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Draft Minutes of the
6 IHDP-Scientific Committee Meeting
February 27 - March 2, 1998
Bonn
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The Scientific Committee met at the Hotel Königshof, Adenauer Allee 9, Bonn. The meeting
began with an informal working lunch on Saturday, February 27 in the Rotunda of the hotel.
In attendance on February 27: Eckart Ehlers (Chair), Arild Underdal (Vice-Chair), Peter de
Jánosi (Treasurer), Carlo Jaeger, Gilberto Gallopin, Anne Whyte, Mauricio Tolmasquim,
J.W.M. la Rivière (ICSU), Oran Young (IDGEC), Roland Fuchs (START), Steve Lonergan
(GECHS), Larry Kohler (Executive Director), Jill Jäger, (Executive Director Designate),
Ramine Shaw and Ike Holtmann (Intern. Science Project Co-ordinators), Laura Siklossy
(Administrative Assistant), Renate Duckat and Marcel Braun (Research Assistants).
Excused from the meeting: Tyson, Sawyerr, Gates, Opschoor.
Chair Eckart Ehlers opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the “Weißer Saal”. He welcomed Jill
Jäger (designated Executive Director starting April 1, 1999), Gilberto Gallopin and Carlo
Jaeger (new members of the SC), who introduced themselves briefly.
SC-IHDP.6/I Agenda and Schedule of Work
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The Draft Agenda and Schedule of Work were adopted without amendment.
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The revised and amended Draft Minutes of the 5th Scientific Committee Meeting (March
1998 in Bonn) were adopted as presented.
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SC-IHDP.6/II Minutes of the 5th Session SC-IHDP
SC-IHDP.6/III Issues for Decision
1)National Human Dimensions Committees
The Executive Director reported on the IHDP proposal to ISSC to mobilise “seed money”
amounting to US$10K total in 1998 and US$20K total in 1999. These resources are intended
for initial networking activities among the national human dimensions researchers under the
auspices of the national committees included in the IHDP Directory of the National Human
Dimensions Committees and Programmes or potential new Committees/Programmes. Each
accepted proposal receives up to US$2000, and to date four specific proposals from the
National Committees of Nepal, Vietnam, Ivory Coast and Yemen have been accepted by the
Secretariat. Yemen has submitted the final report and inventory of researchers; reports from
the others are pending. The general response has been positive and reflects the need in the
national human dimensions communities. Bulgaria, Peru and the Philippines have also
approached the Secretariat. The current level of support from the IHDP is minimal and an area
in which the IHDP would like to increase its contributions significantly. Roland Fuchs noted
similarities between START’s capacity building programs and IHDP’s “seed money”
initiative and indicated his interest in closer collaboration with the IHDP, especially as
START has started to prepare a compilation of national and regional contacts. The SC-IHDP
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recommended the continuation and strengthening of the IHDP effort to support existing and
new national committees. Particular emphasis should be placed on encouraging national
researchers to collaborate in the implementation of IHDP Science Projects.
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The SC encouraged the Secretariat to continue to strengthen its efforts in this initiative and to
devise appropriate mechanisms for follow-up action.
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ACTION
The Directory of the National Human Dimensions Committees and Programmes should be
finalised and printed for distribution at the OSM/6/99 in Japan.
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2a)IHDP Endorsement Policies
The SC reviewed and discussed the proposed Endorsement Policies contained in document
SC-IHDP.6/III/2a.
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The IHDP document Annex 1 on Endorsement Policies was adopted unanimously and the
Secretariat was asked to circulate it to the SC members and Projects.
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During the discussion Anne Whyte expressed her concern regarding the Secretariat’s delay in
circulating the draft document prepared by her and P. S. Ramakrishnan following the last
meeting. She
that the issue of an “Overarching Theme” continued an
immediate and necessary exercise in defining the central mandate and mission of the IHDP
and providing the scientific rationale to situate the IHDP within the GEC programmes
generally and within the social sciences specifically. This should be a broad statement and
distinct from the application of practical endorsement mechanisms. The Secretariat apologised
for not having followed up this process. A working group consisting of Anne Whyte, Carlo
Jaeger, Peter de Jánosi and Jill Jäger drafted an outline of the future “Overarching Theme”
document which is to include:1)a definition of GEC, 2)what the human dimensions of GEC
are, 3)the four central questions related to HD, 4)what IHDP is.....and its goals, 5)IHDP’s
science projects, 6)IHDP’s structure, 7)HD of GEC wiring diagram.
