Knowledge and Diplomacy: Science Advice in the United Nations System (2002)

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1. Proposals for IAC studies may originate from a requesting agency (e.g., an international organization, national government or group of governments) or from the IAC Board itself.

2. Whenever a request is received for the IAC to conduct a study on a specific topic, the IAC Board co-Chairs shall request the IAC Executive Director to prepare a study prospectus—in consultation with requesting agency and designated IAP Academies where appropriate—including a budget for the completion of the proposed study. Requesting agencies shall also be asked to suggest a balance of national sources for the advice it needs. A report review procedure shall be incorporated into the study design, depending upon considerations of the study scope and timeframe. Estimates of cost of report publication shall be included in the proposal budget.

3. The study prospectus shall be presented to the IAC Board for review and decision, with a recommendation from the IAC Board co-Chairs. By two-thirds majority, the IAC Board shall approve [or disapprove] the study prospectus based on considerations of importance and timeliness of the question, background, likely impact, engagement of likely audiences, the range of competencies that must be represented on the study panel, dissemination mechanisms, and funding sources.

4. If the prospectus is approved by the IAC Board, a formal proposal shall be prepared by the IAC Executive Director and submitted to the requesting agency or other organizations that shall assume responsibility for providing financial resources to carry out the study.

5. Grants or contracts shall be subject to agreement by the IAC Board co-Chairs and the requesting agency.

6. Administrative and staffing responsibility for the study shall be designated by IAC Board co-Chairs, as deemed most appropriate, either to the IAC Secretariat or, on the basis of a contract with the IAC Secretariat, to an Academy or consortium of Academies.

7. Requests for recommendations for study panel members and reviewers shall be sent electronically to all IAP Academies. Requesting agencies may also suggest names of potential panelists, but the final decision on panel members rests with the IAC. In consultation with IAC Board members (or designated subgroup), appropriate staff shall prepare a slate of panel candidates for two-thirds majority approval by the full

Board, by mail or electronic ballot. The Board may delegate responsibility for approval of panel members to the IAC Board co-Chairs.

8. In cases where candidates for a study panel or other experts have commercial interests or affiliation with political or profit-making organizations directly concerned with the matter of the report, the IAC Board co-Chairs shall ascertain if these individuals can appropriately serve on the study panel for purposes of balance, expertise, and independence. A written statement on the issue, for public release, shall be required of these study panelists where deemed necessary by IAC Board co-Chairs.

9. The Panel shall undertake the work. The IAC Board and the requesting agency shall be kept apprised of panel progress in completing the assignment.

10. All IAC Board members shall be invited to recommend study report reviewers.

11. The reviewers shall be asked to consider the quality of the analysis and fulfillment of study objectives in the draft report. The IAC Board co-Chairs shall appoint two review monitors to determine which reviewer issues shall be addressed by the study panel. The study panel may be asked to consider modifications of the report.

12. The IAC Board co-Chairs shall decide that the report is ready for publication after the review monitors have determined that the study panel has adequately responded to issues raised by the reviewers and the monitors. The IAC Board co-Chairs shall inform the IAC Board whether, in their judgment, the study and review have been conducted satisfactorily in accordance with the IAC Rules of Procedures.

13. The final report shall be publicly issued to requesting agency and to the general public.

1. All final IAC study reports shall be made public with the IAC Board deciding, in each case, on the mechanisms of dissemination.

2. All IAC-published reports shall be issued as authored by members of the study panel, with an explanation that the panel has been selected by the IAC and that the report has satisfactorily completed the IAC review process.