Search Climate Insights Directory

The 14th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council concluded that the "Declaration of Panama" was not approved due to insufficient signatures, though the Council recommended efforts to approve a similar document at the next CoP meeting. Additionally, Brazil was selected to host the 15th Meeting of the EC in São José dos Campos during the week of February 25, 2002.

The 14th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council focused on administrative governance, including the selection of a new Director, the filling of vacancies on the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and the development of procedures for project suspension and termination. The Council requested reports on IAI investments versus member country contributions and scientific results. Notably, the 'Declaration of Panama' was not approved due to a lack of signatures, and Brazil was selected to host the 15th meeting in February 2002.

The 14th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC) focused on administrative governance, including the selection of a new Director and the filling of vacancies in the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The EC requested reports on IAI investments versus member contributions and scientific results from funded projects. Notably, the 'Declaration of Panama' was not approved due to insufficient signatures, and Brazil was selected to host the 15th EC meeting in February 2002.

The 14th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council approved its agenda and the report from the 13th meeting, while establishing deadlines for the selection of Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members and the IAI Director. The Council requested the development of rules regarding project suspension, termination, and member country contributions, as well as the creation of country-specific reports detailing IAI investments and scientific results.

This briefing documents the actions and decisions taken during the first day of the 14th Executive Council (EC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on November 26, 2001, in Havana, Cuba.

The report identifies a significant decline in financial contributions and institutional participation among IAI member countries since 1997. While 19 American countries have joined, only a few maintain consistent funding, with the USA providing the vast majority of programmatic support. The Working Group analyzed data on voluntary contributions, institutional meeting attendance, and scientific program participation to diagnose the lack of interest, concluding that further analysis is required to develop effective recovery strategies.

The 13th Executive Council meeting of the IAI focused on institutional governance, financial stability, and the progress of its scientific programs. Key outcomes include the approval of Terms of Reference for an external evaluation of the IAI, the recommendation of candidates for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and the approval of a new communications strategy. The Council addressed critical financial challenges, specifically a decline in voluntary contributions to the Basic Budget, and established an ad hoc committee to manage payment delays from member countries. Programmatically, the IAI reported the conclusion of its Initial Scientific Program (ISP) and discussed the implementation of the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN) program, noting administrative difficulties in fund distribution and reporting. The meeting also coordinated future activities, including a synthesis conference ('Montevideo + 10') and a regional workshop on sustainable science in Brazil.

The Eighth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reaffirmed the institute's role as a regional leader in coordinating scientific research on global change in the Americas. The meeting resulted in eight resolutions covering the institute's strategic direction, the approval of a selection process for the Executive Director, the establishment of an external evaluation committee, and the approval of financial statements, budgets, and scientific grant guidelines for the 2001/2002 period.

This document is a participant list for the XIII IAI Executive Council Meeting, which took place in Panama City, Panama, on July 17-18, 2001.

The Fund Raising Working Group (FRWG) met on May 18, 2001, to address funding challenges and identify new donor opportunities for the IAI. Key concerns include the rise of debt in voluntary contributions from member countries, leading to proposals for penalties such as restricting voting rights or program participation. The group explored partnerships with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) via UNEP, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), and the Organization of American States (OAS). While the European Commission was ruled out as a cooperation partner, the group aims to engage Spanish and Portuguese authorities and maintain links with the International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA) to reach European and Japanese agencies. The report also notes a need to improve the IAI Directorate's capacity for writing strong proposals by involving researchers (PIs and CoPIs) more effectively.

The IAI invested approximately US$20 million between 1995 and 2000 to establish multinational research networks in the Americas. This was achieved through four primary programs: Start-up Grants (SG), the Initial Science Program (ISP), the Collaborative Research Network (CRN), and the Program to Expand Scientific Capacity in the Americas (PESCA). The IAI's Science Agenda focused on four themes, with the largest funding allocation going to 'Changes in the Composition of the Atmosphere, Oceans and Fresh Waters'. The institute reports 145 publications resulting from ISP and CRN funding and emphasizes student training as a key mechanism for regional scientific development. However, the IAI notes a funding gap of over US$6 million for high-quality research proposals that remain unfunded.

The document outlines the conditions under which the IAI may suspend or terminate research grants, such as material failure to comply with terms, mutual agreement, or scientific misconduct. It defines 'suspension' as a temporary withholding of support and 'termination' as the cancellation of a grant. The policy includes a structured process for notification, corrective action, and a formal informal resolution process for disputes handled by the Executive Council Chair. Additionally, it details the definitions and investigative procedures for 'misconduct in science,' emphasizing the primary responsibility of grantees to detect and report such issues.

The document lists the administrative outcomes of the first day of the IAI CoP-VIII on July 19, 2001. Key actions included the election of the Bureau and the Executive Director Selection Committee, the approval of the meeting agenda and the previous meeting's report, and the decision to move the next CoP meeting to February/March 2002 to ensure the election of a new Director before the current contract expires in March 2002.

The document lists the administrative decisions of the IAI Executive Council on July 17, 2001, including the approval of the meeting agenda, corrections to the previous meeting's report, the composition of the Nomination Committee for the SAC, and recommendations for budget reporting and institutional restructuring.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) met in May 2001 to review the first-year progress of various Collaborative Research Network (CRN) projects, discuss the upcoming Human Dimension open science meeting, and plan for an ISP Synthesis Conference in 2002. The committee identified a critical need for a standard reporting format to better track scientific outputs and human dimension impacts. The meeting also addressed SAC membership vacancies, the development of the IAI Data Information System (IAI-DIS), and the failure of a proposal for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to secure funding for Latin America.

The IAI Science Grant Program – Phase II (SGP-II) is a competitive funding initiative designed to support the development of multinational research networks addressing global change issues in the Americas. The program offers one-time awards of up to US$ 30,000 for projects lasting up to one year, with a specific priority on 'Integrated Assessment, Human Dimensions and Applications' (Theme IV) and the participation of young scientists. Eligible proposals must involve institutions from at least three IAI ratifying countries and align with the IAI Science Agenda's four primary themes: climate variability, ecosystem/biodiversity studies, atmospheric/oceanic composition, and integrated assessments.

The report details the IAI's efforts to maintain member country engagement, manage scientific research programs, and expand educational capacity in the Americas between July 2000 and June 2001.

The report evaluates the initial year of the CRN program, highlighting a strong scientific output and significant capacity building through graduate courses and workshops across the Americas. While many projects successfully leveraged millions in additional funding, the IAI identified critical administrative gaps, specifically the lack of a standard reporting format and difficulties in international fund transfers.

The document details a selection process for the IAI Director starting in July 2001 and concluding with an election in February 2002. The process includes a vacancy announcement in August/September 2001, a long-list finalization in Havana in November 2001, telephone interviews in December 2001, and final interviews in February 2002 prior to the CoP meeting in Brazil.

The document details the 1995 selection process for the IAI Director, managed by a Selection Committee appointed by the Executive Council (EC). The process involved a multi-stage filtering system: an initial review of nominations based on a standard form and specific ranking criteria, telephone interviews to create a long-list, and formal presentations by a short-listed group of candidates. The Selection Committee then recommended the most qualified candidates to the Conference of the Parties (CoP), which conducted the final election via secret ballot.