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The Secretariat should circulate immediately the draft of the “Overarching Theme” to the SC
for comments at the beginning of March , and a final version should be available as soon as
possible.
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2b)IHDP Guidelines for Project Implementation Plans
The SC discussed in detail the document prepared by the Secretariat. The SC stressed,
however, that they foresaw a much more evolving document rather than a long and heavy
formal text. The view was that every effort should be made to not lose the momentum of the
projects but to have a more strategic
document(1-3/5) rather than a
document covering ten years.
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IHDP document SC-IHDP.6/III/2b Annex 1, Guidelines for Implementation Plans, was
adopted unanimously.
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Later, during the discussion of the draft LUCC Implementation Plan, the SC stressed that
implementation plans are rather “strategies”, and as such “evolving” documents setting out a
concrete operational series of interlocking activities.
The discussion revealed that networking in the developing countries usually ends with the
specific regional workshop or activity organised by the science project. The projects lack the
„glue money“ to follow-up and it is difficult to identify pertinent local researchers. It was
suggested that the National Committees could act as „post office“ to relay funding requests at
regional level. A new model could call for short, annual or 2-year period reports by the
science projects on activities, budgets, participants, progress.
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May 1999
Glossy IHDP Brochure as hand-out
May 1999
GECHS Science Plan
June 1999:
IDGEC Science Plan.
June 1999:
LUCC Implementation Plan
June 1999
final version Directory of Funding Opportunities
August 1999
IT Science Plan
The discussion made clear the need for a clearly defined IHDP Publications Strategy, taking
into consideration the following:
1. An IHDP Book Series should be pursued encompassing 1 or 2 top-rate volumes per year,
produced professionally with a reputable publisher.
2. The Working Papers series, i.e. “grey literature”, should not be continued by the IHDP
Secretariat but taken up by each of the science projects and produced by them, as
appropriate.
3. The IHDP web sites should increasingly provide a forum for dissemination of IHDP
publications.
4. The IHDP should encourage IHDP researchers to contribute to reputable GEC journals.
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3)IHDP Publications
Since Udo Bünnagel left the IHDP (May 1998), the Secretariat no longer had a half-time
specialist available for publications and information issues. The role of editor of the
newsletter, UPDATE, has been assigned to Ramine Shaw. The Secretariat envisages the
following publications for 1999:
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ACTION
The Secretariat should prepare a clearly defined Publications Strategy for review at the next
SC session.
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4)IHDP Secretariat
The Executive Director briefly reported on the status of Secretariat staff now composed of the
Executive Director, two International Scientific Project Co-ordinators, one Administrative
Assistant (all full-time), and two part-time student Research Assistants (each 15 hrs/wk). The
new Executive Director, Dr. Jill Jäger, will assume office starting April 1, 1999. There is a
priority need for a full-time Deputy Executive Director (DED) to alleviate the representational
responsibilities of the ED at networking and scientific meetings, as well as to act as liaison to
international, federal, regional and local administrative bodies. Also, due to budget constraints
requiring personnel cut-back, the DED would likely need to assume responsibilities now
delegated to one of the current Scientific Project Co-ordinators. It was agreed that the DED
should reside in Bonn and be selected in a simplified process following an international
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competition.
ACTION
The Secretariat should produce a job description asap and place the call for applications on the
IHDP web page.
5)IHDP-SAC I
The mandate from IHDP’s sponsors dictates that the IHDP should hold its first Scientific
Advisory Committee meeting with “adhering bodies”. every three years. The IHDP Secretariat
officers proposed to hold the meeting back-to-back with the Open Science Meeting in Japan
in June 1999 in order to achieve greatest possible attendance and sent out notification end
February prior to the SC meeting. The OSM convenors agreed to provide meeting facilities on
June 23 from 2 – 6 p.m.
The discussion highlighted the following:
1)The time for discussion available was insufficient to be considered a SAC session.
Therefore, the proposed meeting should rather be a “consultative”, contact meeting to
facilitate initial networking among and between National Committee representatives; a
formal, official SAC-I should be convened at a later date. Both sponsors agreed to this
proposal.
2)The “Consultative Meeting” on June 23 should include a brief introduction of IHDP with an
overview its progress and activities to date, followed by 5-minute presentations by those
National Committee representatives already in Japan for the OSM. The IHDP will not provide
funding assistance for travel to this consultative meeting in June.
