a. GTOS trust fund
The current budget situation was explained to the SC. GTOS operates from a special FAO Trust fund that receives annual contributions from Co-sponsors (US$100,000) plus FAO's contribution in kind and/or in cash. The SC was concerned over the low level of available financing, in part because of the ambitious objectives of the Programme and because advertising for a permanent Executive Secretary could not begin until there are sufficient resources to pay a salary for two years. It was strongly expressed that, if the co-sponsors are serious about establishing GTOS, they must solve the problem of the Executive Secretary as soon as possible. The SC felt it was critical to issue an advertisement and to advertise it outside the UN system.
· Follow-up actions:
Secretariat to prepare a detailed budget plan for 1997 and a budget estimate for the next two years;
Chairman to send a letter to the Co-sponsors regarding the financial situation of the Secretariat and the position of Executive Secretary.
b. Fund raising activities
The SC was informed on the status of funding proposals, in particular the one submitted to the government of Norway (see section VII/e. "Pilot Projects"). The Secretariat stated that an answer from the government of Norway should be forth coming toward the end of 1996. Further, the Secretariat agreed to revive a proposal that had been submitted to the government of The Netherlands and actively pursue it. The SC agreed to help the Co-sponsors and Secretariat to develop ideas for possible funding and suggested that this matter be handled by a sub-committee.
· Follow-up actions:
Secretariat to pursue contacts with the government of the Netherlands and prepare a proposal requesting support for the secretariat;
Chairman to form a working group to develop a fund raising strategy for GTOS.
