Global Ocean Observing
System for
IOGOOS Memorandum of
Understanding
Memorandum of Understanding
on the creation of an Association of marine operational and research
agencies/institutions/authorities in the Indian Ocean Region, hereinafter
referred to as IOGOOS, whose Members seek to foster cooperation on the
NOTING that the lives of at least 1.5 billion
people on this planet Earth are profoundly influenced by the Indian Ocean
characterised by a fragile living environment that is sensitive to climate
changes, natural disasters and human impact,
REALISING the imperative need to take a pro-active
role and concerted actions to understand the Ocean and Coasts for making
informed decisions that save lives and protect living habitats and resources in
the Indian Ocean region,
INTENDING to contribute, collectively, to the
progress of ocean observations, ocean science and operational oceanography,
focussing on these imperative needs of the
RECOGNISING the important role taken by the Global
Ocean Observing System (GOOS) sponsored by United Nations Agencies
(Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO; World Meteorological
Organisation; and United Nations Environment Programme) and the International
Council Science, to facilitate a global coordination of ocean and coastal
observing systems and to catalyse formation of alliances between nations to
focus effort on their pressing regional concerns,
NOTING the other programmes of IOC such as IODE and
ODINAFRICA
DESIRING to establish IOGOOS to provide an
organizational framework for
planning, coordination and effective implementation of appropriate regional
and sub-regional ocean and coastal observing systems and
services,
FURTHERING the efforts of the High level Consultations
at the Indian Ocean Principals’ Meeting held on
the undersigned agree to the following
Articles:
By signing this Memorandum of Understanding,
the Agencies/Institutions/Authorities agree to (a) establish IOGOOS, an
Association of marine operational and research agencies in the Indian Ocean
region, (b) to become Members of IOGOOS and (c) to co-operate in promoting GOOS
in the
Members of IOGOOS will
collaborate and work together for developing programmes for the implementation
of GOOS in the Indian Ocean and for promoting activities of common interest for
the development of operational oceanography in the
(i)
Enhance the Ocean Observing
System in the region,
(ii)
Promote and facilitate
efficient and effective management, exchange and utilisation of oceanographic
data,
(iii)
Promote programmes and
projects in operational oceanography and ocean services in the region meeting
the requirements of end-users,
(iv)
Strengthen capacity
building for enhancing the capabilities in the region,
(v)
Encourage research to
support the needs of Users,
(vi)
Develop synergies with other ocean
programmes and regional GOOS bodies, and
(vii)
Contribute to international planning and
promotion of GOOS.
The activities of IOGOOS,
accordingly, would include the following:
(i)
Identify gaps and deficiencies in the
existing/planned ocean and coastal observing system (in-situ and remote sensing)
and develop a programme for realising a well-designed Ocean Observation System
for the region, adhering to the ‘GOOS principles’
(ii)
Promote the development of low
cost and efficient instrumentation and observing systems
(i)
Promote the development of low
cost and efficient systems for acquisition, management, processing and
interpretation of data
(ii)
Expand and strengthen
networking of countries using modern technology including internet for real and
near real time exchange of data and products
(iii)
Promote the
development of standardized operational data procedures, including data quality
control and data management
(iv)
Provide high quality data
and time series for a better understanding and improved management of the
(v)
Collaborate with other
programme and bodies in the field of data collection and data
management
(vi)
Co-ordinate GOOS
data acquisition with existing regional and national data gathering systems
under the agreements and conventions (e.g. relating to pollution monitoring,
marine meteorology, navigation, safety at sea etc.)
(vii)
Publish findings
of meetings, workshops, studies and other documents commissioned by the IOGOOS
members, submit documents to international meetings related to GOOS and assure
collective representation of GOOS to regional and national agencies when
requested by members.
(i)
Identify priorities
for operational oceanography and ocean services in the Indian Ocean region,
based on evaluation of social and economic benefits,
(ii)
Promote the
development of regional and local operational oceanography, taking into account
the components of GOOS, for realising services and products of maximum
value to the countries of the region
(iii)
Support operational
oceanography and services in collaboration with marine-related public and
private sector organizations and programmes
(i)
Identify the training needs
of countries in the region and promote organisation of training courses,
workshops and seminars
(ii)
Promote the
development of common infrastructure, major systems or capital installations
required to support operational oceanography in
(iii)
Promote and aid capacity building, exchange
of know-how, technology and personnel as well as
collaboration, within the framework of GOOS;
(iv)
Promote pilot
projects and studies in the countries of the region to demonstrate the economic benefits of
GOOS, and
(v)
Strengthen collaboration
with GOOS and JCOMM capacity building panels and IOC-TEMA including IOCINWIO and
IOCINDIO capacity building programmes.