3)The “Consultative Meeting” in June should seek input from the participants on the goals,
structure and timing of the future official SAC meeting.
4)When selecting the venue for the official future SAC, the IHDP should try to identify one of
the IGFA members who had indicated the possibility of an in-kind country contribution to
host an IHDP meeting.
5) 6)Links with UN and others
UN
The Executive Director reported briefly on past and ongoing efforts to strengthen
collaboration with the UN system and especially with UNEP. The SC specifically thanked the
Executive Director for his various efforts with Dr. Toepfer/UNEP, and for having mobilised
funds from UNEP for the Health and Environment initiative.
IACCA
The Executive Director will attend the Paris March 10-12, 1999 meeting for one day, in an
effort to continue IHDP’s efforts to keep a window of collaboration open in the field of
climate impacts and
and to contact Gordon McBean
re GECHS establishment and funding of the IPO.
SC-IHDP.6/VI IHDP Science Projects
1)GECHS Global Environmental Change and Human Security
Steve Lonergan reported on progress in the GECHS project regarding funding for the IPO and
on the Draft Science Plan in particular, which now includes a more comprehensive component
on methodologies, theories and concepts. The SC recommended that now the priorities be
placed on implementation rather than on discussing definitions. Lonergan reiterated the
value-added of IHDP in terms of mobilising funds.
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March 1999: The final version of the Draft Science Plan has been submitted to the SC-IHDP
for final approval. The SC members have 30 days from March 2, 1999 to respond to the IHDP
Secretariat.
June 1999: The Co-ordinating Committee will review the comments and, if appropriate,
approve the formal text on behalf of the SC. It is hoped to have the published final version of
the GECHS Science Plan available for distribution in Japan.
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ACTION
As a formal procedure, the Secretariat should send a cover letter and the final approved
version of the Draft Science Plan to the original outside reviewers following final approval by
the SC.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m. and was immediately followed by a “surprise”
reception for Dr. Larry R. Kohler, whose contract terminates end March 1999.
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On Sunday, February 28, the Chairman convened the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
Present were Roland Fuchs (START) until 10 a.m., Anne Whyte, Eric Lambin (LUCC), P.S.
Ramakrishnan, Carlo Jaeger, Maurits la Rivère, Eckart Ehlers (Chair), Arild Underdal
(Vice-Chair), Gilberto Gallopin, Peter de Jánosi, Oran Young (IDGEC), Pier Vellinga (IT) at
11:30 a.m., Steve Lonergan (GECHS) until 10 a.m., Mauricio Tolmasquim and from the
Secretariat Larry Kohler (ED), Jill Jäger, (ED Designate), Ike Holtmann, Ramine Shaw, Laura
Siklossy.
SC-IHDP.6/VI Links
7)START
Roland Fuchs reported on the START programme and budget. Adequate funding is more and
more difficult to mobilise; the standing budget encompasses USD 4 millions including in-kind
donations, operational money under USD 1 mio., and research funds of USD 1.5 mio. It was
noted that the IHDP could coordinate ENRICH funds for START.
There is a definite need for a geo-reference base itemizing where which activitiy has been
initiated. The lack of such a database has led to missed opportunities.
SC-IHDP.6/VI
6) Selection of SPC/SSC members
Criteria
The discussion clarified the difference between the Scientific Planning Committee/SPC
(involved in programme development) and the Scientific Steering Committee/SSC (involved
in mature programme management). It also elucidated the many facetted demands made on
the members of those committees, which requires a „critical mass“ i.e. certain size in order to
deal with the various networking, disciplinary, regional and thematic issues which arise in the
project. It was also reiterated that committee work is voluntary (overtime, weekends,
evenings), and that the members „play different roles“ during the various phases of project
development. The (large) committees lend visibility to the IHDP. Negative aspects of a large
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committee include the expense of travel and a certain unwieldiness in decision-making. There
is no formal „job description“ for committee members, only the expectation that they manage
the project as it develops. There was general agreement on the need to specify an „executive
board“ within the committee to facilitate the decision-making process (and as a “protective
mechanism“ towards the rest of the world), when submitting nominations. The Chairs were
requested to submit a one-page „justification“ clarifying the composition of the committee as
a “team” and how the criteria are reflected in the nominations.
