3. The Executive Director shall exercise the functions required to be performed under this Charter under the overall supervision of the Secretary-General. 4. There shall be such other staff of the Agency as Council may determine on the recommendation of the Board. 5. The terms and conditions of service of the Executive Director and other staff of the Agency shall be determined by the Council. Detailed terms and conditions of the Executive Director and staff shall be contained in staff rules and regulations to be adopted by the Council. 6. The Executive Director may be removed from office by the Council in accordance with the staff rules and regulations of the Agency. (c) Be responsible for the administrative and financial aspects of the Agency; (d) On his own initiative, or as may be assigned to him by the Board, Council or the Secretary-General, undertake such work and studies and perform services related to the objectives of the Agency; and (e) Collect information and verify matters of fact relating to the functioning of the Agency and for that purpose, may request Member States to provide information relating thereto. Article 11 Independence of the Agency 7. In appointing staff to offices in the Agency, regard shall be had, subject to the importance of securing the highest standards of integrity, efficiency and the technical competence, to the desirability of maintaining an equitable distribution of appointments to such offices among citizens of all Member States. 1. Subject to other provisions of this Charter, in the performance of their duties, the Board Members, Executive Director and staff of the Agency shall refrain from any actions which might adversely reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Agency and other institutions of COMESA. 8. In the performance of their duties, the Executive Director and staff of the Agency shall not seek or receive instructions from any Member State or from any other authority external to the Agency. 2. Member States undertake to respect the international character of the responsibilities of the Board Members, Executive Director and staff of the Agency and shall not seek to unduly influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities. Article 10 Functions of the Executive Director Article 12 Co-operation with other Institutions The Executive Director shall: (a) Supervise the implementation of the policies made by Council; (b) Submit regular reports on the activities of the Agency to the Board; The Agency may, with the prior approval of the Secretary-General, enter into contracts or arrangements with any other person, body or institution pursuing objectives similar to those of, or helpful to the Agency. 39