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BYLAWCamel Forum Ethiopia

Camel Forum Ethiopia

Table of Contents

Camel Forum Ethiopia 3PART I – GENERAL 31. Name 32. Objectives 3

PART II – CAMEL FORUM MEMBERSHIP 43. Composition and Membership Qualification 44. Duties and Responsibilities of the members of the Camel Forum 5

PART III – STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE SECRETARIAT 55. The Secretariat of the Camel Forum shall be composed of: 56. Duties Of The Secretariat 57. The Steering Committee 68. Duties Of The Steering Committee 69. Coordination Responsibilities 8

PART IV – MEETINGS 810. General Assembly Meetings 811. Procedure At Meetings 9

PART V – FINANCE ADMINISTRATION 1012. Funds 10

PART VI – AMENDMENT AND DISSOLUTION 1113. Amendments of the Bylaw 11

14. Dissolution 11

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Bylaws for Camel Forum Ethiopia

PART I – GENERAL

1. Name

The name of the Forum shall be CAMEL FORUM ETHIOPIA (referred to in this bylaw as “the Camel Forum”).

2. Objectives

The objectives and functions of the Camel Forum are as follows: -

a) Networking and Collaborations

i. To create a network for all actors involved in the value chain of camels, higher learning institutions, researchers, camel interest forums at the national as well as international levels.

ii. To facilitate and support geographical and/or technical program imple-mentation among the different organizations.

b) Training, Research and Development

i. To facilitate the provision of capacity building training to camel practitio-ners, camel herders and stakeholders in order to enhance camel knowl-edge at all levels;

ii. To organize camel related meetings, forums, workshops, seminars and conferences;

iii. To develop training and extension material for camel production, health and management in collaboration with other institutions and individuals;

iv. To create a platform for the promotion and support of research on vari-ous aspects of camels and camel products.

c) Information, Documentation and Communication

i. To analyze, document and disseminate information on camels through meetings, publications and the media;

ii. To develop a documented understanding of the camel situation and com-munity capacities;

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iii. To encourage the advancement of camel knowledge to improve and enhance standards of camel husbandry;

iv. To document, analyze and promote indigenous knowledge of camel herders.

d) Advocacy, Sensitization and Policy Support

i. To advocate for matters concerning camel, including policies to be main-streamed in national development activities;

ii. To support the development and elaboration of a national and regional advocacy strategy to improve and promote better usage of camels;

iii. To elaborate a sensitization strategy that will prepare camel owners to negotiate and enter into agreement with commercial undertakings for the betterment of the camel industry;

iv. To promote, support and advocate the inclusion of practice-based camel education in university curriculum in the country;

v. To support the development of strategies to enhance awareness and better understanding of camels through research, education and exten-sion, as well as to improve marketing of camels.

PART II – CAMEL FORUM MEMBERSHIP

3. Composition and Membership Qualification

a) The Camel Forum is open to all individuals and institutions that have a principal interest in promoting camel health, management, production and marketing.

b) The Camel Forum will work as a community of practice. Within this practice framework, members will recognize and respect the diversity of experience and knowledge within the Camel Forum. Such diversity and knowledge contributes to peer support, knowledge and practice development as well as achievement of the Camel Forum objectives.

c) Any member may be expelled from membership if the Steering Commit-tee so recommends, and if a General Assembly meeting of the Camel Forum shall resolve – by a two-third majority of the members present – that such a member should be expelled on the grounds: that his/her conduct has adversely affected the reputation or dignity of the Camel

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Forum; or that s/he has contravened any of the provisions of the Camel Forum bylaws. The Steering Committee shall have power to suspend a member from his/her membership until the next General Assembly meeting of the Camel Forum following such suspension; but not with-standing such suspension a member whose expulsion is proposed shall have the right to address the General Assembly meeting at which its expulsion is to be considered.

4. Duties and Responsibilities of the members of the Cam-el Forum

a) The members have the right to express their views and interests with regard to camel research and development

b) Active participation in election, i.e. electing and being elected

c) Get regular updates and information through the network

d) The authorized spokesperson of the Camel Forum will always be the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson or the Secretary, unless otherwise authorized by the Steering Committee.

e) No one except the officials mentioned above are authorized to make statements to the press and other parties in the name of the Camel Forum.

PART III – STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE SECRETARIAT

5. The Secretariat of the Camel Forum shall be composed of:

i. The Manager

ii. The Secretary

iii. The Treasurer

6. Duties Of The Secretariat i. The Manager shall be responsible for the management of the Camel

Forum and for that purpose may give directions to the office bearers as to the manner in which they shall perform their duties, within the limits of the law.

