Kick Off Workshop: Governing Board's Report A Report of BIO-EARN Governing Board's Inaugural Meeting was presented to participants at the BIO-EARN 'Kick off Workshop'. The Report informed participants that the GB had reviewed their terms of reference (ToRs). Some ToRs had been retained, others were combined to avoid repetition, and others rephrased for clarity. The major changes were as follows: the (interim) 'Governing Body' was changed to 'Governing Board' (GB) in order to have a high level representation for policy, linkages and Programme ownership, appointments for membership to the GB would be offices rather than individuals The GB agreed that appointment to the Board would be transparent and avoid conflicts of interest, and that the GB chair would be rotated on a yearly basis. The Executive Secretary, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) was elected Chair and the Ministry for Higher Education and Technology in Tanzania was elected Vice Chair, for the current year (2006/7).  The Report advised that the BIO-EARN Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) formation process would involve submission of CVs for candidates proposed by the participating countries. Nominations would be sent to the Regional Coordination Office for short-listing and the GB would then make a decision on PAC members. The Report also advised that the GB would be interacting with other network members by participating in the annual review meetings, GB meetings, progress reports, briefs by the Regional Coordination Office, and updating internet information and newsletters. The GB would be holding two meetings each year. To reduce costs, the GB meetings would be held back to back with annual review meetings. The secretariat was requested to prepare the proposal for the BIO-EARN Innovation Fund by June 2006, including the scope and criteria for funding. Professor Chacha (IUCEA) was requested to present issues raised by various project groups to the vice chancellor’s forum so that common policy and regulations could be developed for subsequent presentation to the GB. The GB inaugural meeting was attended by:   Peter Ndemere (Uganda National Council for Science and Technology) Tisasirana Longino (Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Uganda) Mateete Bekunda (Makerere University) Titus Mteleka (Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania) Rose Rita Kingamkono (Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology) Idrissa B. Mshoro (University of Dar es Salaam) Getachew Mengistie (Ethiopia Intellectual Property Office) G.K. King’oriah (National Council for Science and Technology, Kenya) P. Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha (IUCEA) Z. M. Nyiira (NEPAD Regional Representative) Shumu Teferra (Ethiopia Science and Technology Agency) Gity Behravan (Sida) Esther Kahangi (BIO-EARN Regional Coordinator) John A. Bananuka (BIO-EARN Programme Assistant)   Go to 'Kick Off Workshop' Highlights to view other highlights