Charter of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development

1. Committee’s Official Designation (Title):

Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (henceforth referred to as  the “Board”).

2. Authority:

Section 298 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) of 1961 (Public Law 87-195), as  amended, mandates the establishment of the Board.

3. Objectives and Scope of Activities:

The Board’s mission is to assist the U.S. Agency for International Development in the  administration of programs authorized by Section 297 of the FAA (Public Law 87-195). Its general areas of responsibility include participating in the planning, development, and implementation of; initiating recommendations for; and monitoring  Title XII activities as described in Section 297. 

4. Description of Duties:

The Board’s duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Participating in the formulation of basic policy, procedures, and criteria for proposed project review, selection, and monitoring;
  • Recommending which developing nations could benefit from programs carried out under Title XII and identifying those nations that have an interest in establishing or developing agricultural and nutrition institutions;
  • Assessing the impact of programs carried out under Title XII in solving  agricultural and nutrition problems and natural-resource issues in developing nations;
  • Developing information exchanges and consulting regularly with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), consumer groups, agribusinesses and associations, agricultural cooperatives and commodity  groups, state departments of agriculture, state agricultural research and  extension agencies, and academic institutions;
  • Investigating and resolving issues concerning the implementation of Title  XII, as requested by universities; and 
  • Advising the Administrator on any and all issues as requested.

5. Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports:

The Board shall report to the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

6. Support:

The U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS), Office of the Assistant to the Administrator, is responsible for financial and  administrative support of the Board and its subordinate units.

7. Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years:

The estimated annual operating and administrative support cost for the Board is  approximately $1 million, which includes two full-time equivalent staff members and program support for meetings and studies conducted by the Board.

8. Designated Federal Officer:

The head of the Agency must designate a Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the Board. The DFO for BIFAD is the Executive Director of the Board and must be a full-time or permanent part-time employee of RFS, appointed in accordance with Agency procedures. The DFO must: (a) Approve or call the meeting of the advisory committee or subcommittee; (b) Approve the agenda; (c) Attend the meetings; (d) Adjourn any meeting when he or she determines it to be in the public interest; and (e) Chair the meeting when so directed by the Agency head.

9. Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:

The Board estimates that it will meet in public session at least two times per year. Its Subcommittees will meet as necessary. The Board may meet in executive session.

10. Duration:

The Board is authorized by statute as a permanent Board and, hence, is continuing in its duration. This Charter is subject to renewal every two years. 

11. Termination:

Section 298 of the FAA provides for a permanent Board.

12. Membership and Designation:

The Board shall consist of seven Members appointed by the President, no fewer than four selected from the universities as defined by Section 296(d) of the FAA. Terms of Members shall be established by the President at the time of appointment, as provided by Section 298(a) of the FAA. A White House memorandum from 1987 states that Board Members may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until the President has appointed their qualified successors.

13. Subcommittees:

Subcommittees may be established if approved by the Administrator upon recommendation by the Board by consensus or a majority vote. All reporting, advice, and work products of the Board Subcommittees must be made through the Board and shall not be provided directly to the Administrator.

14. Recordkeeping:

Records of the Committee, and all formally and informally established Subcommittees, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, or other approved Agency records-disposition schedule. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act (Section 552 of Title 5 U.S.C. of the United States Code).

15. Filing Date:

This renewed Charter is filed on March 9, 2023, with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate, as required by law.