Governance

TerrAfrica has a two-tier decision-making structure: at the country level and at the SSA regional platform level with knowledge and experience shared at the SSA regional level. The structure is rooted in the interactions between countries that have adopted the TerrAfrica approach and their development partners. It provides ways to take stock of national experience and to escalate to the SSA regional platform level issues that cannot be resolved at the country level.

Country Level

TerrAfrica is nationally driven and depends on the leadership and commitments of African countries. Responsibility for the development, financing, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of country SLM programs rests with country governments in consultation with civil society and development partners and are usually part of other documents (NAP, PRSP).

The Governance Structure at country level should be based on the TerrAfrica governance principles and take account of existing structures so as to take advantage of and not duplicate ongoing efforts and mechanisms in addressing SLM. Country level modalities and interactions with the regional platform will be defined on a case-by-case basis using the existing mechanisms on the ground.

SSA Regional Platform Level

At the platform level, the TerrAfrica governance structure includes an Executive Committee and a Secretariat. In addition, the Executive Committee is vested with the capacity to establish Special Advisory Groups (SAGs) as needed and proposed by one of the governance bodies. SLM activities led at the country level drive the harmonization and consultation mechanisms of the governance at the SSA regional level.

This structure carefully builds on and benefits from activities led under existing mechanisms at SSA regional (notably the UNCCD and NEPAD) and country levels (national action program to combat desertification, PRSP, and country assistances strategies).

As a principle, no activity undertaken as part of TerrAfrica should duplicate activities undertaken through an existing mechanism. Rather, TerrAfrica aims to amplify and scale up such activities to achieve more efficient SLM.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee facilitates partnership building and sets TerrAfrica�s policies, strategies, and governance arrangements. The group reviews and approves the annual work program and budgets and monitors and evaluates progress. The Executive Committee also:

• Sets selection criteria and procedures for submission and consideration of proposals for activities to be part of the work program
• Records and endorses parallel activities contributing to TerrAfrica’s objectives if they enhance the alignment of the activities
• Establishes and dissolves special advisory groups (SAGs)
• Supports fundraising for targeted activities, including through the TerrAfrica Leveraging Fund (TLF).

Secretariat

The TerrAfrica Secretariat support the activities of the Executive Committee, is responsible for the Business Plan, budget, an annual work program, and semi-annual and annual reporting all under the guidance and approval of the Executive Committee. In addition to promoting the TerrAfrica objectives in public fora, the Secretariat administers and mobilizes resources for the TLF, and provides general administrative support for the partnership.

Special Advisory Groups (SAGs)

SAGs are created when necessary by the Executive Committee to accomplish targeted tasks during specific time periods. The Executive Committee approves terms of reference to provide advice on projects, topics, and regional or sub-regional and other issues. Each SAG serves as an advisory body either to the Executive Committee and/or the Secretariat. Specifically, a SAG may:

• Advise on methods and criteria to assess proposals for activities to be supported by TerrAfrica
• Provide targeted assistance as needed on a project and/or issue specific basis
• Assist the Secretariat with developing methods for evaluating activities, monitoring progress toward SLM, and implementing approved activities.