PREAMBLE

1. The Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) associated with agricultural research and innovation for development (ARD) in Central Asia and South Caucasus (CAC) Region:

• Aware of the problems and challenges facing the development of agriculture in the Region,
• Conscious of the responsibilities, which they must assume if they are to contribute to the process of agricultural, social and economic development in the Region,
• Convinced that the role and impact of the respective NGOs in the region can be enhanced through effective collaboration and consultation among themselves and with other actors in agricultural development especially those involved in agricultural research and innovation for development

have decided to establish a regional consortium of NGOs in the pursuit of their common objectives to contribute through collaboration and partnership to agricultural research and innovation and, in turn, contribute to agricultural development in the CAC Region.

ARTICLE I

NAME

2. The name of this consortium is " Consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations for Agricultural Research for Development in Central Asia and the Caucasus” (CNGO-CAC), hereinafter referred to as the Consortium.

ARTICLE II

SEAT

3. The Consortium has its seat and Secretariat in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

ARTICLE III

OBJECTIVES

4. The overall objective of the Consortium is to foster ARD in Central Asia and the Caucasus Region for the benefit of farmers and other stakeholders.

5. More specifically, the objectives of the Consortium are to:

• provide a platform for dialogue on critical issues related to ARD through collaborative action and partnerships at the national and regional through CACAARI (Central Asia and the Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutions)
• advocate and foster actions for increased efforts for ARD in Central Asia and the Caucuses Region in partnership with CACAARI;
• encourage the establishment of appropriate capacities in agricultural development in accordance with identified national, regional or bilateral priorities through and with support from CACAARI;
• assist in strengthening of organizational and management capability of NGOs for ARD; and
• strengthen, through CACAARI, cross-linkages between national, regional and international agricultural development organizations, including civil society organizations, universities, farmers’ organizations, women’s organizations, professional societies, private sector organizations in agriculture, etc. through involvement in jointly-planned training, education and extension programmes for agricultural development.

ARTICLE IV

FUNCTIONS

6. In pursuance of the above objectives, the Consortium may undertake the following activities:

• to initiate interventions at the national (ARD agenda, advocacy, facilitator), regional (solidarity; ARD agenda, advocacy) and global (solidarity with other NGO groups, ARD agenda, advocacy) levels in partnership with other ARD stakeholders and through CACAARI;
• to actively participate in determining the direction, content and conduct of ARD at the national and regional;
• to generate, document and disseminate information, knowledge and skills relevant to ARD;
•  to share knowledge, experiences, expertise, and replicate successful practices and lessons learned in engaging with ARD;
• to document the entire partnership process in ARD so as to share with farmers in their local languages;
• to convene Steering Committee to discuss the Consortium’s administrative, general and specific programmes, policies, strategies and priorities;
• to organize working groups, meetings and seminars to discuss agricultural research and development priorities, specific problems or sponsor technical studies, training courses, workshops and research programs/projects in the CAC Region;
• to maintain and enhance links with agencies, institutions, or organizations and other entities undertaking similar activities within and outside the CAC region including CACAARI and GFAR.

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

7. Membership of the Consortium is open to NGOs dealing with ARD in the CAC Region (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and littoral countries.

8. Any member organization desiring to withdraw from the Association shall notify the Executive Secretary in writing, and such withdrawal shall take effect three months from the date of receipt of the notice by the Executive Secretary.

ARTICLE VI

SOURCES OF FUNDS

9. Sources of funds consist of:

• Membership fees,
• Fees, if any, collected from participants of any technical meeting/seminar for training on ARD organized by the Consortium,
• Proceeds from the sale of publications and items issued by the Consortium, and
• Grants and donations from governments, national, regional or international organizations and development banks, and others.

ARTICLE VII

THE STEERING COMMITTEE

10. There is a Steering Committee of the Consortium, which consists of eight members representing each of the eight countries in the CAC Region.

i). The Chairperson of the Steering Committee is elected by a majority vote from the Steering Committee for a period of 2 years and limited to only one term. In the spirit of regional and stakeholder collaboration the Chairperson should be rotated between the NGOs of all the eight countries.

ii). The Executive Secretary of CAC-NGO is ex-officio member and Secretary to the Steering Committee responsible for all minutes and records pertaining to the Steering Committee and its meetings, recommendations and actions. He/she is elected for a single term of two years.

11. The terms of members of the Steering Committee are a maximum of single term of two years. The NGOs from each country through a country level caucus choose their nominee to the Steering Committee.

