Artikel V

1. Parties hereby establish a Secretariat to assist them in their collective work under this Agreement. The Secretariat comprises of a Director General, who is the Chief Executive Officer, and other staff as may be required.
2. The Director General is selected by and responsible to the Assembly, for a term of four years, renewable for one further term.
3. The Director General is responsible to the Assembly for the appointment of the staff as well as the organization and functioning of the Secretariat, and also for resource mobilization.
4. The Secretariat prepares matters for Assembly action and carries out decisions entrusted to it by the Assembly. It ensures that appropriate steps are taken to follow up Assembly decisions and to coordinate the actions of Members in the implementation of such decisions. The Secretariat, inter alia, shall:
a) assist the National Focal Points in preparing the Programmes proposals and recommendations submitted to the Assembly;
b) provide guidance and support to Members in the implementation of each Programme, including for the raising of funds;
c) act on behalf of the Assembly, or on behalf of a group of Members participating in a particular Programme, when so requested by them; and in particular establishes contacts with relevant stakeholders;
d) set and operate all means of communication, instruments and crosscutting activities required for the functioning of the ISA and its Programmes, as approved by the Assembly.