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About · Formal governance

Formal governance

The Global Risks Forum (GRF) is a Swiss association. It is governed by its statutory organs under its articles of association and Swiss law. This page explains how that formal governance relates to the councils, dialogues and annual programme described elsewhere on this site, and how the names and roles of the statutory organs will be published. It does not describe the organs in detail: any such description is taken from the association's own records once they are approved for publication.

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01In brief

The short answer.

GRF's formal governance is that of a Swiss association: its statutory organs govern it under its articles of association and Swiss law. The page explains how that governance relates to the councils, dialogues and annual programme, which are programme bodies, how the organs will be published and how anyone can question a GRF decision.

02Canvas

Mandate to authority.

Canvas · mandate to authorityDesign, not a record
How The Global Risks Forum is governedA mandate sets the platform's scope; an editor and reviewers govern what it publishes; programmes and the community supply the work; the integrity route handles corrections; authority over decisions stays outside. Design of the governance, not a record.

Fig.How the platform is governed, from its mandate to the authorities who decide. Design, not a record.

03Geography

Jurisdictions in the Caribbean.

The jurisdictions that hold authority over this question: countries, their first-level divisions and capitals, shown for the Caribbean as an example geography for this subject.

The jurisdictions that hold authority over this question: countries, their first-level divisions and capitals.Boundaries as drawn by Natural Earth; no position on disputed areas.
GRF · institution · fieldDESIGN FIGURE
04Two layers

Statutory governance and programme bodies are kept apart.

LayerWhat it isWhat it decides
Statutory organsThe organs of the association under its articles of association and Swiss lawThe association's own affairs, within its statutes
Programme bodiesCouncils, working groups and dialogue formats through which institutions, leaders and experts take partContributions, recommendations and records within their published scope
Programme decisionsDecisions GRF records within its instruments, such as Nexus Universe gate decisionsThe programme GRF governs, and nothing beyond it

Councils do not replace or sit above the association's statutory governance, and a council seat is never a seat on a statutory organ.

05Swiss law

The statutory organs of a Swiss association.

OrganBasis in the Civil CodeRole
General assemblyArticles 64 to 68Supreme organ: adopts and amends articles, elects the board, approves accounts
Board (committee)Article 69Manages the association and represents it
AuditorArticle 69b, where thresholds applyAudits the accounts

Articles 60 to 79 of the Swiss Civil Code govern associations; the articles of association fill in the detail. Programme bodies such as councils and working groups sit outside these organs and cannot exercise their powers.

06Good practice

Codes for non-profit governance.

  • The Swiss NPO Code and the Swiss Foundation Code set expectations for board independence, conflicts of interest and transparency in non-profit bodies.
  • Separation of the board's oversight role from day-to-day management.
  • Published board composition, terms and meeting frequency.
07Publication

What will be published about formal governance.

  • The association's legal form, home jurisdiction and published location: a Swiss association, 6300 Zug, Switzerland.
  • The names and roles of the statutory organs, taken from the association's records once approved for publication.
  • The people holding statutory roles, only with their consent and a current record, kept separate from council roles on People and roles.
  • How conflicts of interest are declared and managed in statutory decisions.
08Accountability

How governance can be questioned.

Anyone can raise a concern about a GRF decision without membership or payment. Complaints are designed to be reviewed by someone not responsible for the contested decision. Write to integrity@globalriskforum.com; the acknowledgement gives a reference and names the next step. The rules GRF holds itself to are set out on Governance and trust and Independence and host safeguards. For comparison, GCRI describes its own structure on GCRI board and governance.

09Key terms

Terms used on this page.

Each term as this page uses it. Where a standard-setting body defines the term, the wording follows that body.

TermDefinition
Swiss associationA corporate body under the Swiss Civil Code formed for a non-commercial purpose, such as a scientific, cultural or charitable one, which acquires legal personality once its articles show the intention to exist as a corporate body.
Board of directorsThe body legally responsible for governing an organization, overseeing its management and answering for its conduct under its statutes and the law of its jurisdiction.
Public accountabilityThe obligation of an institution to explain and justify its conduct to the public and to bodies that can question it, and to face consequences, as the OECD frames accountability in governance.
10Sources

Where this page's references lead.

The bodies and documents this page is read against. Status and editions change; each link goes to the issuing body.

11Questions

Questions and answers.

Who governs GRF?
GRF is governed by its statutory organs under its articles of association. Its councils are programme bodies that do not replace that governance.
Why are names of officers not listed here?
Because names and roles are published only from the association's own records, with consent. Until then this page describes the structure, not the people.
Do GCRI or GRA take part in GRF's statutory decisions?
No. The three pillar institutions are separate not-for-profit institutions with their own governance. They coordinate one programme without sharing statutory authority.
Is GRF a public authority?
No. GRF is a Swiss association. It holds no regulatory, diplomatic or certifying role.
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