Section 1 name, goals, location
Article 1
The West Africa Animal Traction Network (WAATN) has been formed to bring together researchers, development workers and others involved in the introduction, intensification or diversification of the use of animal traction in West African farming systems.
Article 2
The objectives of WAATN are:
· To promote and strengthen cooperation between individuals, organizations and institutions involved in the use of animal traction in farming systems.· To stimulate and promote the dissemination and exchange of information and experiences derived from research and development.
· To strengthen the capabilities of researchers and technical personnel involved in animal traction activities through appropriate training initiatives.
· To improve the coordination of animal traction research and development activities in the region.
· To provide assistance to members on technical matters relating to the planning, preparation, funding, implementation and evaluation of their animal traction research and development programmes.
· To organize appropriate liaison activities including biennial networkshops, smaller seminars on specific technical themes, liaison meetings, study tours, training courses and professional visits.
Article 3
French and English will be the official languages of the Network; either language may be used for informal information exchange; whenever practicable both languages will be used at Network meetings and in Network publications.
Article 4
There will be no predetermined time limits to the life of the Network, unless these statutes are modified by the General Assembly (see Article 18).
Article 5
The official WAATN Secretariat will be based in a West African country. It will help to coordinate Network activities by liaising with West African members, relevant research and development institutions outside the region (such as the International Livestock Centre for Africa, ILCA, based in Ethiopia), with other research and development networks (such as the West Africa Farming Systems Research Network, WAFSRN, and the Association Euro-Africaine des Centres de Mécanisation Agricole, ACEMA) and with relevant aid donors and associate members. The Secretariat may cooperate with these other organizations in the production and dissemination of an animal traction bulletin.
Section 2: Composition of WAATN
Article 6
6.1 The Network will be open to all individuals and organizations interested in the Network objectives. There will be three categories of network members: West African members, Aid donor members and Associate members.6.2 The West African members will comprise organizations and individuals concerned with the development of animal traction in the West African region, including West African government ministries, research and educational establishments, agricultural development projects, nongovernmental organizations, equipment manufacturers, international research centres and subregional organizations.
6.3 The aid donor members will include those donors, organizations and institutions that contribute financially or materially to WAATN
6.4 The associate members may be any interested individuals or organizations outside the West African region. Associate members are likely to include international and bilateral aid agencies, international and national agricultural research centres, universities, non-governmental organizations, development projects and complementary networks.
Section 3: The general assembly
Article 7
Members of WAATN will meet every two years in the biennial networkshops to:
· discuss and adopt the report on the activities of WAATN;
· elect members of the steering committee.
Article 8
Only West African members have voting rights or may be elected to the West African Members' positions on the steering committee Eligibility to vote may be restricted to individuals and organizations that have paid any membership dues, annual contributions or workshop fee that may be imposed.
Section 4: Steering committee
Article 9
The steering committee will comprise:
· Six (6) elected West African members of WAATN;
· Two (2) representatives of international organizations concerned with animal traction research and development
The Network Coordinator and Network Technical Adviser will normally attend Steering Committee meetings and the Steering Committee may invite interested donor agencies or partner organizations to send representatives to its meetings.
Article 10
The steering committee meetings will be chaired by a chairman elected by the committee members.
Article 11
The steering committee will meet every year to:
· Implement the decisions taken by the General Assembly.· Approve a programme of activities for the Network. Assign the responsibility to implement these programmes to the Network Coordinator and any other individuals/organizations.
· Together with the Network Coordinator prepare the themes and the modalities of the next biennial workshop.
· Review the activities and report of the Network Coordinator and to discuss and approve the budget of WAATN
Article 12
Steering committee members will be elected to serve for a period of two years, or until the General Assembly meets. Committee members can stand for re-election. When elections are held, the General Assembly should strive to ensure that as far as practicable an equitable geographical, linguistic and disciplinary balance is maintained on the committee. The General Assembly may also consider the advantages of continuity between the outgoing and incoming committee, the value of committee members being able to understand both Network languages and the undesirability of having two committee members from the same country.
Section 5: Network coordinator and technical adviser
Article 13
The Network Coordinator will be appointed by the steering committee The post will be advertised internationally and during recruitment procedures, preference will be given to a suitably qualified West Africans. The terms of appointment of the Network Coordinator will be determined by the Steering Committee in liaison with potential funding agencies and partner organizations
Article 14
The role of the Network Coordinator will be:
· To implement the programmes and policies formulated by the Steering Committee and approved by the general assembly.· To prepare the WAATN work programme and budget for submission to the Steering Committee.
· To prepare regular reports of WAATN activities.
· To liaise with donor agencies and partner institutions in order to secure the necessary funds for network programmes.
· To be responsible for the efficient management of WAATN funds, fulfilling the requirements of donor agencies for financial control procedures.
· To prepare annual statements of account for the Steering Committee and supporting aid donors.
Article 15
The Network Coordinator or the Steering Committee may request the services of a Technical Adviser to assist in the planning and implementation of network activities. The Technical Adviser will be a specialist in animal traction or will have specific expertise required by the Net work Coordinator in order to implement WAATN activities.
Section 6: Resources
Article 16
WAATN resources or funds may come from:
· member financial support through membership fees and/or workshop fees (if these be recommended by the Steering Committee and approved by the General Assembly);· other contributions from countries, organizations and individuals;
· specific project funds or grants from aid donors allocated to allow specific network activities or programmes.
The Steering Committee, or its designated representatives, may liaise with aid donors, partner organizations and financial institutions to establish a WAATN account. Network funds will be paid into the WAATN account with the knowledge of the Steering Committee and Network Coordinator.
Aid donors will be kept fully informed concerning the utilization of their funds.
Section 7: Other matters
Article 17
Internal regulations.
The modalities of the running of WAATN will be defined in a paper prepared by the Steering Committee, or its designated representatives. This paper will take into account the administrative requirements of donor agencies and possible partner or host organizations. This document will be presented to the General Assembly for approval. Prior to this approval, this Steering Committee working paper, together with these Statutes, will be used as the basis for Network planning and organization.
Article 18
Modifications of the Statutes.
The Statutes can be modified by the general assembly at the request of the Steering Committee or at the request of at least two-thirds of the members of the General Assembly.
The proposed modifications should be presented as part of the agenda of a General Assembly meeting.
The modifications must be adopted by at least two-thirds of voting members of the General Assembly.
