Information

MOP 1 Decision BS-I/10

Programme budget for the distinct costs of the Secretariat services for and the Biosafety work programme of the Cartagena Protocol for the biennium 2005-2006

The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

1. Welcomes the annual contribution of US $1,000,000 from the host country, Canada and the province of Quebec, of which US $165,000 per annum has been allocated to offset contribution from the Parties to the Protocol for the biennium 2005-2006;

2. Decides to establish the following trust funds for the Biosafety Protocol for a period of three years, beginning 1 January 2005 and ending 31 December 2007:

(a) Trust Fund for the core programme budget for the Biosafety Protocol (BYP Trust Fund)*6;

(b) Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BEP Trust Fund) for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities; 7/ and

(c) Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BZP Trust Fund) for Facilitating Participation of Developing Country Parties, in particular the Least Developed and the Small Island Developing States amongst them, and Parties with Economies in Transition.

On an exceptional basis and subject to available resources, funding for participation may be made available to countries from the groups identified in subparagraph (c) above, who provide a clear political commitment towards becoming Parties to the Protocol. Evidence of such political commitment shall take the form of a written assurance to the Executive Secretary that the country intends to become a Party to the Protocol;

3. Approves a core (BYP Trust Fund) programme budget for the Biosafety Protocol of US $2,166,500 for the year 2005 and of US $1,878,700 for the year 2006, for the purposes set out in table 1 below;

4. Approves a secretariat staffing table for the programme budget for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, contained in table 2 below, and requests that all staff positions be filled expeditiously;

5. Welcomes with appreciation decision VII/34 of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, whereby Parties to the Convention have decided to bear the shared costs of US $3,267,100 for the year 2005 and US$3,326,600 for the year 2006, that are not distinct to the Protocol;

6. Decides to provisionally adopt the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the distinct costs among the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol for 2005 and 2006, as contained in table 5 below, and authorizes the Executive Secretary, in keeping with the financial rules, to adjust the list of Parties on receipt of notification from the depositary that a State has deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession;

7. Decides also to establish a working capital reserve of five (5) per cent for the core budget (BYP Trust Fund) expenditure, including programme support costs;

8. Authorizes the Executive Secretary to transfer resources among the programmes between each of the main appropriation lines set out in the table 1 below up to an aggregate of 15 per cent of the total programme budget, provided that a further limitation of up to a maximum of 25 per cent of each such appropriation line shall apply;

9. Takes note of the funding estimates for activities under the Biosafety Protocol to be financed from:

(a) The Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BEP) for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities, included in table 3 below; and

(b) The Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BZP) for Facilitating Participation of Developing Country Parties, in particular the Least Developed and the Small Island Developing States amongst them, and Parties with Economies in Transition, included in table 4 below;

and urges Parties to make contributions to these funds;

10. Invites all Parties to the Protocol to note that contributions to the core budget (BYP Trust Fund) are due on 1 January of the year in which these contributions have been budgeted for, and to pay them promptly, and urges Parties in a position to do so, to pay by 15 November of the year 2004 for the calendar year 2005 and by 15 November 2005 for the calendar year 2006 the contributions required to finance the expenditures approved under paragraph 3 above, as offset by the amount in paragraph 1 above, and in this regard requests that Parties be notified of the amount of their contributions by 15 October of the year preceding the year in which the contributions are due;

11. Urges all Parties and States not Parties to the Protocol, as well as governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other sources, to contribute to the trust funds of the Cartagena Protocol;

12. Decides that the Executive Secretary has the authority, with the concurrence of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to adjust the servicing of the programme of work, including postponement of meetings, if sufficient resources are not available to the Secretariat in a timely fashion;

13. Requests the Executive Secretary to prepare and submit a budget for the distinct costs of the secretariat services for and the biosafety work programme of the Protocol for the biennium 2007-2008 to the third meeting the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and to report on income and budget performance as well as any adjustments made to the Protocol budget for the biennium 2005-2006;

14. Notes the need to facilitate priority-setting by providing Parties with timely information on the financial consequences of different options, taking into account paragraph 17 below and views provided by Parties in this regard. To this end, requests the Executive Secretary to include in the proposed budget for the biennium 2007-2008 two alternatives based on:

