Charter of the Partnership for Peace Fund Advisory Board

ARTICLE 1 Committee's Official Designation (Title):

The Partnership for Peace Fund Advisory Board (henceforth referred to as “the Board”).

ARTICLE 2 Authority:

The Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA or the Act) (Pub. L. 116–260, div. K, title VIII, §8004, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1816).

ARTICLE 3 Objectives and Scope of Activities:

The Act directs the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish an advisory board to make recommendations on:

1. the establishment of a program to provide funding for projects to help build the foundation for peaceful co-existence between and among Israelis and Palestinians and for a sustainable two-state solution; and

2. the types of projects that should be considered for funding through the ‘People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund’ authorized by MEPPA.

ARTICLE 4 Description of Duties:

1. To consult with, provide information to and advise USAID, and other U.S. Government agencies, as appropriate, on matters and issues relating to:

  •  the efficacy of United States and international support for grassroots, people-to-people efforts aimed at fostering tolerance, countering extremist propaganda and incitement in the State of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza;
  •  strengthening engagement between Palestinians and Israelis, including through people-to-people peace-building programs to increase the bonds of friendship and understanding;
  •  investing in cooperation that develops the Palestinian economy and results in joint economic ventures;

2. To make recommendations on the types of projects USAID should seek to further the purposes of the People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund;

3. To make recommendations on partnerships with foreign governments and international organizations to leverage the impact of People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund; and

4. To inform USAID’s required reporting to the appropriate Congressional committees.

ARTICLE 5 Agency or Official to Whom the Committee Reports:

The Board shall report to the Administrator of USAID.

ARTICLE 6 Support:

USAID Bureau for the Middle East (ME), Office of the Assistant to the Administrator, is responsible for financial and administrative support of the Board and its subordinate units.

ARTICLE 7 Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years:

The estimated annual operating and administrative support cost in dollars for the Board and Subcommittees thereof are estimated to be approximately $400,000 (which includes the cost for two full-time equivalent staff members).

ARTICLE 8 Designated Federal Officer:

The Administrator of USAID must designate a Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the Board. The DFO for the Board is the Executive Director of the Board and must be a full-time employee of USAID’s Middle East Bureau, appointed in accordance with Agency procedures. The DFO must: (a) Approve or call the meetings of the Board or any Subcommittees; (b) Approve the agenda for such meetings; (c) Attend the meetings; (d) Adjourn any meetings when he or she determines it to be in the public interest; and, (e) Chair the meetings when so directed by the Administrator.

ARTICLE 9 Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings:

It is expected that the Board may hold two meetings annually. The Board may establish subcommittees, as required. A quorum will be a majority of appointed members of the Board. A quorum must be present before a meeting can be held.

ARTICLE 10 Duration:

The Board will serve indefinitely, subject to biennial renewal as required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972.

ARTICLE 11 Termination:

This charter will be in effect from two years from the date it is filed with Congress. After this two-year period, the charter may be renewed in accordance with Section 14 of FACA.

ARTICLE 12 Membership and Designations:

Appointment. At the time of appointment, the Board’s members will be designated in accordance with Office of Government Ethics designations as either: Representative, Regular Government Employee, or Special Government Employee, and shall consist of 13 mandatory members and no more than 15 members, who are appointed for renewable periods of three (3) years, as follows:

  •  One member to serve as Chair, appointed by the USAID Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of State;
  •  One member appointed by the Chair, and one member appointed by the Ranking Member, of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate;
  •  One member appointed by the Chair, and one member appointed by the Ranking Member, of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives;
  •  One member appointed by the Chair, and one member appointed by the Ranking Member, of the Committee on Appropriations of the U.S. Senate;
  •  One member appointed by the Chair, and one member appointed by the Ranking Member, of the Committee on Appropriations of the U.S. House of Representatives;
  •  One member appointed by the Majority Leader, and one member appointed by the Minority Leader, of the U.S. Senate; and
  •  One member appointed by the Speaker, and one member appointed by the Minority Leader, of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Administrator shall designate the Chair of the Board, in consultation with the Secretary of State, and may appoint two additional members to the Board who are representatives of international organizations or foreign governments, as defined in the Board’s bylaws.

Qualifications. Members of the Board shall have demonstrated regional expertise and experience and expertise in conflict mitigation and people-to-people programs, and shall not receive compensation on account of their service on the Board. Members appointed as “representatives” do not serve in an individual capacity and therefore are not subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct or criminal conflicts of interest statutes.

ARTICLE 13 Subcommittees:

Board Subcommittees are authorized as necessary for the performance of the Board's duties and the discharge of its responsibilities. All reporting, advice, and work products of the Board Subcommittees should be made through the Board and shall not be provided directly to the Administrator.

ARTICLE 14 Recordkeeping:

Records of the Board and all formally and informally established subcommittees, shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, or other approved Agency schedule for the disposition of records. These records shall be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act (Section 552 of Title 5 of the United States Code).

ARTICLE 15 Filing Date:

The charter was filed October 25, 2021 with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate as required by law. This Charter is subject to renewal every two years.

Samantha Power
Administrator
U.S. Agency for International Development
October 22, 2021