The main instruments of the GÉANT Community Programme are task forces (TF), special interest groups (SIG), workshops (WS) and collaborative projects (CP) as further defined below.

  • Task Forces are fixed-term, typically short-lived community-based collaboration activities, provided largely by volunteers who work together on specific tasks to produce tangible deliverables.

  • Special Interest Groups are similar constructs to task forces, in that they are also community- based and largely volunteering activities, but focus on community building, best-practice dissemination and knowledge exchange rather than on tasks and deliverables. SIGs normally have longer duration than task forces.

  • One-of-a-kind or series of community-based Workshops, (un)conferences or BoFs may be organised around a specific topic of interest. Workshops may lead to recommendations for establishing further follow-up activities. These may be captured in a workshop (or series of workshop) closing report.

  • Collaborative projects. The GCP provides a framework for a broad range of collaboration activities of interest to GÉANT, these can be small or large collaborative projects or specific components of such projects initiated by members or individuals from the community and administered/commissioned by GÉANT.

Any party within the community can put forward a request for one of these activities to be included in the GÉANT Community Programme, but the processes are slightly different for each.  These are explained below.
For all of these initiatives, please contact Gyongyi Horvath (gyongyi.horvath@geant.org) in the first instance to discuss your requirements.

  • Task Force (TF)

A Task Force can be formed through the development of a Terms of Reference document (template), which is then reviewed by the GÉANT Community Committee. If you are planning on proposing a new Task Force, please reach out to us as soon as possible in the planning process so that we can help you and ensure that proposals are reviewed in a timely manner. Please note that there are requirements to be met before a TF can be formed in terms of the number of community members supporting the initiative.

  • SIG (SIG)

A SIG can be formed through the development of a Charter document (template), which is then reviewed by the GÉANT Community Committee. If you are planning on proposing a new SIG, please reach out to us as soon as possible in the planning process so that we can help you and ensure that proposals are reviewed in a timely manner.  Please note that there are requirements to be met before a SIG can be formed in terms of the number of community members supporting the initiative. 

  • Workshop (WS)

GÉANT can support the community by running a one-off workshop or series of workshops - alongside all of the supporting requirements for events such as planinng, secretariat, wiki and website spaces, mailing lists etc.  If you would like to propose a workshop or workshop series, please contact us with the following information:

 - Name of the proposal;
 - Background and reason;
 - Event type and frequency;
 - Audience;
 - Supporting organisations;
 - Support requirements.

  • Collaborative Projects (CP) 

Collaborative projects come in many different shapes and sizes and typically require more planning, preparation and approval processes than other activities.  Proposals will be expected to produce a full project proposal document, alongside financial and risk assessments.  Examples of existing collaborative projects are REFEDS, GLIF, NRENum.net and WISE.


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