Systemwide Initiative on Malaria and Agriculture

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SIMA Governance Structure

Introduction

SIMA was initiated by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and has the official status of a CGIAR-Future Harvest system-wide initiative, created to bring together the expertise of the group's 15 agricultural research centers. SIMA is an international program, open to participation of all interested parties with a stake in the malaria and agriculture realm.

Between December 2001 and December 2002, an Interim Steering Committee has overseen the activities of SIMA. The Steering Committee was later replaced by a Management Team (MT) and a Scientific and Advisory panel (STAP); established in July 2003 and October 2003, respectively. These committees are supported by the SIMA Secretariat.

The following sections describe the current structure, mode of operation and leadership for SIMA.

Convening Institute

The convening institute of SIMA is IWMI (www.iwmi.org). This means that IWMI has overall responsibility for facilitation and coordination of the initiative. IWMI also serves as the Host Institute of the SIMA Secretariat at the IWMI Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, South Africa. The responsibilities for IWMI as a Host Institute are: financial administration, human resources management, publishing, etc.

Management Team (MT)

The SIMA Management Team (MT) consists of a representative from the Convening Institute (permanent member), 1 representative from other CGIAR-Future Harvest center, 4 representatives of national and international partner organizations, (all to serve 2-year renewable terms), and the Coordinator of SIMA (permanent member). The SIMA Coordinator serves as the Secretary to the Management Team.

The main responsibilities of the MT as outlined in the SIMA Framework include, but are not necessarily limited to:

1. Providing strategic guidance to SIMA Secretariat and oversight of SIMA central activities;
2. Representing SIMA in discussions with donors, interested parties and the media;
3. Promoting the development of a central approach and methodology, shared terminology etc.;
4. Contributing to the translation of SIMA research results into policy briefs.

The Management Team is expected to meet regularly through e- or tele-conference, and at least once a year through a physical meeting. In between meetings, the SIMA Coordinator represents the Initiative on a continuous basis.

Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP)

The SIMA Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) acts as an independent advisory, review and quality control mechanism for SIMA plans and outputs. The Panel consists of eminent scientists designated in their personal capacities as experts in specific areas of knowledge (disciplines relevant to the objectives of SIMA). Each Panel member is expected to hold his/her position for a renewable 3-year term. The STAP is expected to meet annually but members can be required by the SIMA Secretariat to provide inputs to SIMA activities on an individual basis. All administrative tasks related to maintaining the Panel and organizing its meetings are to be carried out by the SIMA Secretariat.

The main tasks of the Panel as outline in the SIMA Framework include:

1. Advising on the methodologies for each of the key SIMA outputs and activities.
2. Advising on areas where further synthesis work would have added value or where new activities are required to fill important gaps in ongoing activities.
3. Reviewing the quality of the outputs of the central SIMA activities.
4. Assisting in an independent peer review process for SIMA proposals and outputs.
5. Advising on topics and areas of research to be included in Calls for Proposals and SIMA policy briefs.
6. Providing strategic guidance to the Management Team, Secretariat and to SIMA research projects.
7. Giving technical and scientific advice to the Secretariat, to SIMA research projects, on SIMA outputs and to participants in the SIMA network.
8. Monitoring overall progress of SIMA.
9. Supporting the Management Team and Secretariat in information dissemination.
10. Advising on fund raising opportunities.
11. Promoting SIMA to a wider audience.

Sima secretariat

The Secretariat is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of SIMA activities. The Secretariat consists of a full-time SIMA Coordinator, a Deputy Coordinator (part time), a Program Officer (full time), a Researcher (part time), all of whom are employed by the Convening Institute, IWMI. A full time Secretary is to be recruited in the near future. The SIMA Secretariat is assisted by a SIMA/IWMI Working Group, composed of scientists from the convening institute.

The Secretariat has main responsibilities in the management of means, as well as in process management. Key activities include:

1. Raising funds;
2. Formulating Calls for Proposals;
3. Managing SIMA project portfolio in accordance with the SIMA Quality Management System (SIMA-QMS), including quality control of SIMA research projects;
4. Communicating with the Management Team (MT), Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), SIMA project leaders, and donors;
5. Organizing MT and STAP Meetings;
6. Organizing workshops and international conferences;
7. Providing secretarial support to the pool of project reviewers;
8. Providing a documentation base on ongoing or previous malaria and agriculture related research;
9. Maintaining the SIMA website;
10. Facilitating periodic global electronic discussion.

The Secretariat specifically supports the development of research projects by providing:
· Assistance in partner identification;
· Guidance on proposal writing;
· Guidance on trans-disciplinarity within projects.

