Governance Sub-Committee Minutes 2015-7-7

Participants: Marcus, Graciela, Gabriela (Spanish interpreter) Lorna, Terry, Farah, Emma (notes)

Apologies: Oneone, Peter, Ali

Terms of Reference

Farah suggested that we consider agenda items 1 and 3 together: TOR and electing a chair person for this group.
Marcus discussed the main actions outlined in the Governance Committee TORs
Lorna: fine with the TOR’s.
Graciela: forthcoming regional consultations are important for additional information clarity and priorities of the regionally-based GNDR members
Marcus: Need to strengthen relationship between regionally appointed Global Board members and national / regional GNDR members - this is an important conversation for the regional consultations and findings to be reflected in governance arrangements.
Marcus: the Governance manual will also need to be updated from time to time which is an important role of the Governance Sub-Committee. There is a need to separate our governance function with our management function.
Farah: question over the legal arrangements and risk management. General agreement that oversight of the risk management register should be added to the Governance TOR’s.
Marcus: Trustees have responsibilities for legal issues of GNDR as the secretariat is registered in the UK under UK charity law. One of the requirements of the Trustees is to review the risk register – this is to regularly updated by the GNDR Secretariat Business Team
Farah: Question over regional Boards if they register elsewhere. This will have to be considered.
Action: Governance Committee to have oversight of risk register and the Trustees will have overall legal responsibilities – this will be reflected in the TORs.

Chair of the Committee

Set agendas
Facilitate communications
Chair Governance Sub-Committee meetings
Graciela: could this be two people?
Farah: how often will we have meetings? How heavy will this task be?
Marcus: see that this is an action orientated group that will meet as and when required.
Lorna: happy to chair – this is endorsed by all participants - thank you Lorna!

Key tasks for Governance Committee

Farah: what is the duration of the committee?Action: Length of term of office to be added to the TOR.
Another important task is to make sure the governance manual is up to date in line with the overall development of GNDR
Lorna: development of regional and national governance arrangements is important
We also need to make sure the regional and national membership database is regularly updated - this is a task for the GNDR secretariat.
Action:Governance Committee TORs to ensure the secretariat regularly update the membership database.
Graciela: the regional meetings are the most immediate priority – these meetings are important to build relationships and get to know members, groups and organisations commitment to the network.
Marcus: Suggest Governance Committee have the next call after the regional consultations. Secretariat will identify governance issues raised in the various regional reports and bring a distillation of governance issues for discussion with the Governance Committee – end of August 2015

AOB

Farah: are there any plans leading up to the COP in Paris?
Marcus: Lucy is in contact with other networks regarding the climate, SGDs and the finance for development discussions.

Marcus thanked Board members for joining the call and closed the meeting. Minutes to be confirmed and forward to all governance committee members and other GNDR Global Board members.

Action: Next meeting to be scheduled for the end of August, week beginning 24th August – date tbc, agenda to include feedback from regional consultations.