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The SC approved document VI/6 with Annexes 1 and 2 subject to the incorporation of
amendments which were specified during the discussion.
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ACTION
The Secretariat will incorporate the specified amendments into document VI/6 and Annexes 1
and 2 and circulate all three documents in their final revised form.
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SC-IHDP.6/VI/ IHDP Science Projects
2)Institutional Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (IDGEC)
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May 1999:
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Oran Young reported on the three foci identified for the implementation stage of the project:
Focus 1: causality, where he envisages a possible partnership with LUCC;
Focus 2: performance, where he envisages possible partnerships, for example related to the
issue of “scale” with GEC organsisations;
Focus 3: design, where he envisages partnerships focussing on the carbon sequestration
regimes.
Young invited ideas and reactions from the SC members on the implementation strategy of
IDGEC. He introduced a possible slate of 13 for the SSC and the criteria he has followed in
making these nominations (disciplinary coverage, scholarly productivity, scientific credibility,
links to other projects, links to relevant international organisations, appropriate regional
expertise). He urged the SC to make rapid decisions/approval on his slate in order to avoid a
slowdown in the project momentum and to be able to convene the first SSC during the OSM
in Japan (6/99).
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The final version of the Draft Science Plan will be published by the Secretariat.
The SC unanimously approved Oran Young as the Chair of the SSC-IDGEC, who is now
officially an ex officio member of the SC.
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The SC agreed that the Executive Director and the Project Chair should devise a slate of
nominees. The Secretariat should approach each nominee, asking formally if he/she would be
willing to join the SSC and requesting CVs. The list of nominees, their CVs and a one page
„team justification“ from the SSC Chair should be distributed by the Secretariat to the SC
members for approval.
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SC-IHDP.6/VI IHDP Science Projects
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4)Land Use and Land Cover Change (LUCC)
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Eric Lambin reported on the development of the LUCC Implementation Plan, which is still
under revision. The IGBP has approved the Plan on the condition that its four reviewers agree
with the revisions and that the IHDP also gives its approval. Lambin reviewed how the SC
should now go forward to finalize the Draft. It was suggested that the term „Plan“ should be
replaced by „Strategy“, as it is actually an evolving, bottom-up process and not a rigid
advance planning structure. A working group consisting of João Morais, P.S. Ramakrishnan,
Eric Lambin, Eckart Ehlers and Larry Kohler met to review the IHDP’s comments and to
establish a procedure and schedule for the final review and approval of the Draft
Implementation Plan.
The SC appointed a sub-committee consisting of Ramakrishnan, Ehlers and Lambin to review
all comments received on the Draft Implementation Plan for inclusion within the Draft, which
will then be revised and submitted to the Secretariat in a final version by March 22, 1999.
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SC-IHDP.6/VI IHDP Science Projects
3)Industrial Transformation (IT)
Pier Vellinga, Chair of the SPC, presented three documents: a Summary of Regional
Workshops, the Draft Science Plan and the Research Directions. He reported on the
reformulation of the IT project goals and aims and the identification of seven research themes,
which are reflected in the Draft Science Plan as a direct result of the process of regional
workshops and the Open Meeting in February 1999. The Draft Science Plan was now ready
for the review process by the SC. Given the extensive consultative process already carried out,
the SC agreed it was not necessary to require further outside review. The SC expressed
concern about the broad scope of the Science Plan and the number (7) of core projects and
indicated that it would be necessary to set priorities within the Science Plan and
Implementation Strategy. Vellinga requested that a (at least preliminary) published version of
the final Science Plan be available for dissemination at the OSM in Japan (6/99).
Decision
Mauricio Tolmasquim, liaison for the IT project, was selected to head the sub-committee
consisting of Jill Jäger, Larry Kohler and Pier Vellinga to oversee a simplified and rapid
review process of the DSP.
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Timetable
March:
1 April:
20 April:
15 May:
June
IT collects comments and incorporates them into the DSP.
Deadline for all comments from SC members to the Bonn Secretariat which
should forward them for simplified review to sub-committee of 3.
the revised DSP is circulated within the SPC-IT for comment.
the DSP is submitted to the Secretariat for circulation among the Co-ordinating
Committee for approval, if appropriate, on behalf of the SC.
published version of the DSP for dissemination at the OSM in Japan (6/99).
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The SC unanimously endorsed Pier Vellinga as Chair of the future SPC, effective as soon as
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the DSP is approved. They also indicated that the SSC should reflect a balance between
project
and more independent specialists in the field.
