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Steering Committee Election 2025

About the GFMD Steering Committee

The Steering Committee serves as GFMD’s governing body, providing strategic direction and oversight.

The Steering Committee shall manage and oversee the affairs of the GFMD, dealing with major strategic and policy matters facing GFMD and its membership between General Assembly meetings, while the execution of strategy and policy, and administrative matters shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee and GFMD Secretariat.
— 6.1, GFMD Constitution

VI. STEERING COMMITTEE

Why GFMD is electing a new Steering Committee in 2025

Each Steering Committee serves a 4-year term. The next Steering Committee will serve from 2025 to 2029.

The current GFMD Steering Committee was elected during the 2021 General Assembly, which was held in Tirana, Albania and online.

Role of the Steering Committee

The Steering Committee plays a critical role in guiding the organisation’s strategic priorities and governance.

The Steering Committee elects GFMD's Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Treasurer.

How the Steering Committee is elected

The next Steering Committee, which will serve from 2025 to 2029, will be elected in line with GFMD’s constitution. Members are categorised for Steering Committee elections based on their geographic focus or thematic emphasis:

The rules are outlined in the GFMD Constitution:

Each GFMD General member has the right to put forward a candidate for the Steering Committee.

Each GFMD General member can vote.

Composition of the Steering Committee

12 Seats - Regional Members

2 - Asia, Pacific and Oceania

2 - Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia

1 - Europe (Western, Central, Northern, or Southern)

2 - Latin America and the Caribbean

2 - Middle East and North Africa

1 - North America

2 - Sub-Saharan Africa.

2 Seats - Topical & Policy Members

Organisations addressing thematic issues like freedom of expression, diversity, or sustainability across multiple countries.

3 Seats - Global Members

Organisations with an international focus, working across at least three GFMD regions.

Next steps

- May 15th: The election process is officially launched at the online General Assembly on Thursday 15th May 15.00 - 16.30 CET.

- May 15th - June 12th: Call for candidates open to all GFMD members.

- June 16th – July 10th: Online voting.

- July 16th: Election results announced at an extraordinary General Assembly.

- October/November: Meeting of the outgoing and incoming Steering Committee (hopefully in person)*

* This meeting would mark 4 years since the last Steering Committee was elected and signal the official handover from the 2021-2025 to the 2025-2029 Steering Committee.