Regulation no. 86/1998 as amended no. 891/2005

REGULATION

on the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA)

Article 1

Supreme Authority

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the supervision of international development affairs pursuant to Item 15 of Article 14 of the Regulation on the Government Offices of Iceland No. 96/1969.

Article 2

The role and objectives of ICEIDA

The Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) is subject to the authority of the Foreign Ministry and operates in association with the Ministry. Its role is to promote bilateral co-operation between Iceland and the developing countries. The objectives of this co-operation are defined in Article 2 of Act No. 43/1981. To attain these objectives the Agency shall work on the issues listed in Article 3 of the Act.

Article 3

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of ICEIDA consists of seven members. Six members are elected by proportional voting by the Althingi and one member is appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Board shall be elected for a term of four years. The Minister for Foreign Affairs shall appoint one member as Chairman of the Board. Alternates shall be selected in the same manner, cf. Article 6 of Act No. 43/1981.

Article 4

Role of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of ICEIDA shall advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Icelandic policy in bilateral and multilateral international development affairs. The Board of Directors is responsible for the supervision of the affairs of the Agency under the authority of the Foreign Minister and is responsible for ensuring that the activities of the Agency are at all times consistent with its operating plan.

Article 5

Employees

The Director General of ICEIDA works under the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Agency and under the ultimate authority of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs shall appoint the Director General of ICEIDA pursuant to Act No. 70/1996 on the Rights and Obligations of Government Employees and establish his terms of reference. The Director General is responsible for hiring other employees of the Agency. The Director General shall have an alternate chosen by the Minister for Foreign Affairs from among the other employees.

The Director General is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Agency.

Article 6

Operating Plans

The Director General of ICEIDA shall prepare a draft of a long-term operating plan for international development affairs covering five years at a time and shall submit the draft to the Board before 1 October every second year. The Board shall send the proposals to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs before 1 November. This plan shall contain the strategy of the Agency and further details and definitions of its projects.

The Director General shall submit to the Board of Directors a draft operating plan and budget for the following year by 15 February of each year. This document shall also account for the means by which the principal goals and objectives of the current year will be achieved. The Board shall send the plan to the Ministry before 15 March. The Ministry shall take a position on the plan before 15 April.

Article 7

Preservation of information

The Director General of ICEIDA shall maintain information on international development projects undertaken by the Agency and other information relevant for the assessment of the results of the Agency’s activities. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs shall at all times have access to information on project status in individual affairs.

Article 8

Finances

The Director General of ICEIDA is responsible for ensuring that the operation of the Agency and operating results are in compliance with the State Budget. He is responsible for ensuring in all respects that the Agency’s resources are used in the most effective manner possible. He shall submit an annual report before 15 April which shall include the income statement and balance sheet for the past year as well as a report on the activities of the Agency.

Article 9

Meetings of the Board of Directors

The Chairman of the Board of ICEIDA shall call Board meetings, which shall generally be held once a month. These meetings shall be called with at least one week’s notice, unless special circumstances dictate otherwise. A meeting of the Board shall moreover be held if two members of the Board so request in writing. The Director General shall attend Board meetings but without the right to vote.

Minutes shall be kept of Meetings of the Board. A copy shall be sent to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs following each meeting. The Minister for Foreign Affairs may appoint an employee of the Ministry to attend Board meetings without voting rights.

Article 10

Activities between Board meetings.

The Director General shall not undertake projects outside the Agency’s operating plan without the approval of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He shall consult with the Board of Directors of the Agency before taking any action which is extraordinary or may involve substantial expenses. If taking such action between board meetings is urgent, the Director General shall consult with the Chairman of the Board, who shall assess the need to call a board meeting.

Article 11

Further Provisions

The Board of Directors of ICEIDA may establish further rules concerning procedure at board meetings and the working procedures of the Agency, subject to the approval of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Article 12

Entry into force

This Regulation is issued on the basis of Article 9 of the Act No. 43/1981 on the Icelandic International Development Agency and shall take effect immediately.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 9 January 1998

Halldór Ásgrímsson

Helgi Ágústsson.