Notification 2016-007

Dear Madam/Sir, In paragraph 8 of decision XII/2 B, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to undertake: (i) an evaluation of the effectiveness of capacity-building activities that the Secretariat has supported and facilitated; (ii) a review of related partnership arrangements and opportunities for delivery; and (iii) an analysis of the gaps in capacity-building activities supporting the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and, building on these elements, develop a short-term action plan to enhance and support capacity-building, especially for developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and convene an expert group to examine the proposed short-term action plan prior to its submission for consideration by the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation. Pursuant to the above decision, the Secretariat through notification 2015-147 invited National Focal Points and participants (including government officials and representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities) who took part in capacity-building activities facilitated and/or supported by the Secretariat during the period 2013-2015 to complete a survey on the effectiveness of those activities. On the basis of the survey results as well as other relevant information the Secretariat is preparing a draft short-term action plan to enhance and support capacity-building for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and will convene an online expert group discussion from 8 to 17 February 2016 to examine the draft. The online discussion will be held through the clearing-house mechanism at: http://www.cbd.int/mechanisms/capacitybuilding.shtml. Accordingly, I wish to invite Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, to nominate one expert with practical experience in capacity-building design, implementation and/or evaluation for possible selection to take part in the online expert group discussion. The nomination should be submitted through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, accompanied by the attached form duly completed or the curriculum vitae of the expert. It should be sent by e-mail to: secretariat@cbd.int or by fax to +1 514 288 6588, as soon as possible but no later than 3 February 2016. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support towards the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, Cartagena Protocol National Focal Points, ABS National Focal Points, Indigenous Peoples and Local communities and relevant organizations