(a) Maintaining the core budget at the 2005-2006 level (e.g. with zero per cent nominal growth and with zero per cent real growth); and

(b) Increasing the core budget to five per cent nominal growth above the 2005-2006 level;

15. Requests the Executive Secretary to report to the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on income and budget performance, and to propose any adjustments that might be needed in the programme budget for the biennium 2005-2006;

16. Decides that the financial rules and regulations and the decisions related to the administration of the budget, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, be adopted mutatis mutandis for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety;

17. Requests the Executive Secretary, in accordance with rule 14 of the rules of procedure, to provide Parties with an indication of the administrative and financial implications of recommendations to be referred by any committee, liaison group, advisory group, open-ended working group, ad hoc working group or technical expert group for consideration of and subsequent adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which may have administrative and budgetary implication that cannot be met from existing resources within the core budget (BYP Trust Fund);

18. Invites the Executive Secretary to extend the fellowship programme of the Convention to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as a means of enabling developing country Parties to send their nationals to the secretariat for the purposes of enhancing their understanding of the Protocol and other processes, and for increasing awareness of biosafety and related issues;

19. Instructs the Executive Secretary, in an effort to improve the efficiency of the Secretariat and to attract highly qualified staff to the Secretariat, to enter into direct administrative and contractual arrangements with Parties, Governments and organizations - in response to offers of human resources and other support to the Secretariat - as may be necessary for the effective discharge of the functions of the Secretariat, while ensuring the efficient use of available competencies, resources and services, and taking into account United Nations rules and regulations. Special attention should be given to possibilities of creating synergies with relevant, existing work programmes or activities that are being implemented within the framework of other international organizations.

Table. 1 Biennium budget of the Trust Fund for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 2005-2006

 

Expenditures

2005

2006

   

(US$ thousands)

(US$ thousands)

I.

Description

   
 

Staff costs

525.3

541.1

 

Biosafety bureau meetings

33.5

33.5

 

Travel on official business

60

60

 

Consultants/Sub-contracts

25

25

 

Biosafety Clearing-House advisory meetings

40

40

 

Liaison Group meetings (2/year)

80

80

 

Meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Protocol

525

425

 

Compliance Committee meetings

60

60

 

Open-ended ad hoc meeting of legal and technical experts on liability and redress

0

370

 

Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 18

370

0

 

Training/Fellowships

20

20

 

Temporary assistance/overtime

8

8

 

Sub-total (I)

1746.8

1662.6

II.

Programme support charge (13%)

227.1

216.1

 

Sub-total (II)

227.1

216.1

III.

Working Capital Reserve (5%)

192.6

 
 

Sub-total (III)

192.6

0.0

 

GRAND TOTAL (I + II +III)

2,166.5

1,878.7

 

Less contribution from the host country

165.0

165.0

 

NET TOTAL (amount to be shared by Parties)

2,001.5

1,713.7

Priorities identified in the core budget (US$2,511,821 including 13 % programme support costs and 5% working capital reserve)

- Meetings of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties

- Biosafety Clearing House Advisory Group meetings

- Second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties

- Third meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties

- Capacity-Building Biosafety Liaison Group meetings

- Compliance Committee meetings

- First meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Liability and Redress

- Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Article 18

Table 2. Secretariat staffing requirements for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety from the core budget

 

 

2005

2006

       

A.

Professional Category*

   
 

P-5

1

1

 

P-4

1

1

 

P-3

1

1

 

TOTAL PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

3

3

       

B.

Total General Service Category

2

2

       
 

TOTAL (A+B)

5

5

* The Executive Secretary will review the classification and report thereon to COP/MOP-2

Table 3. Special Voluntary Trust Fund for additional voluntary contributions in support of approved activities of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

I.

Description

 

2005

2006

 

 

 

(US$)

(US$)

 

Meetings

     
 

Regional meetings for the Biosafety Protocol (4/year)

 

40,000

40,000

 

Biosafety Clearing House Technical Expert Meetings

 

60,000

60,000

 

Ad hoc Technical and Legal Expert Group meeting on Liability & Redress

60,000

 
 

Coordination meetings on capacity building

 

60,000

60,000

 

(under the coordination mechanism)

     
 

Regional Capacity-building meetings on Article 18 (4/year)

 

40,000

40,000

 

Consultants/Sub-contracts

     
 

Biosafety Clearing House

     
 

- Translation of BCH website

 

20,000

 
 

- Independent Review of the BCH

 

150,000

 
 

- Review of the Roster of Experts

 

15,000

 
 

Equipment

     
 

Replacement/upgrading of BCH hardware/software

   

50,000

 

 

 

 

 
 

Sub-total

 

445,000

250,000

II.

