Notification 2024-009

Dear Sir or Madam,

            I am pleased to advise that, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community, a sub-regional dialogue on national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) for the Caribbean countries will be held from 15 to 17 April 2024, in Georgetown, Guyana. In addition, a sub-regional workshop on Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) will be held from 18 to 19 April 2024 in the same venue. 

            The NBSAP Dialogue is part of a series of regional and sub-regional dialogues being convened by the Secretariat in 2023 and 2024 to facilitate the sharing of experiences and mutual learning related to the updating and revision of NBSAPs, including national targets, in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as requested in decision 15/6. The dialogues are being convened with the generous financial support of the Government of Japan, through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Denmark, and the European Union. The Workshop on Target 3 is financed by GIZ on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany. Additional funding will be provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through the European Union funded Phase 3 of the Capacity Building Programme related to the Implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP MEAs 3) to support the participation of one officer from agriculture or fisheries involved in biodiversity management.

            The NBSAP Dialogue will include sessions on experiences and lessons learned in revising or updating NBSAPs, including national target revision or setting, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, the integration of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols and relevant MEAs into the NBSAP and development of a national monitoring plan for the NBSAP. The Dialogue will also include dedicated in-depth discussions in breakout groups on (i) capacity-building and development and (ii) national biodiversity financing. The outcomes of the dialogue will serve as an input in the further piloting of an open-ended forum for voluntary country review of implementation under the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI), also requested in decision 15/6. The Workshop on Target 3 of the GBF will provide technical support to the development and implementation of similar national targets. 

            I therefore invite each Party concerned to nominate up to three representatives to attend. It is advised that one nominee is the national focal point for the Convention or a government official who is responsible for leading the work on revising and updating the NBSAP, and a second nominee could be an officer or expert who is leading the support to the implementation of Target 3 at national level. The third nominee could be an officer from agriculture or fisheries involved in biodiversity management. In submitting nominations, Parties should give consideration to the full range of national stakeholders, including the focal points of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.

            Nomination letters should be signed by the national focal point of the Convention or the Head of the competent authority. Information on nominees should be submitted through the nomination form annexed to the notification, describing relevant expertise and experience of the nominees. The number of participants is limited. The selection of experts invited to attend will be done to ensure a balanced participation in the breakout groups and the workshop, taking into account the date of receipt of the nomination form. The form, including full contact details, should be sent to secretariat@cbd.int as soon as possible and no later than 16 February 2024.

            Participants eligible for funding will be provided with air travel, accommodation, meals and daily subsistence allowance for incidental costs according to UN rules. Information and documents relevant to the dialogue and the workshop will be made available in due course. The NBSAP Dialogue and the Workshop on Target 3 will be conducted in English only.

            To contribute to the NBSAP Dialogue and the Workshop on Target 3, the Secretariat may also invite a limited number of representatives of United Nations agencies, organizations that represent indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth, or other stakeholders, that are relevant to the GBF implementation in the region.

            I look forward to receiving nominations from you at the earliest opportunity. 

            Please accept, Sir, Madam, the assurances of my highest consideration.   

(Signed) David Cooper

  Acting Executive Secretary