Notification 2015-057

Dear Madam/Sir, The integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into major national policies is a challenge that lies at the heart of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is a key objective of the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that the CBD Secretariat, in collaboration with the Government of Morocco, and the Morocco Country Office of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is organizing a workshop on an Inter-sectoral Dialogue for Enhancing the Mainstreaming of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in National and Sectoral Policies. The workshop will be held in Rabat, Morocco from 29 September to 1 October 2015. This workshop is made possible thanks to the generous financial support from the Government of Japan, through its Japan Biodiversity Fund. The operational objective of the workshop is to strengthen inter-sectoral and inter-institutional processes, such as inter-sectoral committees for biodiversity planning already in place in participating countries so that they may better contribute to the mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services in national policies through the following: (a) Exchange of experiences, interactive dialogue, mutual understanding and learning, and exchange of best practices; (b) Team building and strengthening working relationships across institutions involved in inter-sectoral and inter-institutional committees in place for the implementation of the CBD; (c) Taking stock of current practices in participating countries including in-depth analysis of mechanisms, approaches, tools and entry points that can help improving the effectiveness and efficiency of inter-sectoral and inter-institutional processes in place for the conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services; and (d) Development of concrete and implementable road maps for the enhancement of biodiversity mainstreaming into national policy frameworks. The workshop is intended primarily for the biodiversity focal point of Ministries involved in inter-ministerial committees on biodiversity. These Ministries could include those responsible for national finance and planning, agriculture, food, forest, land use, fisheries and tourism, in addition to the NBSAP coordination. In light of the above, I am pleased to invite your Government to nominate four officials who will participate in this workshop. Kindly submit your nominations as soon as possible but not later than 15 June 2015. The nominations should be in the form of an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary and signed by the National Focal Point, with the attached form and the curriculum vitae of the nominee. Please send nominations by fax to +1 (514) 288-6588 or e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int and kindly provide a description of their involvement in their country’s inter-sectoral committee for biodiversity planning, or equivalent. All nominees should be in a position to share the national experiences in mainstreaming biodiversity, and to translate the capacity gained into concrete actions in support of national implementation. Please be informed that the participation of four nominated representatives from each eligible country Party will be supported with direct, economy-class round-trip ticket and a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for the duration of the workshop, to be provided in accordance with relevant United Nations rules. Documents for this workshop will be made available in due course. Upon receipt of nominations, further information on travel and hotel arrangements will be duly communicated. We look forward to receiving your early nominations. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points of the following countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Morocco and Niger