(i)
Promote research and pre-operational
research for solving problems relating to operational oceanography in the
(i)
Contribute to
international planning and implementation of GOOS,
(ii)
Assist in developing policies for the
furtherance of GOOS and co-ordinate the best regional participation in GOOS,
identifying where greatest value is added by collaboration
(iii)
Promote collaboration between existing
regional multi-national agencies/institutions/authorities, programmes,
organisations, and initiatives having expertise in oceanography, operational
systems, and remote sensing of the ocean,
(iv)
Collaborate, as appropriate, with
GOOS-Africa, NEAR-GOOS, SEA-GOOS, WAGOOS and WIOMAP through joint projects and
activities,
(v)
Cooperate, as appropriate, with
organisations concerned with the assessment of climate change, global
environmental research, and the impacts of climate variability and climate
change,
(vi)
Promote
collaboration with space agencies/institutions/authorities and remote sensing
scientists and engineers so as to ensure optimum integration of both in situ and
remote sensing data in operational oceanography;
(vii)
Promote
collaboration between institutes and agencies in providing/attracting aid and
assistance to developing countries for operational oceanography, and the
necessary capacity building, and
(viii)
Provide as
appropriate, expertise, consultants, etc., to the GOOS Steering Committee (GSC),
IOC WMO UNEP
Committee for GOOS (I-GOOS), and to
the international sponsoring agencies/institutions/authorities of
GOOS
4.1 IOGOOS
Members will be national organisations (authorities, agencies, institutes) from
the region who are willing to advance GOOS in their country and actively
contribute to its extension in the
4.2 All members of IOGOOS shall register a contact point and a Representative with the Secretary of IOGOOS. IOGOOS communications shall be sent to both the contact point and the Representative. The Representative shall participate in Annual Meetings and be eligible for election as an Officer. The Representative should have an authority, or have a delegated authority, to take decisions and vote at the Annual Meeting. A member may change the Representative for the Annual meeting by notifying the Secretary in writing or by email prior to the Annual Meeting.
4.3
Multi-national organisations of the Indian Ocean region and Agencies or
Institutes from outside the Indian Ocean region with an interest in
4.4 The
signatories to this MoU have been admitted as the initial Members of
IOGOOS.
4.5 Admission
of a new Member to IOGOOS shall be done by the Annual meeting, based on written
application made to the Secretariat of IOGOOS. Such application shall be made by
the Head of the Agency and seconded by at least two
Members.
4.6 When any
Agency from a country wishes to join IOGOOS and there is already one or more
Member(s) from that country, the applicant shall include a written statement
that the existing Member(s) agree(s) to the Membership of the new Member and
that the agencies/institutions/authorities from the same country will work in
collaboration.
4.7 A Member
may withdraw from IOGOOS by giving at least six months notice to the
Secretariat. Its departure takes effect on the 31st December of the
year in which it notified its decision. A Member remains liable for its
commitments made prior to the decision to leave unless agreed differently by the
remaining Members acting unanimously.
4.8 In the
event of a Member not meeting its obligations, financial or otherwise, an Annual
Meeting acting by a two-thirds majority (not counting the concerned Member), may
decide to exclude that Member and relieve it of the commitments made prior to
the decision to expel.
5.1 The
Association shall, in each calendar year, hold an Annual Meeting in addition to
any other general meetings in that year and shall specify the meeting as such in
the notices calling it. The Association shall hold its first Annual Meeting
within fifteen months of this MoU entering into force. Not more than fifteen
months shall elapse between the date of one Annual Meeting of the Association
and that of the next. The Annual Meeting shall be held at such time and place as
decided by the Officers at the previous meeting.
5.2 Major
items of policy shall be discussed and decided at the Annual Meeting, including
the establishment of projects, formation of subsidiary bodies, review of work,
and modification of the Rules, with instructions and guidance for the Officers
for the coming year. The Secretariat will provide an agenda to all Members,
approved by the Officers, at least two months before the meeting.
5.3 The
Annual Meeting shall receive reports from the Chairperson of IOGOOS and the
Chairpersons of the principle Subsidiary bodies. The accounts and financial
summary for the previous year and the budget for the following year shall be
submitted for approval.
