GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND TERMS OF REFERENCE

Executive Committee (EC)

The EC is composed of the Focus Areas co-leads plus the Programme Chair and Co-chairs, GOOS representation, and ECOP co-leads, and has the following Terms of Reference:

the EC is composed of Members of the Scientific Committee appointed by their own voluntary expression of interest at the General Assembly.

(a) Review and prioritize the short- and long-term planning of the CoastPredict work program and advise on its implementation;

(b) Take all necessary actions to ensure that the CoastPredict principles, strategy, work program and operating plan are aligned with and contribute directly to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development objectives and priorities, as well as with the IOC Plans;

(c) Assess the resources required for the implementation of the work program, as well as approaches to identifying and mobilizing these resources;

(d) Advice and guide the work of CoastPredict, as implemented through the various Focus Areas and Projects;

(e) Ensure that the CoastPredict requirements for satellite and in situ data are properly documented and communicated to the appropriate mechanisms of IOC;

(f) Prepare the yearly Assembly of the Steering Committee, Advisory Committee, ECOP and Focus Areas experts, prepare a revised CoastPredict work program for approval at the Assembly;

(g) Coordinate and integrate the work of CoastPredict, as appropriate, with that of IOC and UN Decade of Ocean Science Programmes;

(h) Review the internal structure and working methods of CoastPredict, including its relationship to other bodies, develop proposals for modifications, and approve such modifications at the yearly Assembly. Furthermore it should prepare the reporting on the progress to the Decade Collaboration Unit as required;

(i) coordinate with GOOS, OceanPredict/COSS-TT, IODE/OBPS, CEOS-COAST, WWRP and other relevant international Programmes and activities.
(j) review and approve metrics for the program progress
(k) coordinate key actions across Focusl Areas

Steering Committee (SC):

The SC is composed of scientists and managers from academia, government and the private sector. It is keeping the overall view of the Programme, monitoring and commenting upon the overall Programme and the overall construction of the Global Coastal Ocean Network to be established in order to continue the work of CoastPredict after the Decade.

The SC is chaired by the Chair and co-Chairs of CoastPredict who are nominated by the Steering Committee and they will have a term of five years with the possibility of a 2-year re-nomination. The Committee will be responsible for approving the updates of the general science and implementation strategy, proposed by the Executive Committee, in consultation with the Advisory Committee. It should meet once a year at the Assembly to approve the science and strategy and to assess progress of the Projects, with potential for additional topical meetings during the year. This is a large committee of ~70 people (geographically balanced and selected under principles of diversity and inclusion and participating on a voluntary basis) that will act as the decision-making body through the General Assembly.

Advisory Committee (AC):

The AC is composed of representatives of IOC structural elements, GOOS and IODE, representatives of the UNESCO International Hydrology Program, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Joint Collaborative Board of WMO and IOC and other international Programmes such as CEOS-COAST, Geo-BluePlanet, OceanPredict, etc.

The AC aim is to widen the scope of CoastPredict, advise on the strategic implementation and provide an external guidance on the Programme. The AC should meet with the SC yearly but it could also be asked by the EC and SC at intermediate times.
This Committee should be formed by ~30 Members.

Focus Areas (FA) Expert Teams:

These teams (one per FA) are composed of SC members and external experts, as needed. They include the FA leads and co-leads (up to 5) and a small number of experts (up to 10), including ECOP representatives, who will prepare CORE and Affiliated Projects for the Programme implementation. The FA Expert Teams should coordinate the actions under Projects and across the FAs.

They should meet a few times a year (suggested every three months), as deemed necessary for Project development, implementation and progress evaluation. They should prepare reports for the Executive Committee as required for the smooth implementation of the Programme.