Rationale and key principles

ACT’s organizational and management structure has been established on governance principles of transparency, accountability, legitimacy and consultative decision making processes. The Network conforms to the African Union (AU)’s acceptable code of ethics and conduct for African Civic Society Organizations on matters of governance, organizational integrity and independence, financial management, accountability and communication.
This chapter explains in detail an outline of ACT’s organizational and management arrangement taking on board elements mentioned above.
Key principles in this structure and establishment are that ACT is:
- a membership-based association,
- an pan-African institutions with deliberate orientation towards local internalization of ideas and initiatives and building local African ownership,
- Multi-stakeholder initiative, and
- Foundation of its strength based on a strong and active membership at local and national levels including farmer organizations.

Key governance components

     The ACT Steering Committee (ACT Board

The ACT Steering Committee (ACT Board): On behalf of the Network membership, the Steering Committee functions as the main authority on the Network’s overall mandate and policy decisions. The Steering Committee takes a maximum composition of nine (9) persons elected to the Committee by the membership General Assembly held every three years. The members on the Steering Committee are drawn from various countries in Africa and essentially get on the Committee in their personal capacities.

ACT Secretariat

The Secretariat is the Network’s facilitatory “engine”. Through the Executive Secretary/Coordinator, the Secretariat, takes responsibility for the day-to-day functioning of the Network. In additional to its facilitatory responsibilities, the Secretariat also undertakes some service provision responsibilities.

ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr. Reynolds K. Shula  (Chairperson)	Ministry of Agriculture	Zambia
Eng. Richard Shetto	Ministry of Agriculture	Tanzania
Dr. Joseph Mureithi	Kenya Agriculture Research Institute (KARI)	Kenya
Ms Enny Namalambo	Ministry of Agriculture	Namibia
Mr. Edward Chuma	PICO Southern Africa	Zimbabwe
Mr. Danson Kamau	Conservation Agriculture Farmer	Kenya
Dr. Robert Zougmore	The Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)	Niger
Mr. Martin Bwalya	CAADP Implementation, NEPAD	South Africa
Dr. Florent Maraux	International centre for cooperation in agricultural research for development (CIRAD)	France
Mr. Josef Kienzle	Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)	Italy
Dr. Frank Place	World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)	Kenya