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Vellinga agreed to continue as Chair, assuming that funding from the Dutch government is
forthcoming for the IPO by the Fall. The SC requested that he propose a slate of nominees for
the SPC. The Secretariat should approach each nominee, asking formally if he/she would be
willing to join the SSC and requesting CVs. The list of nominees, their CVs and a one page
„team justification“ from the Project Chair should be distributed by the Secretariat to the SC
members for approval.
The meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.
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ACTION????????????????????
The meeting was convened on Monday, March 1 at 8:30 a.m. Present were Anne Whyte, Eric
Lambin, P.S. Ramakrishnan, Carlo Jaeger, Maurits de la Rivière, Berrien Moore, Eckart
Ehlers, Arild Underdal, Peter de Jánosi, Oran Young, Mauricio Tolmasquim, Joao Morais
(p.m.) and from the Secretariat Larry Kohler, Jill Jäger (ED Designate), Ike Holtmann,
Ramine Shaw, Laura Siklossy (11 a.m.).
SC-IHDP.6/VI IHDP Science Projects
5)IPOs and Foci Offices
The Secretariat will provide a document outlining the function and relationships of these
offices
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SC-IHDP.6/VII IHDP Initiatives and Activities
1)Open Science Meeting in Japan
Jill Jäger reported briefly on the planning progress and current status of the Shonan meeting.
Environment and health and integrated assessments are areas which are poorly represented at
the meeting. The role of the IHDP in future Open Meetings was discussed
2)International Human Dimensions Workshop
Action
The SC endorsed START/IHDP workshop co-sponsorship in future and requested that the
Secretariat . The next IHDW will take place in 2000 in Bonn.
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Ramine Shaw ???? reported????
The IHDP should take an active role in capacity building in future, and this should be
reflected in the Mission Statement. The funding in future should not come out of the core
IHDP funds; instead alternative funding must be found. A comprehensive follow-up strategy
must de developed for the future.
3)CLIMAG
This meeting is scheduled for June 21-23 in Geneva. Anne Whyte was requested to participate
on behalf of the IHDP.
4)ENRICH Projects
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5)Environment and Health
6)Environment Across Cultures Conference
7) to 11):??????
12)Possible New Initiatives
IHDP-DIS Workshop
LUCC has detailed experience in establishing this type of initiative.
ACTION????????????????????
A sub-committee was established to prepare a position paper for the IHDP on this issue
composed of Lambin, Vellinga, Lonergan, Young and one SC member.
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Euro-Symposium on Human Choice and Climate Change
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The IHDP should applaud this initiative but not be actively involved in any way.
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SC-IHDP.6/VIII IHDP Sponsors
1)ISSC
a)World Social Science Report (WSSR)
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This document should be circulated to a more broad scientific community for comments and
feedback.
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2)ICSU
World Science Conference
Maurits la Rivière reported briefly on the status of the conference, indicating that ICSU was
dealing with heavy bureaucratic obstacles.
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Arild Underdal was asked to attend on behalf of IHDP.
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SC-IHDP.6/VIII IHDP Sponsors
2b)ICSU Grants 2000
Larry Kohler reported that the IHDP initiated a collaborative proposal with IGU and HED to
procure an ICSU grant under this programme of USD 100,000 for 1999. This initiative on
Health and the Environment is under the active leadership of Prof. Mark Rosenberg of
Queen’s University, Ontario.
It was agreed that the IHDP would not, at this time, engage in any new initiatives requiring an
application for these funds, which end in 2000. The Project Chairs and SSCs were urged to
take advantage of this opportunity if their project activities fit the prerequisites set out for an
application, and the IHDP Secretariat would offer every assistance.
SC-IHDP.6/IX Partner GEC Programmes
1)IGBP
Berrien Moore reported that the IGBP Systhesis Process will be the focus of the upcoming
IGBP Congress May 6-13 in Tokyo. The IGBP is „taking stock“ of their five mature projects
(IGAC, PAGES, BAHC, GCTE, ???????), three younger projects (LOICZ, GLOBEC, LUCC)
and other elements (DIS, GAIM) to discover overarching themes. At this time, the focus is on
the interface between the atmosphere and the ocean surface and the interface between the
atmosphere and the human element, i.e. megacities. Two newer activities 1)carbon cycle and
2)water are emerging on which IGBP invites active collaboration with WCRP and IHDP: The
respective working group leaders have been asked to actively seek collaboration with IHDP
projects. In the short-term, a 50-page paper on the carbon cycle will be published (6/99), and
longer termed initiatives are planned. A direct output of the Synthesis Process will be a book
of the planet conveying knowledge, questions and problems as „informed uncertainties“. An
IGBP integration task team has been formed for the book initiatve, and integration of a
member of the IHDP is possible. A communication strategy is being developed to maximize
the outreach (educational, to interested public and policy-makers) through various media
including film.
