JOINT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
AN ASIA SOIL CONSERVATION NETWORK FOR THE HUMID TROPICS

  ARTICLE III - Structure of Cooperation

1. Unless otherwise decided by the Participants, at a meeting of the Consultative Board, the Co-ordination Unit shall be located within the Ministry of Forestry, Jakarta, Indonesia.

2. The organs of ASOCON shall be:

a) The Consultative Board.

b) The Co-ordination Unit.

c) Other organs which are deemed necessary by the Participants through their participation in the Consultative Board.

ARTICLE IV - Membership

1. The relevant Institution of any member of the United Nations, or of any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency located within the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific may become a Participant by signing this Memorandum of Understanding or being accepted in accordance with Article IV.3.

2. Participants shall be represented by the National Coordinator of their National Network and by a National Network Co-ordination Committee. Membership of the individual National Networks shall be open to the following:

i) Government departments/ministries/institutions/ agencies etc. concerned with the issue of soil and water conservation at the small-scale farm level;
ii) Para-statal focal institutions and Universities concerned with soil and water conservation research and development, and extension and training; and
iii) Non-governmental organizations, in both the voluntary and commercial sectors, with direct involvement in extension, training and research programmes concerned with soil and water conservation at the small-scale farm level.


3. The relevant Institution of any member of the United Nations, or of any of its Specialized Agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency located within the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific which has not signed this Memorandum of Understanding by 31st December 1993, which wishes to become a Participant, shall apply in writing to the Regional Co-ordinator. on receipt of the application for participation, the Regional Co-ordinator shall inform all Participants thereof. The first Consultative Board meeting following receipt of the application (subject to a minimum 30 days notice) shall decide thereon and the decision shall be communicated to the applicant within 30 days of the meeting.

4. i) Any Participant may withdraw from ASOCON after the expiration of one year from the date on which membership of ASOCON was acquired, by giving written notice of withdrawal in original and duplicate copies to the Regional Co-ordinator with copies to the National Co-ordinators of the other Participants. Withdrawals from ASOCON shall become effective one year from the date of receipt by the Regional Coordinator of a notice of withdrawal, provided that during the period of such one year, a Participant withdrawing from ASOCON shall nevertheless remain liable for the discharge of obligations incurred under the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding.
ii) Any Participant that fails to pay its annual contribution for two consecutive years shall forfeit membership rights until full payment is made.


ARTICLE V - Rights and obligations of Participants

1. Participants shall, in accordance with this Memorandum of Understanding and decisions of the Consultative Board, have the right:

i) to be represented by the National Co-ordinator or his nominated alternate at meetings of the Consultative Board;
ii) to nominate at least one participant to attend all expert consultations, workshops, training courses and other meetings organized under the auspices of ASOCON;
iii)
to request and obtain information, within ASOCON, on matters of its own concern related to soil and water conservation;
iv) to request that one or more of the other Participants agree to participate in the mutual inter-country exchange of research and extension staff, for the purposes of making study tours and participating in regional training opportunities;
v)
to request the co-ordination unit for assistance, including guidelines, for obtaining technical and financial assistance and the collaboration of the other Participants and other agencies from within and outside the region for tackling conservation problems of national interest; and
vi) to receive publications, unprinted media material and other information that may be produced and distributed by ASOCON.

2. Participants shall, in accordance with this Memorandum of Understanding and the decisions of the Consultative Board, have the following obligations:

i) to meet their obligations towards ASOCON including their annual contributions;
ii) to collaborate in the running of ASOCON through their active participation in Consultative Board meetings;
iii)
provide, promptly, information reasonably requested by ASOCON, which is not contrary to any regulations of the country concerned;
iv) to take steps to facilitate the entry of persons acting on behalf of other Participants when hosting a regional workshop, expert consultation, training course or other meeting under the auspices of ASOCON subject to those persons meeting the immigration and security requirements of the host country;
v) to take steps to facilitate the entry of persons acting on behalf of other Participants as part of ASOCON's programme of inter-country exchange visits and on the job-training attachments subject to those persons meeting the immigration and security requirements of the host country;
vi) undertake any assignments that may be mutually agreed between the Participants and ASOCON; and
vii) in general, collaborate with ASOCON in the fulfilment of ASOCON's objectives and functions.