Statutes for The Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development

§ 1.         NAME

The organisation’s name is The Norwegian Forum for Environment and Development. ForUM is used as a short form.

 

§ 2.         VISION AND OBJECTIVES

§ 2.1      Vision: 

ForUM’s vision is a democratic and peaceful world, based on equity, solidarity, human rights and ecological sustainability.

§ 2.2.     Objectives:

The ForUM member-community shall:

·         Facilitate the building of joint policy positions on environmental and development issues.

·         Be a centre of competence for political lobbying.

·         Undertake political advocacy on prioritised areas.

·         Be a central meeting place for peace, environment and development organisations.

 

§ 3          JURIDICAL PERSON. LIMITED LIABILITY FOR DEBT.

                ForUM is an independent and free-standing juridical person, with impersonal and limited debt liability.                

 

§ 4          PARTICIPATION

§ 4.1      Participation in ForUM is open for all organisations that support the objectives outlined in Paragraph §2.2

§ 4.2      ForUM has two forms of organisational participation:

·      Members

·       Associate Members

§ 4.3      Member status in ForUM can be given to voluntary organisations, foundations and networks that work with issues related to peace, the environment and development on an idealistic basis, and that support ForUM’s vision and objectives. This kind of status is only given to the head organisation, not to regional and local branches.

§ 4.4      Associate Member status can be given to organisations that support ForUM’s vision and objectives without necessarily fulfilling the other criteria outlined in §4.3.

§ 4.5      The AGM has the highest authority regarding decision-making should there arise any doubt relating to the interpretation of the statutes on matters concerning the status of Members and Associate Members.

§ 4.6      Applications for participation in ForUM are considered at the AGM following recommendations made by the Board. The Board can grant temporary status to an organisation in the period between application and the next scheduled AGM.

§ 4.7      Members or Associate Members who work in opposition to, or who contribute to undermining, ForUM’s objectives, may be expelled following approval at the AGM.

 

§ 5          RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

§ 5.1      Member organisations have the right to meet, speak, propose motions to and vote at the AGM. They are eligible for inclusion on the Board and have the right to propose priority themes and thematic groups to the Board and the AGM. Furthermore, these organisations, through their activity in the approved thematic groups, can be given financial grants to enable report-writing, the holding of events and travel costs.

Members pay a subscription, commit to communicating information about ForUM internally within their own organisations and undertake to participate with representatives in at least one of ForUM’s Thematic Working Groups. 

§ 5.2      The Associate Members shall be permitted to attend as observers at ForUM’s AGM and have the right to speak, but not to propose motions or vote. The Associate Members pay a subscription to ForUM and undertake to communicate information about ForUM’s work and themes internally within their own organisation.

§ 5.3      Members and Associate Members shall receive regular information about ForUM’s programmes and activities. They can avail themselves of ForUM’s contacts and competences as well as participate in meetings and hearings, and they may join courses and conferences organised by ForUM.

§ 5.4      The subscription amount and deadline for payment shall be determined at the AGM.

 

§ 6          THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

§ 6.1      The AGM is ForUM’s highest level of authority and is held before the 15th May each year.

§ 6.2      The AGM is for Members, Associate Members and others invited by the Board.

§ 6.3      Written notice calling the AGM shall be sent out at least three months before the meeting. The notice must include the time and place for the meeting, what the statutes state regarding the agenda, the deadline for submitting proposals for motions and information about committee members that are standing for elections.  

§ 6.4      Proposals shall be received in writing by the Secretariat at least two months before the AGM. These may include proposals for motions to be included in the agenda, suggestions regarding the long-term strategy and framework plan, comments on the annual plan and budget, as well as nominations of candidates for the Election Committee. Written nominations from the members regarding new Board members and their deputies must be with the Election Committee at least two months before the AGM.

§ 6.5      The agenda with supporting papers, including the nominations proposed by the Election Committee, shall be sent to all Members and Associate Members a least one month before the meeting is held.

§ 6.6      The electors at the AGM are made up of one representative from each of the member organisations. Participation in the meeting on behalf of another organisation is not allowed, nor is it possible to vote by proxy. Each Associate Member may attend with one observer. The names of the representatives and observers shall be registered in writing to the Secretariat at least one week before the AGM. The members of the Board have observer status unless they are present at the AGM as the representative for their own organisation. 

§ 6.7      Provided the AGM is called in accordance with the statutes, the meeting is said to have the necessary quorum with the number of members who are in attendance.

§ 6.8      The AGM shall address the following items:

a)      Approval of the notice calling the AGM

b)      Approval of the agenda

c)      Election of chairperson and other meeting officials as required

d)      Election of two representatives to sign the minutes written by the Secretariat

e)      The annual report

f)       The accounts, with the auditor’s statement

g)      Applications to become a Member or Associate Member of ForUM

h)      Proposals received by member organisations

i)        The Board’s proposed annual plan. All comments and proposals shall be presented in written form at the AGM even if they are not included in the Board’s proposition for the annual plan and thematic focus areas

j)     The Board’s proposal for the long-term strategy and framework plan for the relevant years

k)      Any proposals by the Board that are not covered by the annual plan

l)       The Board’s proposals for the budget and subscriptions

m)    Any motions regarding changes to the statutes

n)      Election of members of the Board

o)      Election of the auditor

p)      Election of the Election Committee

 § 6.9      Changes in the statutes and the expulsion of Members can be made with a two-thirds majority of all representatives that are present and qualified to vote. Other resolutions require a simple majority, i.e. more than one half of the votes cast. Blank or abstained votes do not count. All voting is undertaken by casting votes in writing. Motions and nominations that are not sent to the Secretariat or Election Committee in advance, in accordance with the statutes, will not be considered.

