Steering Committee
Guiding the Program
Pursuant to the Bishkek Declaration, the snow leopard range countries have agreed “to form a high-level Steering Committee to guide GSLEP implementation, regularly review its progress, and maintain a strong commitment to meet its objectives, through a Secretariat to coordinate GSLEP implementation that is adequately resourced and staffed by the range countries and the international community.”
Objective of the Steering Committee
To guide GSLEP implementation, regularly review its progress, and maintain a strong political commitment to meet its objectives.
Roles of the Steering Committee:
- High-level alliance of decision-makers within and among snow leopard range countries providing stewardship and championing strategic issues, and innovative solutions in support of the GSLEP and towards sustainable development of high-mountain landscapes and local communities.
- To interface, influence and advocate international financial institutions and donor agencies to raise GSLEP program resources.
- To enhance and diversify the alliance by establishing a well-structured partnership with industry, business and NGOs.
- To influence public policy and opinion in respective range countries and prioritize and enhance resources in support of snow leopard and ecosystems conservation.
- Strategic guidance to the Secretariat’s operations in support of the GSLEP implementation and periodic review of the GSLEP implementation process and outcomes.
- Support the GSLEP resource mobilization process, including high-level dialogue with national and international funding sources in the public and private sector.
Membership
The Steering Committee consists of Honorable Ministers (or their designates) of range country governments, in charge of snow leopard conservation with a right to vote. Senior representatives of major contributing funding partners to be voted in by the steering committee every 2 years as observer members with a right of deliberative vote.
Chair and co-Chair
The Steering Committee would be chaired and co-chaired by the Honorable Ministers from the range countries, and would be elected for a period of two years. The position would rotate across range countries. The Chair would convene and host the Steering Committee meetings, and sign communications on behalf of the Steering Committee as needed.
Meetings
The Steering Committee will meet in person or via a video conference at least once every twelve (12) months. A Steering Committee meeting can be called on a self-standing basis or on the margins of other international events. The Chair circulates the meeting’s date, venue, and provisional agenda two (2) months in advance of the meeting, and the meeting’s minutes within two (2) weeks after the meeting. The meeting is valid if at least seven (7) Ministers or their designates are present. Decisions by the steering committee will be made by consensus.
Operation between Meetings
Each Minister designates a Senior Official as the national focal point for the Program implementation. The Secretariat coordinates the work between Steering Committee meetings, and organizes the technical and logistical inputs of the Secretariat, under the guidance of the Chair with assistance from the interested partners and donors of the GSLEP.