Governance structures:
The PRAPACE network is comprised of ten member countries. The ten national potato and sweetpotato programs are linked together through representatives from each national program.
These representatives constitute the Steering Committee (SC) which is serviced by a Coordinator who is an employee of the Network. Donors, CIP and other partners sit in the SC as observers.

The functions of SC are to draw up regional programs of activities, make budgets and workplans. These are forwarded to the Directors'of NARIs (who constitute the ASARECA Committee of Directors, CD) with donors and CIP as observers, for approval. The approved network activities are incorporated into ASARECA's activities.

The functions of CD are:

* To give policy and research direction

* To approve programs, budgets and workplans of PRAPACE and other networks.

CIP is the executing agency for the donor, and provides backstopping to the network for the flow of improved germplasm for both potato and sweetpotato. It (CIP) actively assists the network and member programs in research, technology transfer, information and training through its core multidisciplinary staff and national scientists in the region. ASARECA assumes the overall responsibility for the management of funds.

Membership profile:
Historically, membership was limited to commodity researchers from member national potato and sweetpotato programs. The new vision is to bring in more stake holders into the activities of PRAPACE. Recently, PRAPACE has facilitated the collaboration with University teaching personnel and non-researchers from the private sector in developing and reviewing research proposals. Similarly, PRAPACE has assisted NGOs and other development institutions in their activities in technology transfer. This relationship will be strengthened in the Phase III, to provide full or part time membership to researchers from outside the NARIs and non-researchers from the most active stakeholder groups. Thus, the new vision is to involve these new partners, and others such as traders, processors, marketers, etc in the activities of the network.

Contribution to Impact, Quality and Merit:
The network has done commendable work. There have been important and good linkages established, but this has not been possible in every country. The goal is therefore to create additional linkages among SC members, and with new partners.

PRAPACE structure and organization will contribute to impact, quality and merit by pursuing the following values:

* Confidence, ownership and professionalism of member programs in relation to the relevance and quality of research

* Ability to address technical issues and accountability of member programs in relation to achieving impacts

* Sustainability in relation to the maintenance of natural resource base and environmental protection.