IGBP is very concerned about the status of DIVERSITAS and would like to be actively
involved in any collaborative support. The IGBP will not actively pursue any new mountain
region initiative at this time, although they intend to keep the dialogue going into the future.
Timetable
May 1999
June/July 2001
IGBP Congress
IGBP Open Meeting in Amsterdam; final draft of book of the planet
2)DIVERSITAS
Two DIVERSITAS initiatives 1)June 1999 Workshop on Biodiversity and 2)International
Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY) were discussed. It was agreed that the IHDP should
have a clearly defined constructive position of support for DIVERSITAS in general, but in
particular the Workshop should be delayed (possibly 10/99) in order to allow for proper
preparation. The Chairs and Directors in August 1998 agreed to active collaboration after
DIVERSITAS had found solid financial backing.
5)IAI/APN/ENRICH
IAI has recently offered IHDP „associate member status“. This issue and its implications for
the IHDP were discussed. The IAI has a good network in the natural sciences and the IHDP
should explore cautiously possible points of interest with the IAI while avoiding less
constructive involvement. It should also pose the question “What can the IAI do for IHDP?”.
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The SC encouraged the Executive Director to continue the dialogue with IAI and to offer
assistance in a brokerage role only.
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Larry Kohler reported that the IHDP enjoys ongoing good relations with the APN, which has
supported various IHDP activities, i.e. Workshop on Water and Human Security in South East
Asia and Oceania and preparatory workshops within the region for IT. The Secretariat was
asked to contribute comments and input to APN for their development of an APN Strategic
Plan.
EU/ENRICH
Larry Kohler reported on IHDP relations with ENRICH, which was successful in securing
funding – directly or indirectly - for the following initiatives:
a)IHDP-IDGEC: Workshop in Stockholm 12/97 towards developing the Science Plan.
b)IHDP-IT: Regional Workshops and one Open Meeting towards developing the Science
Plan.
c)IHDP-NHDP: EU Symposium and two Regional Workshops towards exchanging research
results, data and experience between national human dimensions programmes.
d)NES: Network on Environment and Security, a collaborative effort under the leadership of
Prof. Michael Redclift (Keele University, UK) and involving IHDP-GECHS.
The IHDP has submitted a proposal to the EU to secure an additional DM50,000/25,500
EUROs in funding as a contribution to travel and subsistence expenses.
6)Chairs and Directors Meeting
DIVERSITAS is official host of the 1999 Chairs and Directors Meeting. Berrien Moore
suggested meeting back-to-back with the IUGG in July in Birmingham/UK. Possible date to
be confirmed: July 21/22, 1999.
SC-IHDP.6/IV Financial Matters
ACTION
The Secretariat should send letters of thanks to all guests who attended the March 1 dinner.
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Larry Kohler gave a brief overview of the IHDP financial status, mentioning that the German
contribution (BMBF + NRW + University of Bonn), which brought the IHDP to Bonn, still
remains the major source of funding, followed by American contributors (NSF, COSSA). He
indicated that the prognosis for a 3-year prolongation of BMBF core funding beyond October
31, 1999 was quite good – the IHDP Secretariat submitted a proposal in December 1998 but
approval is still pending. Substantial funding from BMBF beyond October 2002 is not very
likely. The state government of Northrhine-Westfalia renewed its 1998 contribution (DM
50,000) in 1999 (DM 100,000), and the University of Bonn is continuing to offer office space,
communication services and administrative backup free of charge.
The role of IGFA in the IHDP development was reviewed briefly: The 1998 IGFA assessment
of the IHDP was finally articulated in a very positive form in the Executive Summary and
IGFA sent a formal letter to its members, asking for an indication of their support to the IHDP
a)core resources, b) IPOs, c)for developing country researchers, or d)in-kind. The responses
were overwhelmingly disappointing – if at all, with “strings attached” i.e. non-fungible funds -
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and the financial outlook for IHDP core funding is dire. The IHDP should take advantage of a
meeting between Uno Svedin and Hansvolker Ziegler (BMBF) on March 17 in Bonn.
