ITF Research Centre Mandate and Transport Research Committee Governance Role

The Transport Research Committee discussed a new draft Mandate [ITF/TRC(2017)11] at its meeting on 6-7 November 2017, reaching unanimous agreement after minor modifications [ITF/TRC(2017)11/REV1] to the text below. The draft was then forwarded to the OECD Legal Directorate for review. The Legal Directorate has advised that a Mandate is no longer necessary and that amendment to Article 13 of the General Rules of the ITF, in which the Research Centre’s role and governance would be laid out, is indicated instead. Since the process of approving an appropriate revision to the General Rules will take some time, the Secretariat proposes that the Transport Management Board (TMB) agree that the Research Centre and Transport Research Committee operate according to the Mandate in the meantime. Under these circumstances it seems appropriate that the Mandate not be put forward for formal adoption by Ministers, as would normally be necessary for this Operational Decision.

The Transport Management Board is therefore invited to approve the following draft Mandate for the ITF Research Centre pending the revision of the General Rules.

Draft Mandate

Article 1

The Research Centre of the International Transport Forum (ITF) is hereby mandated for the period set out in Article 8 of this document.

Article 2

The Research Centre undertakes a research programme that addresses all modes of transport to foster a deeper understanding of the role of transport in economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion, including security, safety, health, accessibility and development issues. It delivers research-based knowledge for the development of better transport policies in all of these fields. The Research Centre acts as a think tank in support of ITF Member Countries and provides up-to-date scientific input and guidance to all ITF activities, notably the ITF Annual Summit.

Article 3

The Transport Research Committee, whose members are nominated by the governments of ITF member countries, oversees the work of the Research Centre in respect of the Program of Work established by the Committee (see article 4) and monitors all ITF research and policy analysis.

The Committee is open to all ITF member countries and to any non-member whose participation has been approved by the governing bodies of the ITF.

Article 4

The Transport Research Committee establishes its Programme of Work to reflect the interests of ITF Member countries and the goals set out in Article 2, consistent with the budget dedicated to the Research Centre (Article 6).

The Programme of Work consists of co-operative projects agreed by the Committee including joint working groups, roundtable meetings, workshops, conferences and other working methods that it considers appropriate including the ITF Transport Outlook and maintenance of the necessary expert networks, statistics and databases.

In addition to the Programme of Work agreed by the Committee, the Research Centre may undertake projects supported by voluntary contributions, including at the request of Member countries and in co-operation with the ITF Corporate Partnership Board.

The Research Centre shall perform any other function that the Transport Management Board may request of the Committee.

The Committee may invite international organisations, institutions dealing with matters related to transport and related disciplines, and representative associations, as appropriate, to participate in selected aspects of the programme of work.

The Research Committee reports periodically on progress in implementing the Research Centre’s programme of work to the Transport Management Board.

Article 5

The Committee ensures that the Programme of Work is implemented in an efficient manner. The Research Centre reports to the Committee on a regular basis for evaluation, to discuss interim and final results of work programme projects, and to maximise synergies between the various work streams of the ITF. The Committee will be informed in a timely manner if problems in the execution of the Programme of Work arise.

Article 6

The expenditure arising from implementation of the Programme of Work shall be funded through the ITF Budget and shall be charged against the appropriations authorised under the ITF Part II Programme of the budget of the OECD. Expenditures can also be financed through voluntary contributions to the Programme of Work from private and public entities.

Decisions on the Programme of Work and Budget of the Research Centre are taken by the Transport Management Board of the ITF as part of the approval of the annual Programme of Work and Budget of the ITF, on the basis of the Programme of Work agreed by the Transport Research Committee.

Article 7

The Research Centre is comprised of ITF officials working on transport research and policy issues.

The Secretary-General of the ITF, reporting to Transport Ministers, is responsible for the management of the Centre as an integral part of the ITF Secretariat.

Article 8

The Mandate shall be subject to 5 yearly review by the Transport Research Committee and the Transport Management Board.