Session 1. Name and Location

Art. 1. The Livestock Sustainability (TLS) is an independent and not for profit international association, built for an undefined duration and registered according to the Law of 1905, July, 1st (Art. 5) and Decree of 1901, August, 16th (Art.1-7)

Art.2. TLS is located 4 allée des Flamants Roses, 34280 La Grande Motte, France.

Art. 3. As an Association/NGO, TLS can i) access capital, ii) receive and manage funds, iii) contract people and institutions, according to the national rules and specific norms which are defined below.

Session 2. Objectives

Art. 4. The general objective of TLS is the production of knowledge on livestock farming and local development interactions through development and participation in local, national and international projects and the provision of consulting services.

Art. 5. The specific objectives of TLS are:

- Scientific, administrative, mentoring and financial support for scientists with an interest in livestock sustainability related to local development, particularly post-graduates, post-doctorates and early career researchers. Support for stakeholders and policymakers involved in sustainable development linked to livestock production and/or local development.

- Provision of incentives for innovating research on sustainable livestock farming systems, especially those based on comparative analysis in contrasted or similar contexts.

- Investment in new fronts of science and challenges in the livestock production sector for the generation of new knowledge.

- Co-design and share research results with the scientific community and society using mechanisms such as innovation laboratories, social media, special events, think tanks, curriculum development etc.

- Raise awareness on the importance of livestock farming and its role in local development to local populations, stakeholders and policymakers.

- Provide consulting services related to livestock farming and local development for local, national and international public and private, including NGOs.

- Training and capacity building of local populations, traders, extension services, stakeholders, policymakers and scientists through specific learning platforms for groups of people or for interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial audience.

Art. 6. Action Area TLS will have a local and global reach in collaboration with partners.

Session 3. Rights and Obligations of TLS Members

Art. 7a. Membership of TLS is restricted to any person linked to livestock farming and/or local development, including breeders, technicians, active and retired scientists, agribusiness, non-government organisations, local institutions, education, communities and policymakers. Membership will be acknowledged through a formal letter of acceptance. Membership, then entitles the person to be considered by TLS to provide specific services as and when required. In the provision of services, brokered by TLS, each participant will enter into a formal contract with TLS to deliver specific tasks and outputs identified in negotiation with TLS. At all times, members will remain under the jurisdiction of their own employer, including self- employed.

Art. 7b. To become a member the candidate has to be officially recommended by two current or previous TLS members. The decision will be taken by the TLS board and officially announced during the annual meeting or any regular meeting.

Art. 8. Any member can leave TLS at any time by putting in a formal resignation to the board.

Art. 9. Each TLS member has one vote to be used at the Annual General Meeting.

Art. 10. Any member can be ejected from TLS by the board notified through a formal letter of justification.

Art. 11. Any member can use the TLS name during her/his activities in accordance with the TLS board.

Session 4. TLS Organization, including Budget

Art. 12. The Annual General Meeting and the Governing Board are the two entities of the TLS governance. When it is necessary working groups can be created to ensure the delivery of specific objectives.

Art. 13. The Annual General Meeting is the supreme entity of TLS. All the members are into the General Assembly.

Art. 14. The Annual General Meeting debates and decides on any topic regarding TLS, directly prepared and submitted by the Governing Board, or firstly suggested by any member and secondly prepared and submitted by the Governing Board to the next meeting.

Art. 15. More specifically, The Annual General Meeting debates and decides on:

- Programs and activities developed by TLS

- Participation in different projects - Analysis and validation of the past annual budget, the current budget and the forecasted budgeted

- Election of the Governing Board

- Integration of new TLS members or exclusion (Art. 10-11)

- Changes in the current statutes - Dissolution of TLS or integration into other entity(ies)

- And any other topic relevant for TLS.

Art. 16. Any TLS member has her/his vote and can have two other votes by procuration, in the case of members who cannot participate to the Annual General Meeting. In other words, at any one time a member can have three votes (his and two others).

Art. 17. The Annual General Meeting is presided by the TLS President, and if she/he cannot, attend then by the Vice-President and if she/he cannot attend by the Secretary.

Art. 18. Two kinds of meetings for the Annual General Meeting:

- Annual General Meeting (or Ordinary Meeting) in which are treated the “ordinary” activities see above)

- Extraordinary Meeting to inform and debate on challenges and strategic decisions to be taken involving a risk to TLS. Usually decided by the Governing Board, the Extraordinary Meeting can be suggested by any member with one third of the members.

Art. 19. The Annual General Meeting is fixed and organized by the Governing Board, according to the availability of the TLS members.

Art. 20. Nine TLS members are also members of the Governing Board: the President, the two vice-Presidents, the Treasurer and the two vice-Treasurers, the Secretary and the two vice-Secretaries. The Governing board is elected for 2 years with the possibility for each member to do three terms.

Art. 21. The functions of Governing Board are:

- Day-by-day management of TLS, especially the scientific, administrative and financial participation of TLS in different projects, and collaborations

- Promoting and building new projects on relevant topics for TLS

- Investing in new scientific topics regarding livestock farming and local development, and the suggestion of specific working groups and work plans

- Representation of TLS in the diverse local, national, international entities, in private, public and NGO sectors

- Preparation and organization of the Annual and Extraordinary Meetings

Art. 22. The functions of the President, assisted by the two vice-Presidents, are:

- Presidency of Annual and Extraordinary Meetings and Governing Board, especially leading the debates

- Representation of TLS in diverse entities, and if necessary suggests to Governing Board other members for representation

- Supervising the Governing Board activity, in partnership with the member of the Governing board

- Supervising the budget and can delegate this function to the Treasury or/and the Secretary

- Nominating consultors for the right development of TLS activity, in collaboration and according to the Governing Board

- Any other function attributed by Annual General Meetings or Governing Board

Art. 23. The functions of the Treasurer, assisted by the two vice-Treasurers, are:

- Building, monitoring and evaluation of the TLS budget, in collaboration with the Governing Board

- Administrate the purchases and the payments decided by the Governing Board and the Annual General Meetings

- Building and presentation of the past, current and next budget during the Annual General Meetings

Art. 24. The functions of the Secretary, assisted by the two vice-Secretaries, are:

- Monitoring of the TLS activities, according to the validated work plans

- Contacts with partners, especially those in on-going and developing projects

- Responsible of the implementation of the TLS strategy defined by Annual General Meetings and Governing Board

- Assisting the President/vice-Presidents and Treasury/vice-Treasuries for any activity

- Responsible for the preparation and reports of Annual General Meetings

- In the absence of the Treasurer, the Secretariat may administrate the purchases and the payments decided by the Governing Board and the Annual General Meetings

Art. 25. TLS acts as a financial broker, managing the operational funds provided by the donors and distributing these to TLS members via contracts that will outline the provision of services expected to deliver the project outputs and outcomes. Members contracted to deliver services will not be paid a salary, any funds distributed will be used for operational purposes only unless otherwise stated by the donors.