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ii. The Secretary shall deal with all the correspondence of the Camel Fo-rum under the general supervision of the Steering Committee. In cases of urgent matters, where the Steering Committee cannot be consulted, the Secretary shall consult with the Chairperson or if s/he is not avail-able, with the Vice-Chairperson. The decisions reached shall be sub-ject to ratification or otherwise at the next executive meeting.

The Secretary shall issue notices convening all meetings of the Steering Committee and all General Assembly meetings of the Camel Forum and shall be responsible for keeping minutes of all such meetings and for the preservation of all records of proceed-ings of the Camel Forum of the Steering Committee.

iii. The Treasurer shall receive and shall also disburse, under the directions of the Steering Committee, all monies belonging to the Camel Forum and shall issue receipts for all monies received by him/her and preserve vouchers for all monies paid by him/her. The Treasurer is responsible in ensuring, to the Steering Committee and to Camel Forum members, that proper books of account of all monies received and paid by the Camel Forum are written up, preserved and available for inspection.

7. The Steering Committee

a) The Steering Committee shall consist of all Camel Forum office bear-ers and other members elected at the annual General Assembly meet-ing; such committee members shall hold office until the following an-nual General Assembly meeting. The Steering Committee shall meet at such times and places as it shall resolve, but shall meet not less than once in any three months.

b) Any member of the Steering Committee who fails to attend a meeting three times in succession and who fails to give his/her reasons and apologize with an acceptable excuse shall automatically be disqualified from being a member of the Steering Committee and his/her position shall be filled by the Steering Committee.

8. Duties Of The Steering Committee

a) The Steering Committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees, as it may deem necessary, to make reports to the Steering Committee upon which such action shall be taken as seems desirable to the Steer-ing Committee desirable.

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b) The Steering Committee may co-opt additional members – not exceed-ing five in number – at any one time and for the purpose of provid-ing specific expertise. It may also invite additional expertise either from within or outside of the membership on an Ad-Hoc basis.

c) All monies disbursed on behalf of the Camel Forum shall be authorized by the Steering Committee.

d) The quorum for meetings of the Steering Committee shall be not less than three office bearers and no less than 51 percent of committee members.

e) The Steering Committee shall meet at such times and places as it shall resolve, but shall meet not less than once in any three months.

f) The Steering Committee shall formulate budgets and control the expen-diture of the Camel Forum, and shall institute controls to ensure effec-tive and efficient implementation of such budget.

g) Such meetings shall be called by notifying all committee members and giving at least seven days notice. However meetings may be called on short notice in the event of an emergency.

h) A resolution in writing, signed by a majority of Steering Committee members, shall be as valid and binding as one that had been passed at a duly convened and constituted Steering Committee meeting.

i) The Steering Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of this bylaw and its decision upon any clause and/or matters arising thereof shall be final and binding to all members, and shall not be open to arbitration and can only be altered by the decision taken at an annual General Assembly meeting.

j) No member of the Steering Committee in his/her capacity as such may make statements to the press on behalf of the Camel Forum, except for the Chairperson or the Secretary, or any other person who may be so delegated.

k) A resolution signed by a majority of the Steering Committee members shall be binding on all members.

l) A Steering Committee member may send a representative in his/her place in the event that he/she is unable to attend a Steering Commit-tee meeting, provided that the designated representative has a proxy in writing indicating that the representative will only have voting rights, but no executive powers.

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9. Coordination Responsibilities

The Plant and Animal Health Regulatory Directorate(APHRD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development (MoARD) is designated as the Coordi-nation Agency and the Chair of the Steering Committee that will support and facilitate meetings; guarantee coordinated division of tasks and responsi-bilities among members of the working Camel Forum as well as the required actions for the development of camel in Ethiopia. APHRD will also provide office, which will host the Camel Forum and the Steering Committee.

PART IV – MEETINGS

10. General Assembly Meetings

There shall be two classes of General Assembly meetings: (i) Annual Gen-eral Assembly meetings, and (ii) special General Assembly meetings.

i. The Annual General Assembly meeting shall be held no later than nine months after the end of the financial year. A notice in writing of such an annual General Assembly meeting, accompanied by the annual state-ment of account and the agenda for the meeting shall be sent to all mem-bers no later than 21 days before the date of the meeting, and where practicable, by press advertisement in one of the national newspapers no later than 14 days before the date of the meeting.

A. The agenda for any annual General Assembly meeting shall consist of the following: -

Confirmation of the minutes for the previous annual General As-sembly meeting.

Consideration of the accounts.

Election of office bearers, the Steering Committee members and trustees where necessary.

Appointment of auditors.

Approval of budget for the next financial year.

