The terms of reference for the Forum were first agreed by members in 2002, and were last revised in March 2008.
These terms of reference define the objectives and operational scope of the Forum Main Board.
The goal of the Forum is to:
Maximise the coherence and effectiveness of UK environmental research1 funding
It will achieve its goal through the following objectives:
- Building an enduring strategic partnership of funders of environmental research;
- Providing a 'joined - up' approach to UK environmental research strategy, allowing funders to present a more coherent picture of their specific contribution;
- Determining areas of synergy where joint or complementary activities would yield benefit and add value;
- Identifying and considering taking action on any gaps in environmental research; and
- Shaping National and International future science direction through identification of UK priorities for environmental research funding.
It will achieve these by:
- The sharing of strategies, priorities, activities and information with other funders' fora and stakeholders (both national and international);
- Members being able and prepared to consider targeting funds to gaps, synergies and opportunities identified by the Forum where appropriate;
- Ensuring clarity of funding opportunities; it will not be a research funding body.
- Delivery of an agreed, jointly funded work plan.
The Forum will concentrate on activities that:
- Clearly add value;
- Could not be accomplished by a single member organisation acting alone;
- Have potential to advance environmental research in the UK and internationally.
It is responsible for:
- Adopting or amending these Terms of Reference;
- Agreeing the membership of the Forum/ Main Board;
- Agreeing and owning a rolling 3-year delivery plan and a group structure to deliver this;
- Ensuring that the secretariat is adequately resourced to perform its functions;
- Communication of objectives and progress to partner organisations and other key stakeholders.
The following performance measures will be adopted:
- Progress in the implementation of the work plan of the Forum will be assessed at each meeting of the main ERFF Board via consideration of the objectives of each project.
- Progress towards achieving the objectives and the ERFF Vision will be reviewed every three years by a process of review.
It has the following organisation:
- Initially Forum membership will be drawn from UK public bodies that fund or use environmental research and trained scientists2.
- There will be three tiers of membership3 based on level of subscription;
- Main Board membership comprises one representative from each organisation contributing at Tier 1 or 2;
- Members will have strategic or financial executive authority, e.g. Chief Executive, Chief Scientist or Research Director level;
- Membership details (organisations and representatives) will be published on a Forum web site;
- The Chair4 will be rotated every three years in line with the delivery plan;
- The Secretariat is jointly funded by member organisations and its Head reports to the Chair of the Main Board.
The following working methods will be adopted:
- The activities of the Forum will be defined in a three-year work plan, agreed to and funded by members;
- Progress with delivering the work-plan will be considered at each meeting, with particular focus on major activities e.g. the UK Environmental Observation Framework and the Living With Environmental Change Programme, which will be standing agenda items.
- The Main Board will meet twice annually. Level 3 subscribers will also be invited to attend one of these meetings;
- One or more group meetings will also be held to progress the Forum's Delivery Plan. The current organisation of the working groups is shown in Figure 1 (the number and organisation of groups will reflect the work plan adopted by the Forum).
- The Executive Group5 will have responsibility for the Forum delivery plan overall, the Secretariat and for providing advice between meetings;
- The Secretariat will be responsible for the administrative arrangements and minutes for all meetings;
- Wherever possible the Forum will adopt sustainable methods of working (electronic papers and meetings, use of video conferencing);
- For each major activity the Forum will consider how best to engage a broader range of stakeholders;
- To help inform the Forum's discussions use will be made of existing expert groups to consider specific issues. Where these do not exist new ones will be established;
- All information relating to the Forum's activities will be published on the web site;
- The Forum will work openly and transparently. Agendas, minutes of meetings and working papers will be public documents and will be made available on the Forum web site.