• A brief report on the INPAE technical assistance and policy research partnership projects funded by the Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development (ALO) (USAID funds) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation was presented. Participants received a printed summary of projects.



• Gerenciando Relaciones Intergubernamentales. Experiencias en América Latina, the INPAE textbook co-edited by Sonia Ospina and Michael Penfold and published in fall 2002, under the coordination of NASPAA, was distributed to the participants.
  

2. INPAE Bylaws

• Prior to the February 12 organizational meeting, INPAE representatives in Rio de Janeiro formed three working groups to discuss and refine the three chapters of the draft INPAE Bylaws circulated in advance. The three chapters of the Bylaws were: Chapter 1, Definitions and Objectives; Chapter 2, Authorities and Elections; and, Chapter 3, Administration and Activities.



• In the February 12 organizational meeting, representatives of each working group presented to participants an overview of the issues raised and changes proposed by the group. The participants discussed each chapter in detail, acting upon proposals for changing the draft Bylaws text. The INPAE institutional representatives in attendance then approved the complete INPAE Bylaws text, with the adopted revisions.



• Participants agreed that the INPAE Directing Council, when fully constituted, would include as voting members the President, the Vice President, and the immediate past President, plus 8 or 10 other elected Council members representative of the INPAE institutional membership. Additionally, CLAD and NASPAA will serve as ex-officio members of the Council without vote.



• An INPAE Bylaws Drafting Committee composed of one member from each of the three Bylaws working groups was appointed to write up the approved Bylaws following the organizational meeting. Appointed as members of the Drafting Committee were Luis Bustamante (Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas), chair; María Victoria Rojas (Universidad Nacional de Paraguay); and Rafael Tamayo (CIDE – México).



• The Bylaws Drafting Committee will prepare the approved text of the Bylaws and, with the assistance of NASPAA (Ana Mejía), will distribute this text via e-mail to INPAE institutional representatives. These representatives will have the opportunity to offer amendments and revisions if they believe the Bylaws text does not reflect the February 12 discussion. The Drafting Committee will review additional comments received and, as appropriate, integrate proposed changes into the final version of the Bylaws, which NASPAA will send to all INPAE institutional representatives.
  

3. INPAE Next Steps

• Initial Leadership. The primary charge to the Drafting Committee is to prepare the final, approved version of the Bylaws. In addition, the chair invited the Drafting Committee to provide guidance on the initial selection of INPAE Directing Council members, since this initial selection will differ from the annual selection procedures (including the possibility of electronic elections) specified in the Bylaws.
  
  An alternative approach recommended by the chair called for the INPAE institutional representatives to select electronically one-half of the non-officer, voting Directing Council members (4 or 5, depending whether the Bylaws specify 8 or 10 such Council members) after the approved Bylaws are distributed in order to provide initial leadership for INPAE. The initial Council members would provide leadership on immediate INPAE organizational matters, including the first INPAE annual business meeting and the election of the other INPAE Council members and officers. Participants took no action on any Council election proposals.



• INPAE Coordinating Office. NASPAA expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve as the initial INPAE Coordinating Office and as the fiscal agent for grants to support INPAE activities. NASPAA continues to be strongly committed to INPAE. At the same time, NASPAA and INPAE members recognize the long-term importance of locating the INPAE Coordinating Office at a Latin American INPAE member.
  
  The INPAE Steering Committee (selected in Santiago, Chile – May 2002) will prepare a statement of key considerations to be addressed by an INPAE institutional member interested in serving as the Coordinating Office for INPAE. These considerations might include, but are not limited to, the in-kind contributions and other resources (e.g., financial, staff, space) to be provided by the institution housing the Coordinating Office; the Coordinating Office administrative responsibilities; the process to be used to decide upon the location for the Coordinating Office; etc.



• INPAE Resources. The chair reported that the INPAE grants received by NASPAA from ALO and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation end in summer 2003. After the selection of the INPAE Directing Council, its members will work with the Coordinating Office to develop a financial and resource development plan addressing such matters as institutional membership criteria and dues, external grant opportunities, etc.
  
  Related to INPAE’s financial and resource development plan is the matter of possible legal incorporation or registration of INPAE. Attention needs to be given to the rationale for incorporation (and whether alternatives exist), where such incorporation might occur (e.g., does it need to be in the country in which the INPAE Coordinating Office is located?), when it should occur, etc.



• Annual Meeting. Participants agreed that planning for the initial annual business meeting (e.g., selecting the place and the date) should begin soon.

LIST OF PARTICIPANT INSTITUTIONS
INPAE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
February 12, 2003

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

CLAD-Venezuela
Julio César Fernández – Secretario General

NASPAA-U.S.A.
Kenneth W. Tolo – Executive Director
Ana Mejía – Coordinator of International Programs