12. All the eight members of the Steering Committee have only one vote each. All the NGOs of a country represented in the Charter as in Article 11, have only one vote at all the meetings of the Steering Committee.

13. The Steering Committee may invite observers to its proceedings.

14. The Steering Committee meets at least once every year and be convened by the Chairperson.

15. All decisions by the Steering Committee are taken by a simple majority vote, except for those decisions relating to amendments to the Constitution provision for which is provided in Article XIV Section 29, and those related to the dissolution of the Consortium where at least six votes out of eight are required for carrying the motion. In the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson has a casting vote.

ARTICLE VIII

DUTIES OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE

16. In fulfillment of its objectives, the Steering Committee determines the policy of the Consortium, approves the Annual Programme of Work and Budget, the 2-year Business Plan and the 5-year CNGO-CAC Strategy for improving ARD in the Region formulated through appropriate consultations and puts up by the Executive Committee, reviews progress, and exercises other powers conferred upon it by the Charter.

ARTICLE IX

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

17. There is an Executive Committee of the Consortium composed of four members, namely, a Chairperson, one Executive Secretary and two elected members. The Chairperson, Executive Secretary and the two members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Steering Committee from among the eight member NGOs for a period of two years and are not eligible for immediate re-election to the same office after two terms. Members of the Executive Committee cease to be members of the Executive Committee if they are not members of the Steering Committee. Each member of the Executive Committee has one vote in the Executive Committee.

18. The Executive Secretary is responsible for all minutes and records pertaining to the Executive Committee and its meetings, recommendations and actions. In case the post of the Executive Secretary falls vacant another member of the Executive Committee shall be deputed to act as Executive Secretary to the Association upon approval of the Chairperson of CNGO-CAC Steering Committee.

19. If the office of the Chairperson becomes vacant for any reason, the Executive Secretary shall fill the position of the Chairperson till such time the Steering Committee elects another Chairperson and member to the Executive Committee. Persons who become members of the Executive Committee under this provision will remain in office until the next Session of the Steering Committee meeting.

ARTICLE X

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

20. The Secretariat of the Consortium is headed by an Executive Secretary who is elected by the Steering Committee. He/she reports to Chairperson of the Steering Committee and to the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE XI

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

21. The Chairperson presides at all meetings of the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee.

22. The Executive Secretary performs all duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the latter, and such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the Chairperson.

23. Executive Secretary is responsible for the affairs of the Consortium and execution of all activities approved by the Steering Committee, including reporting, preparation of programme of work and budget, monitoring of progress, and arrangements for meetings of the Steering Committee and Executive Committee. He/she receives fees, subscriptions and any other financial contributions to the Charter, accounts for all money received and makes payments in accordance with policies established by the Steering Committee and the Executive Committee. He/she annually submits audited accounts to the Steering Committee at its Annual Meetings.

ARTICLE XII

RULES AND REGULATIONS

24. The General Rules of Procedure and Financial Regulations are prepared by the Executive Committee and approved by the Steering Committee of the Consortium. Amendments to the Rules and Regulations may be adopted by a simple majority vote at any session of the Steering Committee.

25. The Executive Secretary is responsible for utilization of the approved budget of the Consortium and shall maintain full accounts, records and documents. Duly audited accounts should be presented at the Steering Committee for approval.

ARTICLE XIII

QUORUM

26. The quorum at all meetings is more than 50% of the membership.

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

27. Amendment of the Charter is considered only at a meeting of the Steering Committee.

28. The Consortium may amend this Charter by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast (six out of eight) of total number of votes of the Steering Committee.

29. No proposal for the amendment of the Charter is included in the agenda of any meeting of the Steering Committee unless notice thereof has been dispatched by the Executive Secretary to members at least 30 days before the opening of the meeting. This clause may be waived by a majority vote by the Steering Committee under extraordinary situations that are recorded by the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE XV

DISSOLUTION

30. The Consortium can only be dissolved by a resolution approved at a Steering Committee meeting. The procedure to be followed for the dissolution of the Consortium shall be the same as detailed in Article VII Section 15 and Article XIV Sections 29.

Regional Brainstorm meeting for Transforming and Strengthening of Agricultural Research and Innovation Systems in Central Asia and Caucasus

Tashkent, 29-30 November, 2011
Samarqand, 01-03 December, 2011

• CACAARI Constitution
• CACAARI Regional Strategy
• GCARD Synthesis Report
• GCARD Road Map