PREAMBLE
We, Participants in the meeting to create the network of Foundations and Research Institutions for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace in Africa, held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on September 20, 2013:
Reaffirming our attachment to the Constitutive Act of UNESCO and to the Constitutive Act of the African Union,
Conscious of the need to monitor and coordinate the action of foundations and research institutions for the promotion of a culture of peace in Africa,
Considering the opportunity created by the adoption of the “Action Plan for a Culture of Peace” adopted in Luanda (Angola), during the Pan-African Forum “Sources and resources for a culture of peace” (March 2013 ) and the role that foundations and research institutions are called upon to play in its implementation,
Decide to constitute, by the present statutes, a network called; “Network of foundations and research institutions for the promotion of a culture of peace in Africa” and designated in the following by the term “Network”.
TITLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1: A network is created called “Network of foundations and research institutions for the promotion of a culture of peace in Africa. “, Abbreviated REFICA.
Article 2: The purpose of the Network is to coordinate the actions of foundations and research institutions in the culture of peace, in order to ensure a common vision and practices as well as a pooling of resources and means of action.
Article 3: The Network must work on the development and implementation of joint programs, the implementation of the Luanda Action Plan as well as the African Union Agenda 2063, the Intersectoral Program of the UNESCO on the Culture of Peace, to the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
Article 4: The Network is headquartered in Yamoussoukro (in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire).
Article 5: The emblem of the Network is a map of Africa, adorned with the word peace in different African languages, and with an open hand, on a green background.
TITLE II: MEMBERS OF THE NETWORK
Article 6: Apart from the founding members whose list is annexed to these statutes, the Network is made up of active members, benefactor members and honorary members.
Active members are legal persons who adhere to these statutes and internal regulations, pay their contributions and participate in the activities of the Network.
Benefactor members are natural or legal persons who by their exceptional financial and material assistance contribute to the functioning of the Network.
Honorary members are natural or legal persons who have rendered outstanding service to the Network.
Article 7: Membership of the Network is made after the creation charter has been signed by the legal representative of the foundation or research institution and payment of the membership fee and the annual subscription, the amount of which is fixed. by the General Assembly.
Article 8: Membership is lost by resignation or exclusion decided by the General Assembly.
TITLE III: ORGANISATION
Article 9: The organs of the Network are the General Assembly, the Executive Bureau, the Permanent Secretariat and the Statutory Auditors.
The General Assembly (GA)
Article 10: The General Assembly (GA) consists of all the members of the Network. Each member is entitled to one vote expressed by his legal representative or by a member duly authorized by the latter.
Article 11: The General Assembly meets once every two years in ordinary session when convened by the Bureau or when convened by two-thirds of member associations. It can meet in extraordinary session whenever necessary and under the conditions set by the Internal Regulations.
Article 12: The General Assembly, the Network’s decision-making body, has the prerogatives:
– defining the orientations and action plan of the Network;
– approval of the Bureau’s moral and financial reports;
– the budget vote;
– membership and exclusion of members;
– revision of the statutes and internal regulations.
The Executive Bureau
Article 13: The Executive Board is the management and executive body of the Network. It meets once a year in ordinary session.
It is made up of 20 members elected for four (04) years by the General Assembly, according to the procedures set out in the Internal Regulations.
Article 14: The Executive Board is responsible for:
– to execute and apply the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly;
– to control all the activities entrusted to the Permanent Secretariat;
– to coordinate the search for funds for the implementation of the programs;
– to ensure the regular execution of the budget.
The Permanent Secretariat
Article 15: The Permanent Secretariat contributes, with the Executive Bureau, to the execution of decisions of the General Assembly, as well as administrative tasks necessary for the proper functioning of the Network. In particular, it should facilitate networking, the exchange of information and experiences.
Article 16: It is composed of a permanent secretary and two deputies elected by the General Assembly and representing the active members of the Network.
The Statutory Auditors
Article 17: The Statutory Auditor is composed of two members: the Statutory Auditor and the Deputy Statutory Auditor. The term of the Statutory Auditors is three years. They are designated. The designation criteria are mentioned in the Internal Regulations.
Article 18: The Statutory Auditor is the body responsible for controlling the accounts of the Network. Its main function is:
– control the financial management of the Executive Office;
– examine and give its opinion on the financial policy of the Network;
– ensure the safeguarding of the heritage of the Network;
– prepare a management report for the Executive Office;
– examine the annual accounts and draw up a special report to the General Assembly, accompanied by observations and proposals.
TITLE IV: RESOURCES
Article 19: The resources of the Network are made up of:
– membership fees and contributions;
– grants from national and international institutions;
– donations and legacies;
– all other income, in particular the proceeds from its activities, and sponsorship from legal or natural persons and deemed admissible by the General Meeting.
Article 20: The projects set up within the framework of the Network which receive funding, will be followed and managed directly by the foundation or the research institution having presented the request.
Article 21: These projects will pay the Network a percentage between 5 and 10 percent of the amounts.
TITLE V: FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 22: Disputes that may arise between members of the Network, within the framework of its activities, will be settled amicably by the General Assembly.
Article 23: An internal regulation fixes the methods of application of these statutes.
Article 24: The dissolution of the Network is pronounced by decision of the General Assembly taken by a majority of two thirds of the members present.