Organisation

ICEIDA is an autonomous agency under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operating in association with the Ministry.

According to the act on Icelandic ODA No. 121/2008, a Consultative Committee on International Development Cooperation will be responsible for professional debate on Icelandic ODA. The committee holds 17 members, thereof one chairman, five members from Icelandic aid agencies, two from the academic society and two from the labour market side. The seven seats left are seated by 7 parliament representatives who comprise the Committee on International Development Cooperation whose main role is, according to new laws, to secure the role of the parliament in policy and decision making in regards to international development cooperation in the long term.    

The Parliament elected the seven members of the Development Committee in November 2008. They are: Hjálmar Jónsson, Haukur Már Helgason, Sigfús Ólafsson, Drífa Hjartardóttir, Katrín Ásgrímsdóttir, Guðrún Ögmundsdóttir and Ásgerður Jóna Flosadóttir.

Vice chairpersons are: Margrét Sigurgeirsdóttir, Guðrún Erlingsdóttir, Maríanna Traustadóttir, Anna Þóra Baldursdóttir, Helga Sigrún Harðardóttir, Árni Gunnarsson and Pétur Bjarnason.

The remaining 10 members of the Consultative Committee on International Development Cooperation, have not yet been appointed (january, 2009).

Additionally, a Steering Committee on International Development Cooperation will be generated. The members of the Steering Committee come from The Ministry for Foreign affairs and ICEIDA.

 

The General Director: The General Director is appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs for a term of five years. The Director General works under the supervision and the ultimate authority of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.  The Director General is, inter alia, responsible for the day-to-day operation of ICEIDA, personnel matters, the preparation of budgets, maintenance of information and preparation of annual financial reports.

On-site Staff: The current organisation chart for ICEIDA was approved by in January 2001. The organisation chart and job descriptions were prepared in accordance with the stated intention of, then active, Board of Directors to reduce centralisation and delegate powers and responsibility to Country Directors, Project Managers and Technical Advisers in the partner countries and their local counterparts.  According to the organisation chart there are Country Offices in all ICEIDA partner countries, each with a Country Director.  Country Directors are responsible for all projects in the country in question and are the on-site representatives of the Director General.  Special Project Managers are appointed for major projects, and often assisted by Technical Advisers.  Consultants are generally employed in projects of lesser scope.  The majority of the above parties are currently Icelandic.  The term of employment of Country Directors is not time specific, but they are subject to transfers.  The term of employment of other Icelandic employees in advisory capacities (Project Managers and Technical Advisors) is two years each time with the possibility of an extension for up to five years in total.  In addition to the Icelandic advisors, numerous locals are employed in projects.  

Short-term consultants:  In addition to the above employees, ICEIDA employs a number of short-term consultants.  Their term of on-site employment may range from 3-4 weeks up to 6 months.  Short-term consultants are employed in various capacities, primarily:  The preparation of new projects and consultancy in the preparation of project contracts; short-term consultancy on the implementation of projects and independent project evaluations.  Short-term consultants are either Icelandic or foreign.  For example, foreign counterparts are normally employed to work with Icelandic parties involved in evaluation tasks.