Programme support charges (13%)

 

57,850

32,500

III.

Working capital reserve (5%)

 

39,268

 
 

Total Cost (I + II + III)

 

542,118

282,500

Table.4 Special Voluntary Trust Fund for facilitating participation of Parties in the Biosafety Protocol process for the biennium 2005-2006

 

 

 

Description

2005

2006

 

(US$ thousands)

(US$ thousands)

Meetings

   

Regional meetings for the Biosafety Protocol (4/year)

200.0

200.0

Meetings of the Parties

540.0

540.0

Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal & Technical Experts on Liability and Redress

-

540.0

Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Article 18

540.0

-

Regional Capacity-building meetings on Article 18 (4/year)

200.0

200.0

 

 

 

Subtotal I

1,480.0

1,480.0

Programme support charges (13%)

192.4

192.4

Total Cost (I + II)

1,672.4

1,672.4

Table 5. Contributions to the Trust Fund for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety for the biennium 2005-2006

Party

UN scale of

assessments

2004

(per cent)

Scale with 22%

ceiling, no LDC

paying more than

0.01 %

(per cent)

Contributions

due

1 Jan. 2005

(US$)

UN scale of

assessments

2004

(per cent)

Scale with 22%

ceiling, no LDC

paying more than

0.01 %

(per cent)

Contributions

due

1 Jan. 2006

(US$)

Total

contributions

2005-2006

(US$)

