Working Group to Review the Dues Structure
Terms of Reference | Membership

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Background and Terms of Reference

Background

ICSU Member dues are currently paid on the basis of voluntary adherence to one of 51 nominal categories. In practice, what category National and Union Members find themselves in is largely governed by history and, in many cases, it no longer reflects either economic or scientific strength. In contrast to ICSU, most international organizations link their dues structure to an objective indicator, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for a member nation or total budget for a member organization. Index-linking in this way increases both the stability and the transparency of the funding structure.

In recent years a number of Members have begun to question the dues structure of ICSU and some have changed their payment categories. Such decisions have not necessarily been based on value for money assessments but rather have reflected other financial and policy considerations within the Member organizations. Such cases illustrate the vulnerability for ICSU of the current voluntary mechanism. However, it is also recognized that switching to an index-linked mechanism could result in a request for significant increases in subscriptions for some Members. Such a change would need to be carefully planned and could only be introduced after full consultation with Members.

It was in this context that the Executive Board proposed to the 28th General Assembly that a review of ICSU’s dues structure be conducted over the next triennium, with a view to presenting a proposal to the next General Assembly for a revised structure. It was noted that such a review should include a full consultation with Members. Members unanimously supported the proposal and stressed the urgency of the review. The formal decision of the General Assembly was:

“to request the EB to establish a Working Group, in full consultation with Members, to consider the member dues structure. The Working Group shall report back to the EB as soon as possible. The EB shall then submit the report and the EB`s recommendation to the Members for a vote by whatever means it determines to be expeditious” In the light of this decision, the following terms of reference for the review have been developed:

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Terms of Reference

1. To fully define the problems with the current dues structure from the perspective both of ICSU and its Members (to include issues such as equity, transparency and sustainability);
2. to consider potential alternative models for determining dues, taking into account what other international governmental and non-governmental organizations do;
3. to propose a more appropriate mechanism for establishing the level of dues for a) national Members, b) Unions and c) Associates;
4. to propose, as necessary, a mechanism for ensuring the transition from the current structure to the proposed new structure.

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Membership

Chair: Steve Thompson (New Zealand)

Members:

• Ian Cooper (UK)
• Jan Joep De Pont (IUBMB)
• Martin Groetschel (IMU)
• Joseph O. Malo (Kenya)
• Wataru Nishigahiro (Japan)
• Yves Petroff (IUPAP)
• Donald Saari (USA)
• Roger Elliott (Treasurer)
• Bryan R. Henry (Chair, Committee on Finance)
• Thomas Rosswall (Executive Director)