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General Assembly 2010 Concept Note

 

Ninth Ordinary General Assembly of CORAF/WECARD

Cotonou, Benin 28-29 May

 

Concept Note

Context

On 12 and 13 June 2008, at Hotel Mont Febe in Yaounde, the 8th General Assembly of CORAF/WECARD took place preceded by the holding of the institution’s first Science Week from 9-11 June.
These two events brought together representatives of National Agricultural Research Institutions, producers, NGOs, universities, Private Sector, Development Partners, as well as Scientific and Technical Partners.

At the end of this 8th General Assembly, 7 main Resolutions were adopted.

The first four resolutions related to the adoption of the Governing Board report, the adoption of activity reports, recording of Liberia’s request for membership and the adoption of statutes revised in order to adapt them to the 2007-2016 Strategic Plan and the 2008-2013 Operational Plan.
The renewal of the membership of the Governing Board was the topic for Resolution 5. The outgoing members -- Dr. Georgoire Bani of Congo, Mrs. Gisele d’Almeinda, representing the Private Sector and Prof. Owusu-Bennoah, former chairman of the Governing Board -- were replaced by new members.
Resolution 6 sanctioned the election of a new Governing Board Chairman, Dr. Simon Zok, Director General of IRAD, and a new Deputy Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Yusuf, executive secretary of the ARCN in Nigeria.
Finally, with Resolution 7, Benin was selected as the country to host the 9th General Assembly in 2010.
Objectives

The deliberations of the 9th GA will be the occasion to:

  1. Examine and adopt the report of the Governing Board;
  2. Examine and adopt the activity report of CORAF/WECARD;
  3. Adopt the statutory documents (revised Governance Manual, by-laws of the Governing Board…);
  4. Examine and adopt the budget for the next two years;
  5. Elect new members of the GB to replace those who have reached the end of their terms of office;
  6. Select the country to host the 10th GA in 2012;
  7. Examine any other matter relating to the life of CORAF/WECARD.

Expected results

The results expected from this GA are the following:

  1. The report of the GB is examined and approved;
  2. The activity report of CORAF/WECARD is examined and approved;
  3. The statutory documents are examined and adopted;
  4. The budget for the next two years is examined and approved;
  5. The members of the GB who have reached the end of their terms of office are replaced by new members;
  6. The country which should host the 10th GA in 2012 is known;
  7. Any other matter relating to the life of the Association is examined.

Organization of the GA

The General Assembly will be held during two days, that is, from 28 to 29 May 2010 in Cotonou.
The deliberations, in plenary to examine the reports and adopt the statutory documents, will be chaired by the CGB.
Working groups will also be constituted: the Development Partners group, the Scientific Partners group, the group of Heads of NARS, the Private Sector group, the NGO group and the Farmers Organization group.
The second day will be devoted to the plenary session of the General Assembly.

Impact and Beneficiaries

The sharing of the results of the major scientific, coordination and advocacy activities carried out by the Association since the last General Assembly in Yaounde with the entire membership of the General Assembly will help the members to appropriate the major gains and new orientations.
The new challenges in Agricultural Research and Development in West and Central Africa, with the view to ensuring a successful implementation of the Strategic Plan (2007-2016) and the Operational Plan (2008-2013), will also be shared.

Venue and date

The sessions of the GA will be held in Cotonou, Benin from 28-29 May 2010.

Participants

Participating in the GA will be representatives of National Agricultural Research Institutions, Producers, NGOs, Universities, Private Sector, Development Partners, as well as Scientific and Technical partners, members of the GB and members of the STC.