Artikel 7

1. The executive body of the Organisation is the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee develops, steers and organises the work of the Organisation and guides the co-operation between the Partners within the Network. The Steering Committee shall facilitate for the Network to attain its objective and shall implement the strategic directions and policies adopted by the Network Meeting.
2. The Steering Committee shall consist of a minimum of eleven and a maximum of twenty-one members, as decided by the Meeting of the Sponsoring Partners. The Steering Committee shall include, as ex officio members, the Chair, the Executive Secretary, one representative of the United Nations Sub-Committee on Water Resources, one member representing all Regional Water Partnerships and Regional Technical Committees, and the Chair of the Technical Committee.
3. The non-ex officio members of the Steering Committee shall be appointed by the Annual Meeting of the Sponsoring Partners for a period that shall not exceed three years, which may be subject to renewal one time. The terms of the first members shall be staggered in order to establish gradual rotation of membership.
4. Members of the Steering Committee shall serve in their personal capacity.
5. The Steering Committee shall meet at least twice a year on the convocation of the Chair. Observers may be invited to the meetings of the Steering Committee.
6. The Steering Committee may hold meetings through distant communication, in accordance with such procedures as it decides.
7. The Steering Committee shall:
a) Develop the policy of the Network and the work of the Organisation in support of the Network, taking into account the strategic directions and policies adopted by the Network Meeting;
b) Create and appoint a Technical Committee, taking due account of the Technical Committee of the Network, functional prior to the entry into force of these Statutes;
c) Create and appoint such other committees or groups as it finds necessary for the performance of its functions, which may include members of the Steering Committee and other individuals as appropriate;
d) Issue by-laws, work-plans, budgets and instructions for the Organisation and for groups and committees that have been established by it;
e) Review the work of the committees and groups that have been established by it;
f) Decide on proposals and recommendations from such committees and groups, unless such proposals must be submitted to the Network Meeting or the Meeting of the Sponsoring Partners;
g) Appoint the members of the Nomination Committee, taking into account this Committee's task to find candidates which reflect a balance in terms of professional background, geographical representation, gender and level of development of the person's home State;
h) Decide on recruitment, appointment and removal of the Executive Secretary;
i) Recommend new Sponsoring Partners to be approved by the Meeting of the Sponsoring Partners;
j) Supervise that Partners respect the principles of the Network and recommend to the Network Meeting the expulsion of a Partner in case of a violation of these principles;
k) If necessary, recommend amendments to these Statutes in accordance with Article 17;
l) Establish links with and accredit Regional Water Partnerships, Regional Technical Committees and Country Water Partnerships, and authorise such and other entities to use the name ``Global Water Partnership" as part of their name or in a similar manner to indicate stronger links than normal partnership;
m) Convene the Network Meeting in accordance with these Statutes;
n) Convene the Meeting of the Sponsoring Partners in accordance with these Statutes;
o) Present a yearly activity report to the Partners and the Sponsoring Partners;
p) Present a yearly financial statement to the Partners for information and to the Sponsoring Partners for approval at the Meeting of Sponsoring Partners;
q) Comment on and distribute the audit report or reports to the Partners and to the Meeting of Sponsoring Partners.
8. Decisions of the Steering Committee shall be taken by simple majority. Decisions require the presence of at least half of its members plus one, when taken at a meeting, and require participation of three-quarters of the members when taken through distant communication.
9. Decisions of the Steering Committee shall be based on available financial and human resources within the Organisation and shall take into consideration the need to safeguard the efficient use of these resources.