Commission for
Developing
Countries

CDC

Terms of Reference

Final Version of July 21, 2010

TERMS OF REFERENCE of the COMMISSION FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (CDC),

a commission of the International Mathematical Union (IMU)

(Adopted by the IMU General Assembly on August 16, 2010)

The Commission for Developing Countries was established by the IMU General Assembly via postal ballot on July 17, 2009 to take up its activities in January 2011 and to replace the Commission on Development and Exchanges (CDE) and the Developing Countries Strategy Group (DCSG). The CDC is charged with the following mission:

  • to manage, strengthen, and promote the programs of the IMU in developing and economically disadvantaged countries,
  • to search for funding to support the corresponding activities, and
  • to establish institutional partnerships with scientific organizations with common goals.

1. The Commission for Developing Countries (CDC) consists of

(a)  six members elected by the General Assembly:

  • President
  • Secretary for Policy
  • Secretary for Grant Selection
  • three Members-at-Large, in representation of Africa, Asia, and Latin America;

(b)  two Members-at-Large appointed by the incoming IMU Executive Committee, following its election at the General Assembly;                        

(c)  one Member-at-Large appointed by the ICMI Executive Committee.  

(d)  The President of IMU is an Ex-officio Member of CDC.                           

2. Every member will be elected or appointed for a four-year term starting on the first day of the calendar year following that in which the election or appointment has taken place. The President will not be immediately eligible for a second term. The Secretary for Policy, the Secretary for Grant Selection, and the members-at-large can be elected or appointed for at most two consecutive terms in the same position.

3. In the event of death, incapacity, or resignation of one of the members in Clauses 1(a) and 1(b), the IMU Executive Committee shall appoint a successor for the unexpired term. In the event of death, incapacity, or resignation of the members in Clause 1(c), the ICMI Executive Committee shall appoint a successor for the unexpired term.

4. The composition of the CDC should reflect good regional balance consistent with its goals. The members will be established mathematicians chosen for their work on behalf of mathematics in the developing world. The members-at-large mentioned in Clause 1(a) will be mathematicians working permanently in a country of the corresponding region.

5. The CDC will designate a Grant Selection Committee that will be chaired by the Secretary for Grant Selection. The composition of the Grant Selection Committee should reflect good regional representation consistent with its tasks. At least half of the Grant Selection Committee members should be from outside the CDC.

6. For the election of the members listed in Clause 1(a) the IMU Nominating Committee will form a slate with at least one name for each of the positions of President, Secretary for Policy, and Secretary for Grant Selection and at least two names for each of the three positions for members-at-large.

Alternative names for each of the positions can be proposed at the General Assembly from the floor. For each of the six positions the candidate with the most votes is elected.

7. The budget of the CDC will be established by the IMU Executive Committee on a year-by- year basis, based on the budget estimates approved by the General Assembly for the CDC term.

8. The President of CDC reports to the IMU Secretary and the General Assembly as specified in article 47. of the By-Laws of the IMU Statutes.

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