Why join CABI
Membership of CABI enables national governments to play an active role in directing and influencing the global development agenda through the work of the organization and its network of partners. It also provides privileged access to projects, products and services that relate to our scientific expertise, and products and resources that add to national capabilities in agriculture and the environment.
Interested countries can contribute to and benefit from what we do by joining CABI as an Accession Member Country, Associate Member Country or as a Full Member Country. Countries are encouraged to join as an Accession Member Country or Associate Member Country initially to become involved with CABI and its membership quickly and easily.
Membership types
Accession Member Country
This type of membership acts as a transitional category for countries that have applied to become a Full Member Country but waiting to complete the full administrative process. It allows countries to engage meaningfully with CABI and benefit immediately from CABI’s expertise, work, services and products. An Accession Member Country would gain CABI membership once their application is approved by the Executive Council, subject to payment of membership fees. The maximum duration of transitioning from Accession Member Country to Full Member Country status is three years. An Accession Member Country that does not complete the full membership process within three years automatically transitions to Associate Member Country status until the process is completed. The benefits for Accession Member Countries are similar to those of Full Member Countries except they would only have Observer Status at Executive Council meetings and the Review Conference. They also do not share responsibility for the organization’s assets and liabilities until the countries sign the Agreement on CAB International. Determination of fees for Accession Member Countries would be on the same basis as for Full Member Countries.
Associate Member Country
Associate membership allows countries to engage with CABI at an early stage of the membership process, without the need to sign up to a treaty-level agreement. An Associate Member Country receives most of the benefits of full membership, including valuable access to CABI’s scientific knowledge as well as participation in our Regional Consultations and Review Conference. In addition, an Associate Member Country has Observer status at Executive Council meetings and the formal governance sessions within Review Conferences.
Full Member Country
Full membership provides each Member Country with an equal role and voting rights in relation to CABI’s governance and strategic direction, as well as access to all the membership benefits enjoyed by Associate Member Countries. Full Member Countries receive a 20% discount on the annual fee levels relative to Associate Member Countries. It should be noted that they also have a responsibility for the liabilities of the organization under Article XIV of the Agreement on CAB International, which states that:
“In the event of dissolution, the Executive Council shall appoint a liquidator. The assets of the Organization shall be distributed among, and the liabilities of the Organization including any liabilities to the Organization’s staff superannuation schemes shall be met by, the (full) member governments in such proportions as shall reflect their total financial contributions to the expenses and assets of the Organization”
Countries wishing to become a Full Member Country sign up to the UN registered treaty-level Agreement on CAB International, requiring the Instrument of Accession to be signed by the Head of State, Foreign Secretary or equivalent level Minister in the Government.
Membership benefits
As a Member Country, you gain privileged access to a number of benefits and services. View the benefits of each CABI membership, Accession Member Country, Associate Member Country and Full Member Country, here.
Membership process and fees
Country membership is determined by existing members and requires a formal submission.
Fees for Accession Member Country, Associate Member Country and Full Member Country membership are set in bands according to a country’s UN index number. Full Member Countries receive a 20% discount.
Become a Member Country
If you are interested in becoming a Member Country, please see our ‘Becoming a Member Country’ brochure for more information.
Our Membership Director, Qiaoqiao Zhang, and Chief Member Countries and Partnerships Officer, Phyllis Engefu Ombonyo, would also be pleased to hear from you.
