At the first annual general meeting of ZEN in November 2009, a Board of Directors was elected to succeed the interim steering committee that worked to formally establish ZEN in 2008. The composition of the Board has since been updated. The Board currently consists of:
The Board of Directors meets at least four times a year, of which at least one is in person, most meetings are teleconferences.
Following their election the Board of Directors met on the following dates: 23 November and 14 December 2009 as well as 14 January, 2 February, 29 March, 24 April, 7 May, 3 June and 9 July 2010.
The next Board of Directors meeting is by Skype on 4 August, then in Brussels on 11 September 2010.
Since 1 July 2009 ZEN's day-to-day business has been run by a secretariat in Brussels led by a coordinator. The size of the secretariat will be need driven depending on the work to be undertaken at any particular time. The coordinator was working part time (three days a week) until 1 April 2010 when he became full time. The organisation also employs interns, preferably Zimbabweans with backgound experience from NGOs, administration, research or advocacy and with a wish to learn about lobbying the European Union.
Co-ordinator: Tor-Hugne Olsen: Tor@ZimbabweEurope.org
ZEN works with a large number of organisations, including European organisations working on Zimbabwe and/or with projects/programmes on the ground (see ZEN Partners section). From 2010 partner organisations have been asked to join ZEN as members and pay a membership fee. ZEN will still partner / cooperate with all organisations that work on Zimbabwe. However, only member organisations can nominate candidates to the Board of Directors and vote at formal meetings. Member organisations will also be given preference in relation to Zimbabwean visitors programmes, if there are space constrains at ZEN activities etc. Click for a full list of ZEN Members.
ZEN aims to works closely with civil society in Zimbabwe and in an initial consulation in Harare in February 2009 a number of organisations committed themselves to cooperating with us (See: Zimbabwean Partners). A reference group of Zimbabwean organisations to inform ZEN policy positions was appointed - (see: ZEN National Reference Group). Further consultations with these and other organisations occurred at events organised by ZEN in Zimbabwe, including a training on "Lobbying the EU" in Harare September 2009 and roundtables on "Measures against the Zimbabwean Government by the EU and the USA" in Harare and Bulawayo in December 2009. In 2010 roundtables on "Role of European donors in current Zimbabwe" was held in March in Harare (11th) and Bulawayo (15th). Programmes and reports of these events are in the Events section.
At the first annual general meeting of ZEN in November 2009 new statutes were adopted (AGM Minutes and ZEN Statutes English / Flemish).