§ 6.10    When half of the Board’s members or one third of the member organisations so demand, an extraordinary annual meeting shall be convened. Extraordinary annual meetings cannot pass final decisions regarding changes to the statutes. Extraordinary annual meetings can be held according to the same rules as ordinary annual meetings.

 

§ 7          THE BOARD

§ 7.1      The members of the Board shall be elected at the AGM from the nominations provided by the Election Committee. The members are elected from the candidates identified by the member organisations. The positions are for a period of two years, and are timed such that half the positions are open for election each year. The Chair and the Vice-Chair are chosen separately at the AGM, and timed such that they are open for election in alternative years. In addition three deputy representatives are elected, in order of priority.

§ 7.2      The Board consists of six members and three deputies in addition to the Chair and Vice-Chair. The composition of the Board shall in so far as is possible, reflect the breadth of the member organisations that actively participate in ForUM. Employee representation is in accordance to the relevant tariff agreement for ForUM, implying one representative on the Board and one deputy, in addition to the six other members and three deputies. The employee representative is qualified to vote.

§ 7.3      The Board shall:

a)      Draw up the proposals for a long-term strategy and framework plan covering the relevant years, as well as an annual plan and budget, and present these at the AGM

b)      Implement the approved plans within the approved budget

c)       Ensure that the accounts are kept, and audited in a proper manner

d)      Draw up the annual report and annual accounts and present these at the AGM

e)      Prepare the relevant items to be addressed at the AGM

f)       Prepare the applications to become a Member or Associate Member of ForUM, and present these at the AGM

g)      Manage the applications for financial grants in accordance with the regulations and approved long-term strategy and framework plan, and the annual plan

h)      Ensure that the Secretariat delivers results in accordance with the approved goals

i)        Nominate representatives from ForUM to participate in official delegations

j)        Employ the Managing Director for a five year term, with the possibility of extending this for five more years after the post has been re-advertised

§ 7.4      Board meetings shall be lead by the Chair of the Board, or, in his/her absence, the Vice-Chair.

§ 7.5      The Managing Director shall act as the secretary for the Board. Written minutes shall be taken at all board meetings.

§ 7.6      The necessary quorum is reached when at least half of the board members are present, including the Chair and/or the Vice-Chair. Deputy members are permitted to attend all board meetings.

§ 7.7      The results of a vote are decided by simple majority. The Chair of the Board has two votes in the event of an equal number of votes being cast.

§ 8          WORKING COMMITTEE

§ 8.1      The Board shall appoint a Working Committee consisting of the Chair of the Board and two board members. The Managing Director shall be the secretary for this committee.

§ 8.2      The Working Committee has a mandate lasting until the following AGM.

§ 8.3      The Working Committee shall take care of the Board’s responsibilities between board meetings, within the approved framework plan and other structures as provided by the Board.

§ 8.4      The Working Committee has the necessary quorum when two of the three members are present.

 § 8.5      The minutes from the Working Committee meetings shall be sent to the Board for their information.

§ 9          THE SECRETARIAT

§ 9.1      In order to implement the decisions resolved by the Board and the AGM, ForUM shall have a secretariat with a Managing Director. The Managing Director, or her/his nominated representative, represents ForUM externally.

§ 9.2      The Managing Director employs the staff of the Secretariat in accordance with the framework determined by the Board.

§ 9.3      The Secretariat’s main function is to:

a)      follow up the resolutions and policy objectives made by the Board

b)      coordinate the work within the different thematic focus areas

c)       ensure good internal communication between ForUM’s different bodies and member organisations

d)      work to develop and establish effective channels that lead to an increase in the level of influence achieved by the member organisations and by ForUM

e)      maintain ongoing contact with Norwegian authorities and international partners.

 

§ 10        WORKING PRACTICES

§ 10.1    ForUM shall at all times follow working practices that contribute positively towards the achievement of the objectives and the enhancement of the quality of their members’ competencies and analyses, and that result in more effective impact of their joint policy efforts. The thematic working groups are ForUM’s most usual arena for the exchange of information, analysis, debate and development of joint policies.

§ 10.2    Thematic Working Groups

                The Thematic Groups’ objective is to engage ForUM’s members in thematic focus areas in order to achieve concrete political results.

a)      The Board approves the establishment of new Thematic Groups.

b)      The Thematic Groups are open for participation by representatives of member. organisations, associate member organisations as well as invited individuals who work with the themes being addressed.

c)       The Board provides the guidelines for the work to be undertaken by each Thematic Group.

 

§ 11        THE ELECTION COMMITTEE

§ 11.1    The Election Committee consists of three members, as well as a deputy member from the member organisations. It is responsible for its own constitution.

§ 11.2    The Board puts forward proposals to the AGM regarding the composition of the Election Committee on the basis of nominations received from the member organisations. All nominations received from the members shall be presented at the AGM.

§ 11.3    The Election Committee shall present its recommendations at the AGM to the Board members, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board.

 

§ 12        AUTHORISATION AND PROCURATION

                The Chair of the Board and the Managing Director shall have individual authorisation to sign documents on behalf of the organisation. The Managing Director is the procuration holder.

 

§ 13        DISSOLUTION OF FORUM

§ 13.1    Dissolution of ForUM must be resolved at two successive annual general meetings, one of which is an ordinary meeting. A final decision on the dissolution is made when at least three quarters of those qualified to vote at the AGM have voted in favour. Upon the resolution to dissolve ForUM the AGM shall choose a winding-up committee. The ordinary Board can be chosen as the winding-up committee, and shall be given the job of winding-up committee if no other choice is made. Upon the dissolution of ForUM, the organisation’s financial assets and work for sustainable development will be disposed of and transferred in accordance with the winding-up committee’s decisions.