Structure

The GRASP Partnership will have a Council (the GRASP Council), which will guide the work of the Partnership. The Council will assist the Executive Committee and the secretariat (see chapter X below) with matters such as fundraising strategy and great ape conservation priorities. Each full partner will have one seat on the GRASP Council. Each supporting partner may participate in the work of the Council as an observer.

GRASP Council decisions will be made by consensus wherever possible. If consensus cannot be reached, decisions may be reached by simple majority vote, provided that such a majority includes a majority of category A partners present and voting and a majority of category B partners present and voting.

Functions
The functions of the GRASP Council will be:

• To elect the Chairperson of the Council, who will hold office for two years with the possibility of re-election for two further periods of two years each;
• To elect the members of the Executive Committee;
• To elect members to serve on the Scientific Commission (see chapter XI below);
• To determine the general policy and strategy of the GRASP Partnership;
• To identify priorities and receive reports of income and expenditures;
• If resources permit, to provide appropriate financial guidance for the preparation of the budget by the secretariat.

The GRASP Council will meet every two years. An inter-sessional meeting may be convened if requested by more than one third of the GRASP partners.

The Council will decide the time and location of its meetings. The draft agenda for each meeting will be circulated at least one month in advance of the meeting. Meeting locations will, as far as practical, be rotated among the geographic regions. Partners will be encouraged to host meetings.