Task groups

Addressing specific challenges

Task groups have a finite life and are formed in order to perform a defined task e.g. production of IWA Scientific and Technical Report, Manual of Best Practice, Position Paper, etc. Unlike Specialist Groups, membership of, and participation in, a Task Group is by nomination and invitation only.

There are currently three tasks groups which have been approved and are in operation:

• Task Group on Uncertainty (appr.2008) 
• Task Group on Benchmarking of Control Strategies for Wastewater Treatment Plants (appr. Sept 2005)
• Task Group on Good Modelling Practice (GMP) - Guidelines for Use of Activated Sludge Models (appr. Sep 2005)
  

IWA policy on task group formation and funding

• A task group has a finite life and is formed in order to perform a defined task e.g. production of IWA Scientific and Technical Report, Manual of Best Practice, Position Paper, etc
• IWA or IWA Publishing retains copyright of all outputs from the task group (e.g. papers, reports, books).
• Each task group has a maximum life span of 3 years.
• Annual interim progress reports to be prepared at each Strategic Council Meeting.
• Any request for funding must be explicit on what the IWA funding would support.
• The IWA Executive Committee and Executive Director aim to encourage diversity of activity and will consider the relationship with existing task groups when making decisions with regard to funding. No concurrent funding will be available for task groups on similar topics.
• Funding will only be approved on the basis of an agreed budget for the task group.
• The maximum amount of funding for each task group is €7,500.
• There is maximum funding of €2,500 per task group per year.
• There is a maximum of €10,000 available for funding task groups per year – i.e. a maximum of 4 fully funded task groups running at any one time.
• Funding to cover reasonable expenses incurred in preparing the product – e.g. economy class travel, accommodation, venue hire; not salary costs, overheads or equipment purchase.
• Costs will be reimbursed in arrears at periods of 12 months, 24 months, and on final delivery of the product. All requests for reimbursement must be supported by appropriate documentation (receipts, invoices, etc).

Approved: Paul Reiter, Executive Director, IWA
Date:  24/08/2005