Contact the SIMA Web Coordinator



<< HOME >> [[ BACK ]]	SIMA Governance Structure Introduction SIMA was initiated by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and has the official status of a CGIAR-Future Harvest system-wide initiative, created to bring together the expertise of the group's 15 agricultural research centers. SIMA is an international program, open to participation of all interested parties with a stake in the malaria and agriculture realm. Between December 2001 and December 2002, an Interim Steering Committee has overseen the activities of SIMA. The Steering Committee was later replaced by a Management Team (MT) and a Scientific and Advisory panel (STAP); established in July 2003 and October 2003, respectively. These committees are supported by the SIMA Secretariat. The following sections describe the current structure, mode of operation and leadership for SIMA. Convening Institute The convening institute of SIMA is IWMI (www.iwmi.org). This means that IWMI has overall responsibility for facilitation and coordination of the initiative. IWMI also serves as the Host Institute of the SIMA Secretariat at the IWMI Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, South Africa. The responsibilities for IWMI as a Host Institute are: financial administration, human resources management, publishing, etc. Management Team (MT) The SIMA Management Team (MT) consists of a representative from the Convening Institute (permanent member), 1 representative from other CGIAR-Future Harvest center, 4 representatives of national and international partner organizations, (all to serve 2-year renewable terms), and the Coordinator of SIMA (permanent member). The SIMA Coordinator serves as the Secretary to the Management Team. The main responsibilities of the MT as outlined in the SIMA Framework include, but are not necessarily limited to: 1. Providing strategic guidance to SIMA Secretariat and oversight of SIMA central activities; 2. Representing SIMA in discussions with donors, interested parties and the media; 3. Promoting the development of a central approach and methodology, shared terminology etc.; 4. Contributing to the translation of SIMA research results into policy briefs. The Management Team is expected to meet regularly through e- or tele-conference, and at least once a year through a physical meeting. In between meetings, the SIMA Coordinator represents the Initiative on a continuous basis. Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) The SIMA Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) acts as an independent advisory, review and quality control mechanism for SIMA plans and outputs. The Panel consists of eminent scientists designated in their personal capacities as experts in specific areas of knowledge (disciplines relevant to the objectives of SIMA). Each Panel member is expected to hold his/her position for a renewable 3-year term. The STAP is expected to meet annually but members can be required by the SIMA Secretariat to provide inputs to SIMA activities on an individual basis. All administrative tasks related to maintaining the Panel and organizing its meetings are to be carried out by the SIMA Secretariat. The main tasks of the Panel as outline in the SIMA Framework include: 1. Advising on the methodologies for each of the key SIMA outputs and activities. 2. Advising on areas where further synthesis work would have added value or where new activities are required to fill important gaps in ongoing activities. 3. Reviewing the quality of the outputs of the central SIMA activities. 4. Assisting in an independent peer review process for SIMA proposals and outputs. 5. Advising on topics and areas of research to be included in Calls for Proposals and SIMA policy briefs. 6. Providing strategic guidance to the Management Team, Secretariat and to SIMA research projects. 7. Giving technical and scientific advice to the Secretariat, to SIMA research projects, on SIMA outputs and to participants in the SIMA network. 8. Monitoring overall progress of SIMA. 9. Supporting the Management Team and Secretariat in information dissemination. 10. Advising on fund raising opportunities. 11. Promoting SIMA to a wider audience. Sima secretariat The Secretariat is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of SIMA activities. The Secretariat consists of a full-time SIMA Coordinator, a Deputy Coordinator (part time), a Program Officer (full time), a Researcher (part time), all of whom are employed by the Convening Institute, IWMI. A full time Secretary is to be recruited in the near future. The SIMA Secretariat is assisted by a SIMA/IWMI Working Group, composed of scientists from the convening institute. The Secretariat has main responsibilities in the management of means, as well as in process management. Key activities include: 1. Raising funds; 2. Formulating Calls for Proposals; 3. Managing SIMA project portfolio in accordance with the SIMA Quality Management System (SIMA-QMS), including quality control of SIMA research projects; 4. Communicating with the Management Team (MT), Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), SIMA project leaders, and donors; 5. Organizing MT and STAP Meetings; 6. Organizing workshops and international conferences; 7. Providing secretarial support to the pool of project reviewers; 8. Providing a documentation base on ongoing or previous malaria and agriculture related research; 9. Maintaining the SIMA website; 10. Facilitating periodic global electronic discussion. The Secretariat specifically supports the development of research projects by providing: · Assistance in partner identification; · Guidance on proposal writing; · Guidance on trans-disciplinarity within projects.
	Contact the SIMA Web Coordinator