Joint Committee: terms of reference (TOR)
Updated 1 July 2024
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Type: standing committee
Purpose
The Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda (鈥渢he Parties鈥�) for the Provision of an Asylum Partnership (鈥渢he Agreement鈥�) establishes a strategic partnership between the two governments to strengthen shared international commitments on the protection of refugees and migrants. The Joint Committee (JC) will govern the partnership under the Agreement, providing direction and oversight.
In accordance with the Agreement, the role of the聽JC聽is to:
- monitor and review the implementation of the聽Agreement聽and to make non-binding recommendations in respect of improving or addressing issues; and
- provide a forum for the participants to exchange information, discuss best practice including relevant guidance from external stakeholders, and resolve issues of a technical or administrative character
In accordance with the聽Agreement, the co-chairs set these terms of reference for the聽JC, which include the secretariat function as well as such other tasks as may be required.
Scope
The聽JC聽will oversee all matters set out in the聽Agreement聽and accompanying notes verbales (NV).
The聽JC聽will be responsible for approving (by consensus) the following (this list is not exhaustive):
- annual monitoring report produced by the Monitoring Committee (MC)
- the template for that report
- annual financial statement (to include the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund)
- process for ensuring that the聽MC聽has unfettered access for the purpose of completing their assessments and reports
- agree response to recommendations from the聽MC
- indicative forecasts for numbers of individuals to be relocated to Rwanda under the聽Agreement
- proposals for any changes to the聽Agreement聽or聽NVs
- risk management
- stakeholder management and communication
The co-chairs may set ToRs for the MC in addition to but not contrary to those provided in Article 15 of the Agreement.
The聽JC聽will be supported where appropriate by sub-groups of officials representing each partner.
Membership
Each partner will appoint members including the co-chairs.
The membership of the聽JC聽is as follows:
Standing members
Standing members of the聽JC聽will be senior officials of the Government of the UK and Government of the Republic of Rwanda with responsibility for areas related to the partnership, or areas with a strong interest and relevance in this activity.
Co-chairs
- PS Clementine Mukeka (Republic of Rwanda)
- Dan Hobbs (UK)
Government of the UK representatives will be officials from:
- Home Office Capabilities
- British High Commission Rwanda
- Head of Migration and Economic Development Partnership Taskforce
- HOLA
Government of the Republic of Rwanda representatives will be officials from:
- Directorate General Immigration and Emigration
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Ministry of Emergency Management
- Rwanda High Commission London
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Finance
Secretariat to the聽JC
Joint secretariat of officials of the Government of the UK and the Government of Rwanda.
Additional attendance
Additional official of either government may be invited to attend meetings as required, depending on the meeting content or objectives. This may include officials from the UK government and Rwanda government.
From the UK government:
- Home Secretary鈥檚 Office
- Home Office Migration and Borders Group
- Home Office Analysis and Insight
- Home Office Finance
- Home Office Communications Dir.
- UK Border Force
- UK Visas and Immigration
- UK Immigration Enforcement
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
From the Rwanda government:
- Office of the Prime Minister or President
- Members of Refugee Status Determination Committee
- Office Of Govt Spokesperson
- any other relevant government institution
Meeting arrangements
The聽JC聽will meet not less than every month for the first six months after the entry into force of the Agreement and thereafter once every 6 months unless the co-chairs decide otherwise. It will meet at the request of either partner.
The meetings will ordinarily be in person and rotate between the UK and Rwanda.
The co-chairs shall set the聽JC鈥檚 schedule of meetings (including location which may be remote).
Further, the agenda for each聽JC聽meeting will be agreed in advance by the co-chairs and circulated (along with any relevant papers) via email a minimum of 5 working days before the meeting.
JC聽members are able to communicate with each other via email between meetings.
Reporting
The聽JC聽will report to UK and GOR Ministers as required.
Joint Secretariat
The聽JC聽will be supported by a joint secretariat of officials of both governments, and where appropriate, any necessary sub-committees or groups.
Deliverables
Minutes will be produced after each meeting for agreement by the co-chairs. The agreed minutes will be shared with attendees within 5 working days.
A summary (communique) will be produced for each meeting within 5 working days of the meeting for agreement by the co-chairs. This summary should be published within 10 days of the meeting.