LEGAL STRUCTURE

Without waiting for the end of the crisis, and following several demands by academics and field development actors, a scientific committee created the International Network. This Committee includes American, Belgian, Burundian, Canadian, Congolese (DRC), French, Rwandese and Swiss academics.

The legal framework of the International Documentation Network on the African Great Lakes Region is a Foundation under Swiss law : the Foundation for the distribution of documentation on the Great African Lakes region. The Foundation Board - presently consisting of members of the present scientific committee - fulfills all prerogatives for and on behalf of the Foundation. The Board appoints from among its members an executive bureau consisting of five persons (four academics, members of the Board, and the Head of the Network secretariat).

The Foundation hopes to gain the financial, scientific or technical support of every national or international organism agreeing with its goals. To date, several organisations are involved in the Network through direct contributions, or through exchange of documents or services.