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The Executive Committee meets in London
2007-03-30
Each year IFRTD's Executive Committee meets as the network highest governing body to discuss future plans as well as reflect and report on the past year. While last year the meeting was held in Stockholm this year the EC was organised in London from November 27 to 29. The Executive Committee meeting was divided into a governance day, a strategy workshop and a networking and organisational learning day.
As usual a wide number of participants from various bodies attended the meeting. Besides the entire Secretariat, two NFG representatives per region (eight in total) had been elected through the regional consultative process to report and account for activities in the past year as well as agree on the work plan for 2007. The EC had representatives from Peru, Mexico, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Indonesia as well as South Africa. A representative from GATNET was also invited to ensure participation from IFRTDs Community of Practice as well as a member of the Mobility and Health Networked Research programme. Paul Starkey represented IFRTD's co-opted membership and acted as the chairman in Danang Parikesit's absence. And Practical Action was also represented as IFRTD's host.
From the bi- and multi-lateral side DFID, Sida, SDC, the World Bank, global Transport Knowledge Partnership and ILO shared their valuable experiences and expertise. This broad based participatory approach helped to ensure that a wide variety of views informed the Executive Committee’s decisions which will guide IFRTD’s work for the next year as well providing an essential mechanism for upward and downwards accountability.
The first day of the Executive Committee Meeting was set aside for governance. Each of the four regions as well as the Secretariat reported on activities and programmes of 2006 as well as shared and agreed on work plans for 2007. The second day was set aside for adopting the new strategy 2007-2011 which all members of the EC endorsed by signing it. One of the major implications of this adoption is that IFRTD has opted for autonomy and depart ways from the current host Practical Action. The rest of the day was spent on brainstorming and discussing ways forward which will help inform the strategic work plan 2007 and beyond.The last day was set aside for networking, sharing information followed by a field trip facilitated by London Cycling Campaign. There were interesting discussions on the South African Household Travel Survey carried out by the Department of Transport, Gender and Rural Roads in Peru, Children and Mobility in Ghana, Malawi and South Africa, Mobility and Health in Mexico and Community Participation in Burkina Faso. The meeting was concluded by a field trip in bicycle taxis to see London's rapid growth in cycling and cycling infrastructure, ending with a presentation at the offices of the London Cycling Campaign.
To download a PDF of the ECM agenda and minutes please click here. If you are interested in obtaining a CD ROM of the full presentations given during the meeting then please contact ifrtd@ifrtd.org.
