This document responds to a series of Board mandates to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and overall impact of Board governance. It synthesizes insights from the dedicated Board retreat held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in June 2026, where participants reflected on balancing strategic oversight, operational decision-making, and the optimal use of Board time while maintaining inclusive governance.
The central objective of this paper is to outline practical follow-up actions that enable the Board to focus on high-value, strategic deliberations in response to decision B.44/02, paragraph (c) to capture key takeaways relating to Board effectiveness from the retreat and to propose follow-up actions to inform subsequent work and proposals for Board consideration.
Proposed measures include optimizing agenda management, expanding the scope of mechanisms for decision-making between meetings (such as for select funding and accreditation proposals), and strengthening intersessional Board engagement. This document also serves as a roadmap for sustained effectiveness growth. It details support enhancements for the Co-Chairs and constituencies while establishing a continuous framework for Board effectiveness dialogue – including regular retreats and ongoing review – to support long-term, adaptive governance.