Article 1: International Geoscience Programme

The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) as part of the IGGP fosters interdisciplinary geoscientific research among researchers internationally, through joint research work, meetings and workshops. Since its creation in 1972, IGCP has supported over 350 projects in about 150 countries. IGCP brings together scientists from around the world, and provides them with seed money to devise and conduct joint international research and to collectively publish the results. High on the list of selection criteria are scientific quality and the extent of the international, multidisciplinary cooperation likely to be generated by a proposed project.

Article 2: International Geoscience Programme Council

2.1 A Council is hereby set up for the International Geoscience Programme (hereinafter referred to as the “IGCP”).

2.2 The Council shall be composed of six ordinary members, with the right to vote, appointed by mutual agreement by the Director-General of UNESCO and the President of the IUGS. The Director-General of UNESCO and the Secretary-General of the IUGS or their representatives shall be ex officio members of the Council without the right to vote.

2.3 Ordinary members appointed to the Council shall be high-level experts actively engaged in scientific research related to the objectives of the IGCP, taking into account an equitable geographical distribution and gender equality. They shall serve in a personal capacity, not as representatives of their respective states or any other affiliated entities. They will be required to ensure that they have no conflict of interest and that they will not seek or accept instructions from governments or other authorities.

2.4 Ordinary members of the Council shall be appointed for a term of four years, renewable once. Every two years, half the membership of the Council shall be renewed. When appointing the initial members of the Council, the Director-General of UNESCO shall indicate those whose initial term shall expire after two years.

2.5 In case an ordinary member resigns or is unable to serve, she/he may be replaced for the remainder of her/his term in accordance with the procedure defined above.

2.6 The Council shall be responsible for advising the Director-General of UNESCO and the President of IUGS on the strategy, planning and implementation of the IGCP and specifically for:

(a) supervising the implementation of IGCP from the organizational and from the scientific points of view;

(b) studying proposals concerning developments and modifications of the programme;

(c) recommending scientific projects of interest to IGCP member countries;

(d) coordinating international cooperation in the framework of IGCP;

(e) assisting in the development of national and regional projects related to IGCP;

(f) recommending any measures that may be required for the successful implementation of the programme;

(g) coordinating IGCP with related international programmes.

2.7 In carrying out its activities, the Council may make full use of the facilities offered by UNESCO, IUGS, other international organizations, governments and foundations. The Council may also consult on scientific questions all appropriate international or national governmental or non-governmental scientific organizations and, in particular, the International Council for Science (ICSU).

2.8 After each session, the Council shall present a report on its work and its recommendations to the Bureau referred to in Article 4 below. The report will be circulated to IUGS, Member States and Associate Member States of UNESCO.

2.9 The Council shall submit a report, on the progress of the IGCP, for each session of the General Conference of UNESCO, as part of a joint report of the IGGP, and shall report annually to the Executive Committee of IUGS.

2.10 The Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 3: International Geoscience Programme Council Sessions

3.1 The Council shall meet at least once a year at the invitation of UNESCO and the IUGS. The meetings of the Council shall, unless the Council decides otherwise, be held in public.

3.2 Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO and adhering bodies of the IUGS will be invited to send observers to the public sessions of the Council.

3.3 The United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements may be represented at sessions of the Council.

3.4 The Director-General of UNESCO may extend invitations to send observers to sessions of the Council to:

(a) organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements;

(b) intergovernmental organizations;

(c) international non-governmental organizations, in accordance with the Directives concerning UNESCO’s partnership with non-governmental organizations.

3.5 Representatives of the Scientific Board referred to in Article 5 below may also attend sessions of the Council in accordance with arrangements to be made by UNESCO and the IUGS.

3.6 Observers of interested international scientific organizations may be invited to attend sessions of the Council in accordance with the regulations and rules in force in UNESCO and in the IUGS.

3.7 Representatives and observers referred to in Articles 3.2 to 3.6 above shall not have the right to vote.

3.8 At the beginning of its ordinary session subsequent to the appointment of new members in accordance with Article 2.4 above, the Council shall elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Rapporteur who shall remain in office for two years.

Article 4: International Geoscience Programme Bureau

4.1 A Bureau is hereby set up for the IGCP.

4.2 The Bureau will consist of five members: the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the Rapporteur of the Council of the IGCP. The Director-General of UNESCO and the SecretaryGeneral of IUGS or their representatives shall be ex officio members of the Bureau without the right to vote.

4.3 Its duties will be:

(a) to make the final decisions on IGCP project proposals and levels of funding;

(b) to hold joint coordination meetings as required with the Bureau of the UNESCO Global Geoparks.

4.4 The Bureau shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

4.5 The report of the sessions of the Bureau will be circulated to the Council and to Member States and Associate Member States of UNESCO.

Article 5: Scientific Board

5.1 The Council shall be assisted in its scientific duties by a Scientific Board established for this purpose jointly by UNESCO and IUGS on the recommendation of the Council.

5.2 The functions of the Scientific Board shall be to evaluate project proposals in terms of their scientific merit, their financial needs, their economic and social interest and their appropriateness to the general scope of the programme, and to make recommendations concerning them to the Council. The Council shall define the terms of reference of the Scientific Board.

Article 6: Secretariat

6.1 The secretariat for the IGCP shall be provided by UNESCO and by IUGS, if the latter so desires, and shall furnish the necessary services for all sessions of the Council and of its Bureau.

6.2 The Director-General of UNESCO shall take the steps required for the convening of the sessions of the Council.