institutions and not on individuals. That being the case, all national and regional facilitators have a seat on the GSG.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the ASB GSG include:

Approval of the annual Programme of Work and Budget presented by the ASB Coordinator.
Allocation of restricted and unrestricted funds.
Appointing the ASB Global Coordinator.

The Chair

The Chair of the GSG facilitates the governance of ASB. Since 2003, the Chair is elected on a 2 year basis, on rotation among the CGIAR institutions in the GSG. Currently, ICRAF is serving a 2-year term as Chair of GSG in 2008-2009. CIFOR served two terms as chair from 2003-2005 and 2006-2007.

Meetings

The Chair convenes the GSG meetings on a regular basis and presides at these meetings. The GSG seeks decisions through consensus-building.

Whenever possible, in conjunction with a regular GSG meeting, time will be allocated to discussion of ASB science to facilitate integration and synergies across partners, places and scales of operation.

Networking: GSG meetings allow for exchange between scientists working at the different sites and globally. Site visits are normally part of these them, they often lead to breakthroughs in ASB partners' own work and help to build professional respect, trust and friendships with one another.
Evolution: GSG meetings have evolved in function: from specific project-based discussions in early years, to scientific sharing across regions, and planning global synthesis efforts under the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
Observers: ASB convenes an external advisory group to provide feedback about ASB's work programme and strategic direction. External voices add a much-valued outside perspective on ASB's findings, pathways for impact and relevance within the broader scientific community.