BASIC RULES OF PROCEDURE AND IMPLEMENTATION PRINCIPLES of the Preparation and Assessment Committee of the CORE Programme "Co-operation for Rehabilitation of living conditions in Chernobyl affected areas in Belarus" 1.The role of the Preparation and Assessment Committee (PAC) The PAC gives advice on possible new projects; considers, evaluates and recommends new projects for the approval of the AB; ensures coordination and integration of the activities implemented within the CORE Programme framework. Its work is based on the Declaration of Principles (DP) and Basic Rules of Procedure and Implementation Principles below. 2.Tasks and duties of the PAC The PAC: - Gathers all interested stakeholders of the CORE partnership community to ensure dialogue and build a common understanding of Programme development.
- Provides a central point for all relevant stakeholders to come together to exchange information. Encourages network building among stakeholders.
- Recommends new projects for the approval of the AB.
- Evaluates whether proposed projects fit to the CORE Programme on the basis of the selection criteria of the DP:
- does the project fit within CORE priority areas and address actual local needs and interests?
- is the necessary expertise involved, and is the project valid and expedient?
- will the project actually reach the target population and community?
- Considers strategic needs and perspectives of local initiatives and ongoing projects.
- Proposes new priority areas for cooperation and new assessment criteria.
3.PAC Participants Representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations at local, national and international levels as well as Belarusian and/or international experts, involved in preparation and assessment of the projects eligible for the CORE Programme, and in their implementation as CORE Topical Projects. 4.Selection of the PAC Chair The PAC Chair is chosen by the AB from among AB members by consensus for a one-year term, which can be prolonged. 5.PAC Chair - Chairs PAC meetings.
- Approves minutes of meetings.
- Presents PAC recommendations and conclusions at AB meetings.
- Initiates extraordinary PAC meetings or convenes them upon the request of the AB.
6.PAC recommendations and conclusions on projects Assessment of a project by PAC members is based upon the criteria of the Declaration of Principles. Upon receiving a positive assessment by the PAC, projects are recommended for the approval of the AB. If PAC participants disagree upon minor points, projects can be recommended for the approval of the AB with corresponding amendments. Projects, which do not suit CORE Programme criteria, are recommended for revision and resubmission. 7.PAC functioning The PAC meets every six months or more frequently if necessary in plenary and topical meetings within the Programme's priority areas. PAC Chair presides over plenary meetings. Topical PAC meetings are overseen either by the Chair of the Liaison Committee of the corresponding priority area, or by a moderator (an expert in the field) at the discretion of the PAC Chair. The Coordination Team invites participants (representatives of the involved parties as well as experts) to PAC meetings on the basis of proposals from the Declaration Signatories. Extraordinary PAC meetings are held at the request of the PAC Chair. The AB decides the venue of PAC meetings. 8.Agenda of PAC meetings - A provisional agenda should be sent to all participants at least four weeks before the meeting.
- Within one week of receiving the provisional agenda, participants can request the inclusion of new points. Such requests must be accompanied by supplementary documents and an estimate of the time needed to discuss the new point.
- The Chair of the PAC issues the final version of the agenda to all participants two weeks before the meetings.
9.Minutes of PAC meetings A summary of the PAC meeting including all relevant points is read at the end of the meeting so that every participant can add items he/she thinks necessary. The agreed summary is sent to all PAC participants and AB members after signing by the PAC Chair within two weeks after the meeting at latest. The Coordination Team prepares minutes of PAC meetings within 45 days after the meeting. The minutes are approved by the Chair and released on the CORE web site two months after the meeting at latest. Within two weeks of publication on the web site PAC participants can send to the CT their individual additional comments to the minutes, which are then added as a separate annex. 10.Public relations PAC meetings are open to the mass media. Media attendance should be agreed by the Chair at least three days before the meeting. 11.Working languages of PAC meetings and documents: Russian and English. 12.Revision Clause These rules will be re-examined after twelve months in the light of practical experience. | 