5.4 The
subscription required from Members shall be fixed by the Annual Meeting from
time to time.
5.5
Appointment of Officers and the recognition of new Members shall be made
at Annual Meetings,.
6.1 A notice
shall be circulated to all Members notifying vacancies among the Officers and
requesting nominations from members for the position of Chair of IOGOOS and for
other Officers three months prior to the Annual Meeting. The Officers should be
broadly representative of the regions of the
6.2
Officers shall be appointed for a term of 2
years, up to a maximum of two terms. With the unanimous agreement of all
members, in exceptional cases, an Officer can be extended for a further term of
2 years.
6.3 The
Chairperson and the Officers will select a Secretary who will be responsible for
ensuring the satisfactory implementation of all decisions made by the Annual
Meeting and between Annual Meetings by the Officers, for the IOGOOS Office, and
for the management of IOGOOS funds. The Secretary will report to the Chairperson
and to the Officers. He/she will prepare papers for the Annual and other
meetings and may represent IOGOOS at international organisations as required by
the Officers.
6.4 The
Officers may exercise the powers of the Association in accordance with this MoU
and the policies and directions agreed by the Members at the Annual Meeting from
time to time. Any acts or decisions of the Officers not so authorized in advance
shall be subject to the approval of the Members at the next Annual Meeting
following such act or decision.
6.5
The Head of
IOC Regional Programme Office in
6.6
Officers serve in an individual
capacity and shall not nominate substitutes. If an Officer does not attend two
consecutive Annual Meetings, the position of that Officer will be considered
vacant and an election will be conducted for the position. If an Officer
resigns, the position shall remain vacant until the next Annual Meeting.
However, if the Chair is unable to serve, one of the Officers will be nominated
by the Officers, to act as a Chair, till next Annual Meeting.
6.7 The
Association may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act as
an Officer either to fill a vacancy or as an additional Officer and may also
determine the rotation in which any additional Officers are to
retire.
7.1
The IOGOOS Secretariat will be established
at a leading oceanographic research establishment in the
7.2
The location of the Office may be rotated
after six years from one Member to another by agreement of Members at an Annual
Meeting at least one year in advance of the date of
transfer.
7.3
Members will be requested to submit
proposals to host the Secretariat. The host institution for the Secretariat will
be decided at the first annual meeting.
8.1 The Members
at an Annual Meeting, or the Officers between Annual Meetings acting within the
powers defined in Article 6, may create or abolish any committee, working group,
project team or task team consisting of one or more Officers or other nominated
representatives of Members. Representatives of Agencies/institutions/authorities
not being Members may be invited to join any committee, working group, project,
or task team with the approval of the Officers. Any such committee, working
group, project, or task team may be made subject to any terms of reference the
Officers may impose in accordance with the Rules.
8.2 The
Officers may appoint any person as an Associate Officer who may represent any
committee, working group or task team at meetings of the Officers for the
purpose of liaising with and reporting the actions of such committees to the
Officers. The Associate Officers shall not by virtue of their appointment as
such be Officers of the Association and they shall not have a right to attend
and vote at the meetings of Officers.
9.1
The Association
may from time to time make such Rules as it shall deem necessary, expedient or
convenient for the proper conduct and management of the Association and for the
purposes of prescribing conditions of Members.
9.2
The
Association, in its general meeting, shall have the power to alter, add to or
repeal the Rules. The Secretariat shall circulate any such information to all
Members.
10.1 All issues raised
at any meeting of the Association shall, if possible, be decided with the
unanimous consent of all Members present at such meeting and all Members shall
use their respective reasonable endeavours to reach consensus in relation to all
issues at each meeting. If any matter relating to the affairs of the Association
has been considered by a meeting of the Members and no decision or resolution
has been arrived at the meeting in relation to the matter by reason of the
non-unanimous consent of all Members present, then the matter shall be carried
over to a further meeting of Members to be held within three months of the date
of the meeting at which the matter was first raised ("the Adjourned
Meeting").
10.2 Pending the Adjourned
Meeting the Members shall continue to use their reasonable endeavours to liaise
with each other to obtain a common consensus with a view to agreeing the matter
to be decided at the Adjourned Meeting.
10.3 If, at an Adjourned
Meeting and following an appropriate period of debate, a matter cannot be agreed
upon by all Members present and voting then the matter shall be decided by a
majority of 75% of those Members present and voting.
