The PAAT Committee sat, for the first time, in Brussels from 1-2 April 1996. This initiative follows from a series of consultations with experts, member nations and donors who stressed the need for coordination at the international level in order to provide the required impetus and direction to research, policy definition and implementation activities. The Programme has four main components. Overall responsibility rests with the Programme Committee which, with the support of the Joint Secretariat , aims to define and regularly review activities and progress.
Membership includes representatives of interested donors and senior technical advisors.
At the technical level two Modules bring together all those involved in practically orientated Research and Development on the one hand and Policy makers, Planners and Implementors on the other. These Modules will facilitate dialogue and coordination on all trypanosomiasis activities within the context of agricultural development. Within the Modules specialists are encouraged to inter-act in topical Advisory Groups. The list of the different Groups and their Coordinators is provided below. On the basis of the information generated, the Programme Committee will make recommendations on the best use of existing resources and on the priority areas for action.