Such other matters as the Steering Committee may decide; or as to which notice shall have been given in writing by a member or members to the Secretary at least three weeks before the date of the meeting, and which the Chairperson accepts as proper busi-ness for the meeting.

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B. Resolutions shall be decided by a simple majority of a show of hands unless a poll is called for. In the case of equality of votes, the Chairper-son shall have a second or casting vote.

C. A poll may be called by the Chairperson or at least one third of the members present at the meeting. During a poll, votes may be given personally or by proxy. Proxies in writing shall be deposited with the Secretary and registered before the meeting and shall be in the form prescribed.

D. The quorum for General Assembly meetings shall be no less than 51 percent of the registered members of the Camel Forum.

E. If a quorum does not materialize at any meeting of the Camel Forum the Chairperson shall adjourn the meeting, and another meeting shall be called giving seven days notice; members present at such an adjourned meeting shall be deemed to constitute a quorum.

ii. A Special General Assembly meeting may be called for any special purpose by the Steering Committee. Notice in writing of such a meeting shall be sent to all members no later than seven days before the date thereof and where practicable by press advertisement in one of the na-tional newspapers no later than seven days before the date of such a meeting.

iii. No members of press or non-members of the Camel Forum may attend an annual General Assembly meeting or special General Assembly meeting without prior approval being given by the Chairperson of the meeting. Such presence of strangers shall be notified to and approved by the members in the meeting.

11. Procedure At Meetings

a) At all meetings of the Camel Forum the Chairperson, or in his/her ab-sence, the Vice-Chairperson, or in the absence of both officers, a mem-ber selected by the meeting shall take the chair.

b) The Chairperson may at his/her discretion limit the number of persons permitted to speak in favour of and against any motion.

c) Resolutions shall be decided by simple voting through a show of hands. In the case of equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.

d) Voting at Steering Committee meetings shall be by a simple majority through a show of hands unless a secret vote is called for by at least

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three executive members. In the event of a tie the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.

e) Only paid up members will be allowed to attend any meeting of the Camel Forum.

PART V – FINANCE ADMINISTRATION

12. Funds

The funds of the Camel Forum may only be used in the following man-ner:-

a) All monies and funds shall be received by and paid to the Treasurer and shall be deposited by him/her in the name of the Camel Forum in any bank approved by the Steering Committee.

b) No payments shall be made out of the bank account without a resolu-tion from the Steering Committee authorizing such payment, and all cheques on such a bank account shall be signed by the Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer and two other office bearers of the Camel Fo-rum who shall be appointed by the Steering Committee.

c) The Steering Committee shall have the power to suspend any office bearer whom it has reasonable cause to believe is not properly ac-counting for any of the funds or property of the Camel Forum, and shall have power to appoint another person in his/her place. Such suspen-sion shall be reported to a General Assembly meeting to be convened no later than two months from the date of such suspension and the General Assembly meeting shall have full power to decide what further action should be taken in the matter.

d) The Steering Committee may not commit to an item of expenditure, which exceeds 10 percent of approved annual budget without consent of members given in a Special General Assembly meeting.

e) No major item of expenditure shall be authorized by the Steering Com-mittee unless it has been provided for in the budget estimates formally approved by the annual General Assembly meeting or unless approved in advance at a special General Assembly meeting called for this pur-pose.

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PART VI – AMENDMENT AND DISSOLUTION

13. Amendments of the Bylaw

Amendments to the Camel Forum Bylaw must be approved by at least two-thirds majority of members at a General Assembly meeting of the Camel Forum. They cannot, however, be implemented without the prior consent in writing of the Chairperson obtained upon application to him/her in writing and signed by three of the office bearers.

14. Dissolution

a) The Camel Forum shall not be dissolved except by a resolution passed at a General Assembly meeting through a vote of two thirds of the mem-bers present. If no quorum is obtained, the proposal to dissolve the Camel Forum shall be held one month later. A notice of this meeting shall be given to all members of the Camel Forum at least 14 days be-fore the date of the meeting; members present at such an adjourned meeting shall be deemed to constitute a quorum.

b) Provided, however, that no dissolution shall be effected without prior permission in writing of the Registrar, obtained upon application to him/her, made in writing and signed by three of the office bearers.

c) When the Registrar has approved the dissolution of the Camel Forum, no further action shall be taken by the Steering Committee or any office bearer of the Camel Forum in connection with the aims of the Camel Forum other than to get in and liquidate all assets of the Camel Forum for cash. Subject to the payment of all the debts of the Camel Forum, the balance thereof shall be distributed in such a manner as may be re-solved by the meeting at which the resolution for dissolution is passed.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

This publication is supported by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) funded RDD Project

Cover Photo By: Getachew Abebe