10.4 Each Member has the
right to appoint an authorized representative to attend Annual Meetings and has
the right to vote.
10.5 An instrument
appointing a duly authorized representative shall be in writing, executed by or
on behalf of the appointing Member and shall be in the following form (or in a
form as near thereto as circumstances allow or in any other form which is usual
or which the Members may approve): The Secretariat will keep an up to date list
of all representatives which will be made available to any Member on
request.
11.1 Subsidiary bodies
of IOGOOS created in accordance with Article 8 shall be established with written
terms of reference and outline work tasks which shall be confirmed or altered at
regular intervals specified in their Terms of Reference. The number of standing
bodies or committees shall be kept to a minimum. Subsidiary bodies or panels
should be created for a specific task and disbanded after a fixed
time.
11.2 Subsidiary bodies
of IOGOOS shall report to the Annual Meeting with a summary of their
achievements, meetings held, and
forthcoming plans, if any.
11.3 When a Subsidiary
body deems it necessary to create a further subsidiary or panel this shall only
be done with agreement of the Officers, and the status and terms of reference of
the new body shall be submitted to the next Annual Meeting for approval or
disbanding.
11.4 Subsidiary bodies
may initiate projects and set up project organising groups seeking grants to
fund projects. In all cases where projects are considered or planned, the
Subsidiary body shall seek approval from the Officers, and inform the IOGOOS
Secretariat.
11.5 The leaders of
all Subsidiary bodies and projects shall meet collectively from time to time
under the Chairpersonship of an Officer to review the range of work and projects
being undertaken by IOGOOS. This meeting shall usually be conducted in
conjunction with the Annual Meeting.
12.1
The
primary source of funding for IOGOOS will be through Annual subscriptions from
Members and Voluntary contributions from Members, GOOS or its Sponsors to a
‘IOGOOS Central Fund’ that will be used to support activities and operations of
IOGOOS such as hosting meetings, organising workshops, adhoc study groups or
pilot projects, hosting of Website, consulting services to national and
multilateral bodies, employing consultants, financing publications, providing
for their own costs of communications, and other items as agreed upon by Members
at the Annual Meeting.
12.2
The
Annual Subscription is fixed,initially, as USD 500/- per Member. The Annual
Meeting shall revise the Annual Subscription, as necessary.
12.3
IOGOOS may solicit in-kind contributions from Members, including
seconding of Officials to support operations and activities of IOGOOS as well as
contribution to the funds of the Association in the shape of donations,
subscriptions, grants, funds from other agencies.
12.4
Members
and other participants shall mobilise subvention on their own, to cover the
costs for attending meetings of IOGOOS
13.1 Financial
transactions of IOGOOS shall be conducted through the financial services office
of the host agency, including invoicing for subscriptions or services provided
management and acknowledgement of receipts, payment of bills due, payment of
honorarium, where relevant.
13.2 In Accordance
with Article 5.3 the Secretary shall present a report of the financial state of
the Association to the Annual Meeting.
The report shall be approved prior to distribution by the Officers, and
shall be scrutinised in particular by one Officer appointed for the
task.
13.3 The Association
shall have the following powers exercisable in furtherance of its aims, objectives and activities but not otherwise, viz.
(i)
to issue appeals,
hold public meetings and take such other steps as may be required for the
purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Association in the shape
of donations, subscriptions, grants, funds from other
agencies,
(ii)
to engage and pay
any person or persons whether on a full-time or part-time basis or whether as
consultant or employee to supervise, organize, carry on the work of and advise
the Association. The income and property utilized by the Association shall be
applied solely to the promotion of its objectives as set forth in this MoU and
no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of
dividend, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to Members of the
Association and no Officer of the Association shall be appointed to any office
of the Association paid by salary or fees, or receive any remunerations or other
benefit in money or money's worth from the Association.
14.1 In accordance
with the objectives of the Association set out in Article 3 IOGOOS will work
closely with other organisations to promote operational oceanography.
14.2 The Annual
Meeting may invite representatives of other organisations to establish a link
with the Association, or may arrange exchange of observers or cross-membership,
in accordance with classes of Membership.
14.3 The Association
is a regional Subsidiary of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and as such
will seek to develop GOOS objectives in
IOGOOS will continue until such
time as an Annual Meeting of Members decides that it should
end.
Signatories to the IOGOOS
MoU
|
Agency |
Country |
Signature |
Name |
|
MERCATOR |
|
|
Dr. FRANCOIS
GERARD |