Antigua and Barbuda

0.003

0.005

105

0.003

0.005

90

195

Austria

0.859

1.501

30,052

0.859

1.501

25,731

55,783

Bahamas

0.013

0.023

455

0.013

0.023

389

844

Bangladesh

0.010

0.010

200

0.010

0.010

171

372

Barbados

0.010

0.017

350

0.010

0.017

300

649

Belarus

0.018

0.031

630

0.018

0.031

539

1,169

Belgium 1/

1.069

1.869

37,399

1.069

1.869

32,021

69,421

Belize

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Bhutan

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Bolivia

0.009

0.016

315

0.009

0.016

270

584

Botswana

0.012

0.021

420

0.012

0.021

359

779

Brazil

1.523

2.662

53,283

1.523

2.662

45,621

98,903

Bulgaria

0.017

0.030

595

0.017

0.030

509

1,104

Burkina Faso

0.002

0.003

70

0.002

0.003

60

130

Cambodia

0.002

0.003

70

0.002

0.003

60

130

Cameroon

0.008

0.014

280

0.008

0.014

240

520

Colombia

0.155

0.271

5,423

0.155

0.271

4,643

10,066

Croatia

0.037

0.065

1,294

0.037

0.065

1,108

2,403

Cuba

0.043

0.075

1,504

0.043

0.075

1,288

2,792

Cyprus

0.039

0.068

1,364

0.039

0.068

1,168

2,533

Czech Republic

0.183

0.320

6,402

0.183

0.320

5,482

11,884

Denmark

0.718

1.255

25,119

0.718

1.255

21,507

46,627

Djibouti

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Ecuador

0.019

0.033

665

0.019

0.033

569

1,234

Egypt

0.012

0.021

420

0.012

0.021

359

779

El Salvador

0.022

0.038

770

0.022

0.038

659

1,429

Estonia 1/

0.012

0.021

420

0.012

0.021

359

779

Ethiopia

0.004

0.007

140

0.004

0.007

120

260

European Community

2.500

2.500

50,038

2.500

2.500

42,843

92,880

Fiji

0.004

0.007

140

0.004

0.007

120

260

France

6.030

10.540

210,961

6.030

10.540

180,626

391,587

Germany

8.662

15.141

303,042

8.662

15.141

259,467

562,509

Ghana

0.004

0.007

140

0.004

0.007

120

260

Greece 1/

0.530

0.926

18,542

0.530

0.926

15,876

34,418

Grenada

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Hungary

0.126

0.220

4,408

0.126

0.220

3,774

8,182

India

0.421

0.736

14,729

0.421

0.736

12,611

27,340

Iran

0.157

0.274

5,493

0.157

0.274

4,703

10,196

Ireland

0.350

0.612

12,245

0.350

0.612

10,484

22,729

Italy 1/

4.885

8.539

170,903

4.885

8.539

146,328

317,231

Japan

19.468

22.000

440,330

19.468

22.000

377,014

817,344

Jordan

0.011

0.019

385

0.011

0.019

330

714

Kenya

0.009

0.016

315

0.009

0.016

270

584

Korea, Democratic Republic

0.010

0.017

350

0.010

0.017

300

649

Latvia

0.015

0.026

525

0.015

0.026

449

974

Lesotho

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Liberia

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Lithuania

0.024

0.042

840

0.024

0.042

719

1,559

Luxembourg

0.077

0.135

2,694

0.077

0.135

2,307

5,000

Madagascar

0.003

0.005

105

0.003

0.005

90

195

Malaysia

0.203

0.355

7,102

0.203

0.355

6,081

13,183

Maldives

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Mali

0.002

0.003

70

0.002

0.003

60

130

Marshall Islands

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Mauritius

0.011

0.019

385

0.011

0.019

330

714

Mexico

1.883

3.291

65,877

1.883

3.291

56,405

122,282

Mongolia

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Mozambique

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Nauru

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Netherlands

1.690

2.954

59,125

1.690

2.954

50,623

109,748

Nicaragua

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Nigeria

0.042

0.073

1,469

0.042

0.073

1,258

2,727

Niue

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Norway

0.679

1.187

23,755

0.679

1.187

20,339

44,094

Oman

0.070

0.122

2,449

0.070

0.122

2,097

4,546

Palau

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Panama

0.019

0.033

665

0.019

0.033

569

1,234

Poland

0.461

0.806

16,128

0.461

0.806

13,809

29,937

Republic of Moldova

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Romania

0.060

0.105

2,099

0.060

0.105

1,797

3,896

Saint Kitts and Nevis

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Saint Vincent & Gren.

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Samoa

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Senegal

0.005

0.009

175

0.005

0.009

150

325

Slovakia

0.051

0.089

1,784

0.051

0.089

1,528

3,312

Slovenia

0.082

0.143

2,869

0.082

0.143

2,456

5,325

South Africa

0.292

0.510

10,216

0.292

0.510

8,747

18,962

Spain

2.520

4.405

88,163

2.520

4.405

75,486

163,648

Sweden

0.998

1.744

34,915

0.998

1.744

29,895

64,810

Switzerland

1.197

2.092

41,877

1.197

2.092

35,856

77,733

Tajikistan

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Tonga

0.001

0.002

35

0.001

0.002

30

65

Trinidad and Tobago

0.022

0.038

770

0.022

0.038

659

1,429

Tunisia

0.032

0.056

1,120

0.032

0.056

959

2,078

Turkey

0.372

0.650

13,015

0.372

0.650

11,143

24,158

Uganda

0.006

0.010

200

0.006

0.010

171

381

Ukraine

0.039

0.068

1,364

0.039

0.068

1,168

2,533

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

6.127

10.710

214,355

6.127

10.710

183,532

397,887

United Republic of Tanzania

0.006

0.010

210

0.006

0.010

180

390

Venezuela

0.171

0.299

5,982

0.171

0.299

5,122

11,105

Viet Nam

0.021

0.037

735

0.021

0.037

629

1,364

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL

65.166

100.000

2,001,500

65.166

100.000

1,713,700

3,715,210


Notes:

    6/ These States confirmed that they will be Parties on 31 December 2004

    * "BYP" and the other Trust Fund designations used in the present document are subject to change by the Trustee and are used here purely for the convenience of delegations attending the meeting.

    7/ The BEP Trust Fund shall include the activity previously supported by the General Trust Fund, which was established in paragraph 27 of decision VI/29. The General Trust Fund shall be closed on 1 January 2005 and the funds contained therein shall be transferred to the BEP trust fund.