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Decision
The SC agreed that
1)the disappointment in IGFA’s efforts on behalf of the IHDP should be articulated formally
in writing while maintaining diplomacy;
2)the Executive Director should actively and personally approach the new Chair of IGFA (K.
Broch-Mathison) to report on IHDP progress, seeking a frank discussion and soliciting IGFA
support;
3)the Secretariat should follow IGFA recommendation to approach all known national
committees with a letter soliciting membership dues;
4)SC members should actively lobby to mobilise funding through targeted visits;
5)The IHDP should address other regions – China, Japan, India, Brazil – in an effort to move
away from the EU-US axis.
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The Treasurer presented Budget Tables 1-4 and indicated that the proposed ideal budget
expenditures for 1999 exceeded the proposed income for 1999. The SC could not approve an
unbalanced budget, and the Treasurer presented expenditure cuts in several categories,
resulting in a proposed budget for 1999 which is balanced but which also severely reduces
IHDP programme flexibility, especially for new initiatives or emergencies.
The Treasurer strongly urged the SC members to consider new ways and channels to mobilise
core funding and to assume a more active role in approaching IGFA, private foundations, the
UN and others.
A final discussion of financial issues was adjourned to the following day.
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The SC agreed that
1)the Secretariat will revise Table 1 to reflect a balanced, “reality strikes” budget to be
distributed to the SC members;
2)the Executive Director will decide how best to utilise any additional funds (NRW, etc.), i. a.
to generate or support new initiatives;
3)the IHDP should continue to refrain from borrowing money.
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The formal meeting was adjourned early and the working groups (LUCC, Overarching
Theme) met for discussion.
_____________________________
The meeting was convened on March 2, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. Present were Anne Whyte, Jill
Jäger, João Morais, Maurits la Rivière, Eckart Ehlers, Arild Underdal, Peter de Jánosi, Kurt
Pawlik, Oran Young, Mauricio Tolmasquim and from the Secretariat Larry Kohler, Ramine
Shaw, Ike Holtmann and Laura Siklossy.
SC-IHDP.6/IV Financial Matters
4)Voluntary Membership Contribution Scheme
Decision
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The SC approved the proposed scale of voluntary contributions and the Membership
Contribution Scheme.
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The SC encouraged the Secretariat to 1)send annual invoices for membership contributions
and to publish individual donor figures and to 2)send informal invitations to representatives of
possible donors to observe IHDP workshops, activities, open meetings, in order to make the
IHDP programme visible and transparent – and worthy of funding.
The discussion highlighted the following:
a)A need to broaden the base of donors in order to avoid “restricted internationalism”,
b)A need to encourage increments in individual contributions,
c)A need to stress the need for flexible, “no strings attached” core funding.
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ACTION
SC-IHDP.6/V Nomination of Candidates for the Scientific Committee
The present SC includes members from Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, Canada, Holland,
Germany, Norway, Ghana, India and the US. The Committee must be strengthened and
broadened, setting Southeast Asian representation as a priority. A new Chair will be needed
2001.
The SC appointed a sub-committee composed of Underdal, Jäger and either Gallopin or
Jaeger to examine this issue.
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SC-IHDP.6/X Looking Forward
The discussion set several priorities for the next 36 months and concluded that the agenda
item “Looking Forward” should be set at the beginning of the next SC-IHDP meeting in order
to ignite a discussion on future IHDP foci:
1)concentration on moving the science projects into the implementational/operational stage,
which implies restricting new initiatives while continuing to develop synergies with other
GEC colleagues and within projects;
2)strengthened effort to develop links to and enter dialogue with policy-makers, which implies
synthesising IHDP research results:
3)remain aware of state-of-the-art in research activities on e.g., food, water, health and
urbanisation, , and remain open to collaborate as much as possible, i.e. out of existing projects
or between projects, i.e. IGBP/megacities, water;
4)as the current science projects are nearing a mature stage, the IHDP should begin to take a
longer-term view of future concrete initiatives and involve social scientists, natural scientists
and national committees in the discussion.
The SC-IHDP agreed to two tentative dates for the next Session:
February 25-28 or
March 24-27, 2000. (first choice)
The Secretariat asks you to email your availability asap.
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