MOTION 2 | Council of Regional Bodies and Self-Organized Structures
⚑ 2/3 MAJORITY — STATUTES CHANGE

Motion text

The General Assembly of IFOAM – Organics International resolves to:

1. Establish a Council of Regional Bodies and Self-Organized Structures by:

1. Amending § 4 of the Statutes (Organs) to add the Council of Regional Bodies and Self-Organized Structures as a fourth organ of the Federation, reading:

4. Organs

The Federation's organs are the General Assembly, the World Board, the Executive Board, and the Council of Regional Bodies and Self-Organized Structures. The Executive Director carries out their decisions.

2. Inserting a new § into the Statutes establishing the Council, as follows:

§ 11a — Council of Regional Bodies and Self-Organized Structures

Composition: The Council comprises one representative per recognised and active Regional Body, one representative per recognised Constituency, and one representative per recognised Thematic / Subsector Group. Representatives are designated by their respective body in accordance with its own internal governance procedures.

Chair: The Council elects its Chair by simple majority of its members. The Chair shall serve for a term aligned with the World Board term. The Chair of the Council shall serve as a member of the World Board in accordance with § 7(c). The Chair may not simultaneously hold another elected position on the World Board or Executive Board.

Mandate: The Council shall:
• Exercise co-decision rights on major content positions as defined in new § 11b of the statutes.
• Contribute to strategic orientation and governance matters
• Conduct assessments of regional and global initiatives that affect the organic movement and provide its findings to the World Board
• Identify issues impacting the organic movement globally and at regional level, and bring them to the attention of the World Board
• Develop and propose positions and recommended actions to the World Board on matters within its mandates

Limits: The Council does not substitute the World Board. It does not exercise executive or management functions and is not involved in day-to-day operational decision-making. Its role is complementary to, and not in competition with, the World Board.

Functioning: The World Board establishes Rules of Procedure for the Council, including meeting frequency, quorum, and consultation timelines. Minutes of World Board meetings shall be made accessible to Council members under applicable confidentiality rules. Vice versa minutes of the Council are made available to the WB. Where the World Board proposes decisions that significantly and directly affects the mandate or resources of Regional Bodies, Constituency Groups, and Thematic Groups, it shall consult the Council in advance. The World Board is not bound by the outcome of such consultation but shall document its response to the Council’s views.

Support: IFOAM – Organics International provides institutional and logistical support to the Council presenting issues and generating dialogue in timely and professional way conducive to effective participation and co-creation.

Rationale

The existing 'Network Council' has operated informally and without formal governance status. Formalising it as an organ of the Federation gives it predictable standing, a clear mandate, and genuine leverage to contribute to strategic and political decisions — without creating dual executive authority.

The council provides a new entry point for regional, thematic and constituency groups into IFOAM’s work, including the work of the World Board, increasing their influence and improving coordination, exchange, and co-creation across the network.

The council provides a new entry point for regional, thematic and constituency groups into IFOAM’s work, including the work of the World Board, increasing their influence in IFOAM and improving the work of the World Board, while also increasing exchange and co-creation across our network. The Council Chair's seat on the WB creates a structural bridge between the regional/sectoral dimension and global governance. Clarity on mandates and roles provides clear accountability for coordination and consultation.

Statute sections affected: § 4 (Organs); new § 11a. Cross-reference: § 7. for Council Chair's WB seat.

2. Define Council’s Co-Decision Rights on Major Content Positions

The General Assembly of IFOAM – Organics International resolves to insert a new § 11b into the Statutes establishing co-decision rights of the Council, as follows.