The BIO-EARN Newsletter  A Publication from the BIO-EARN Regional Coordination Office No 1, June 2006 BIO-EARN Programme Focus Vision, Mission and Strategic Goal Reformulated With the Programme focus shifting from human and infrastructure capacity building to research and policy collaboration, the programme vision, mission and goal consequently were reformulated as follows: Vision: to develop into a network of excellence that will contribute to improved food security, sustainable environment management and industrial production and improve livelihoods in Eastern Africa. Mission: to build Biotechnology capacity in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda through collaborative research, policy advocacy and outreach. Strategic goal: to generate biotechnologies in Agriculture, Environment and Industry and strengthen regional capacities to foster the safe application of biotechnology to promote development of Eastern Africa. The programme takes an outcomes approach that uses strategic R4D, training and policy support to: Mobilise science and technology towards solutions and guarantee relevance. Develop multi-sectoral partnerships that support product development. Harness knowledge from local or global research efforts built on proof of concept to support development processes and practices. Programme Management In Phase I and II (1998-2005), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) was responsible for overall BIO-EARN Programme management. During the period 2006-2009, the Eastern African network partners will be fully responsible for the management of the Programme. The new management structure consists of a Governing Board (GB), a Programme Advisory Committee, Regional Coordination Office, and the Implementing Institutions. The BIO-EARN Regional Office housed at the Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA), coordinates the entire Programme. Considerable coordination within the project research consortia will however be done by the Principal Investigators (PIs). IUCEA Entrusted to Host the BIO-EARN Programme In order to entrust the IUCEA to host the BIO-EARN Regional Coordination office, an agreement was signed between the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) on behalf of the BIO-EARN Interim Governing Body (IGB) and IUCEA. Following the signing of the hosting agreement, IUCEA and Sida signed another contract for IUCEA to receive and administer the BIO-EARN Programme funds. IUCEA is now contracting the network institutions involved in implementing the various project activities before release of funds to scientists. The Governing Board (GB) GB is the overall Programme decision-making body on Programme implementation and direction on behalf of the region. In order to promote ownership and sustainability of the Programme the BIO-EARN Programme Governing Board consists of high-level representatives from relevant institutions in the region, such as, the Science and Technology Councils/Commissions, the Network universities and relevant government line ministries in the region.  In addition a representative from NEPAD and The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) sit on the Board as ex-officials. The role of the GB will be to oversee and make decisions on the general direction of the Programme and ensure integration and harmonisation with national activities. The Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) PAC is a technical committee of the Programme that provides technical expertise, reviews and provides technical backstopping to the whole Programme and overall technical guidance to the GB. The PAC has experts on the core R4D and policy activities of the Programme to support integration of crosscutting development issues of the Programme.  The Programme Advisory Committee is composed 9 members drawn from the following groups; regional and international experts, a representative from BecA, Private sector and technology dissemination expert. The BIO-EARN Programme Beyond 2009 The BIO-EARN General Assembly and subsequent national and regional consultative meetings recognized the contribution made by the Programme and extensively discussed sustainability of the program beyond 2009. It was recommended that in order to facilitate mainstreaming of the BIO-EARN in national development policies, strategies and plans, so as to ensure ownership and promote commitment and continued investment by governments, the network should be registered as a legal entity by 2009.  One of the core activities of the Programme during the period will also be to develop a strategic plan that will describe the intended outputs and required inputs (including human, physical, and financial resources) to achieve the Programme’s strategic objectives in line with the vision, mission and goal. As a Network of Excellence, BIO-EARN is visualized to act as an embryonic phase for a regional research council focusing on biotechnology and other emergent biosciences. Such a council would continue supporting research in national and regional development challenges. In the short term, BIO-EARN Programme does not directly address livelihood and poverty alleviation issues. However, the Programme’s major goal is to further develop an East African R4D platform and infrastructure that can in the medium and long-term greatly contribute to improved livelihoods, alleviation of poverty and improved environment. (Page 2 of 6) Go to next page: Key BIO-EARN Events Since January 2006