ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how community seed banks are dealing with governance and aspects of management, including costs; what has gone well and not so well; and what key issues have emerged. Both governance and management are influenced by social and gender variables. Management refers to the day-to-day coordination, execution and monitoring of key tasks required to maintain a community seed bank in the short and long term. It usually involves human resources, as well as technical, administrative, organizational and financial elements. In most countries, community seed banks are characterized by a high degree of voluntary effort, and this has a direct impact on the way management is organized. Often a community elects a management committee to oversee the community seed bank, with formal distribution of tasks that include coordination and leadership, technical issues, finance, administration, communication and outreach. Community seed banks can be legitimate and effective community-based organizations to improve access and benefit sharing of locally important crop diversity.
