What is the PROCICARIBE Secretariat

Secretariat Staff

Major Functions of the Secretariat

 

 

 

    

What is the PROCICARIBE Secretariat

The PROCICARIBE Secretariat administers the PROCICARIBE system and facilitates and co-ordinates the implementation of the networks' work programmes. It provides administrative, financial, technical, and logistical support to PROCICARIBE joint decision making bodies and networks. It is responsible for planning, budgeting, execution, monitoring and reporting on technical activities of PROCICARIBE Networks. The Executive Secretary who heads the Secretariat works with the Co-Sponsors, CARDI and IICA, on the mobilisation of resources to support network operations. The Secretariat also works closely with the Caribbean Agricultural Information Service (CAIS) to ensure information flow through the Networks. As the Executing Agency of PROCICARIBE designated by the region's Ministers of Agriculture, CARDI is responsible for administering all the operating structures of PROCICARIBE through the PROCICARIBE Secretariat.

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Secretariat Staff

The Secretariat staff is run by an Executive Secretary (Manager), a Research Policy Analyst, a Research Assistant, a Senior Administrative Secretary and other support staff deemed necessary to its efficient functioning. The Executive Secretary is appointed by the Executing Agency, CARDI, from a list of 3 persons recommended by the Executive Committee and in accordance with its rules and regulations. His/her basic duty is to ensure the efficient functioning of the Secretariat.

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Major Functions of the Secretariat:

  • Co-ordinate and facilitate the operation of PROCICARIBE programmes and networks.

  • Assist the Chairmen of the Governing Body and Executive Committee in convening and organising meetings of these bodies and follow up on decisions taken at the meetings to ensure compliance.

  • Assist member countries to set up and organise the functioning of the National Coordinating Committees (NCC's), and the National Committees of the various Commodity and Thematic Networks.

  • Promote active participation of the private sector, public sector and NGOs in these networks.

  • Assist Regional Network Co-ordinators to coordinate Network activities across member countries, including the Annual Technical Planning and Review Meeting (ATM) for each network.

  • Assist NCCs, RCs, NCs and NNCs in budgeting, execution, monitoring, financing and reporting of technical activities within the operations of the various Commodity and Thematic Networks. The mobilisation of local, regional and international human and financial resources is of utmost importance. Assist the various Networks in constituting their Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) and also assist TAC members (through the Regional Co-ordinators) to fulfil their roles within the networks.

  • Assist in the formulation and financing of Annual Operational Plans, the Medium-term Plans and the Strategic Plans of the various Commodity and Thematic Networks and submit these to the Executive Committee and Board of Governors for approval; once approved, take responsibility for their implementation.

  • Prepare 6-monthly technical and financial progress reports on the advances, results and accomplishments of PROCICARIBE's programmes and projects with the assistance of Regional Co-ordinators for submission to the Executive Committee, CARDI's Executive Director and IICA's Regional Director for the Caribbean.

  • Foster strategic alliances with regional and international institutions and organisations of excellence for the benefit of the various Commodity and Thematic Networks. In this regard, the Secretariat will promote active participation in the Programme by International and Regional Centres, as well as other international technical and financial cooperation organisations. In this connection, the Executive Secretary will work closely with the Executive Committee and the various TACs for partnership among the institutions that participate in PROCICARIBE, the International Centres and other public and private, national and international institutions.

  • Publish and distribute 4-monthly editions of the "PROCICARIBE News", a newsletter for the dissemination of information from the various Commodity and Thematic Networks.

  • Formulate and prepare the budget of the PROCICARIBE Secretariat's annual operational programmes and projects for approval of the Executive Committee.

  • Work closely with the Executive Director and Caribbean Agricultural Information Service (CAIS) executed by CARDI to ensure efficient flows of information within the various Commodity and Thematic Networks and between the Networks and their national, regional and international linkages.

  • Work with the Co-Sponsors CARDI and IICA and with other donors and financing agencies to assist in the financing of PROCICARIBE activities and make recommendations to the Executive Committee and Board of Governors.

  • Present an annual report on the agricultural research and development priorities of the Caribbean to the Regional Forum FORAGRO of which the Executive Secretary is a member together with the other Executive Secretaries of the PROCIs of the Western Hemisphere. At the same time the Secretariat will distribute CGIAR and GFAR (Global Forum on Agricultural Research) Meeting reports to the NCCs.

  • Obtain semi-annual technical and financial reports from Regional Network Co-ordinators.

  • Obtain semi-annual reports on policy and research priorities from the NCCs.

  • The Executive Secretary will also maintain regular contact with the other PROCIs in the Hemisphere and with the GFAR-SC (Washington) and NARS-SC (FAO Rome).

  • To prepare reports as required by participating donor agencies.

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PROCICARIBE Secretariat
CARDI Headquarters
UWI Campus, St. Augustine
Trinidad, West Indies
Telephone: 1 (868) 645-1205
Fax: 1 (868) 645-1208
Email: procicaribe@cardi.org