To address the Program research themes and to ensure that stated outputs and outcomes are met, six scientific working groups of international scientists have been established to identify and investigate priority hypothesis and further targeted research in the development of tools and knowledge products. These Scientific Working Groups are:
The Working Groups will be responsible for planning detailed work programs around key research questions in their area of concern and translating these into research proposals that will be reviewed for management, feasibility and cost effectiveness. Input of the management community in shaping the research agenda and on interpretation of research findings will be obtained, amongst other things, through inclusion of managers in each Working Group and in the independent peer review of proposals, through reference groups of end users associated with each Working Group, through workshops and multi-disciplinary symposia designed to interpret the application of results and, in the case of the Modelling and Decision Support Working Group, through ongoing consultations with decision-makers at the local and higher levels.
Chairs of the Working Groups will be responsible for developing and submitting annual workplans to the PEA and reports on performance relative to annual benchmarks. These will be reviewed, in turn, by the Synthesis Panel and by independent reviewers as appropriate.
The Working Groups will report directly to the Project Executing Agency on a contractual basis, however, their research results will be reviewed by the Synthesis Panel and their workplans and budgets approved by the Executive Committee. Each Working Group Chair will be a member of the Synthesis Panel.