Notification 2016-020

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to draw your attention to the attached call for expressions of interest from lawyers and policy officers of developing countries and countries with economies in transition that have ratified or acceded to the Protocol and those that are close to ratification/accession to participate in an upcoming capacity-building course on “Establishing Legal Frameworks to Implement the Nagoya Protocol”. The course has been developed jointly by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) as part of a broader collaborative capacity-building programme to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, which is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Biodiversity Fund. The course is primarily intended for lawyers and policy officers (including ABS National Focal Points and Competent National Authorities) who are actively involved in designing and implementing domestic frameworks or advising on national processes to implement the Nagoya Protocol. The participants will be introduced to the core requirements of the Nagoya Protocol and key considerations for the design and implementation of domestic frameworks to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing. The course will comprise three components: a mandatory 4-week preparatory e-learning session, a 5-day intensive face-to-face workshop, and follow-up peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing through online networking and a discussion forum. I invite countries that have ratified or acceded to the Protocol and those that are close to ratification/accession to encourage their lawyers and policy officers who meet the stipulated selection criteria to apply for the course. The minimum requirements are: • A university degree, preferably related to law or public policy at the Masters or Ph.D. level • Relevant working experience • Working knowledge of English sufficient to participate actively • Demonstrated interest and commitment to biodiversity and sustainable development issues • Demonstrated leadership potential and communication skills • Active engagement or demonstrated opportunity to actively engage with national processes to implement the Nagoya Protocol The application form for the course is available on the IDLO website at: http://www.idlo.int/news/events/course-legal-frameworks-implement-nagoya-protocol and also on the ABS Clearing-House at: https://absch.cbd.int/partners/idlo/events. The expression of interest, including a duly completed application form, a cover letter highlighting the applicant’s relevant experience, interests and motivation for taking the course; as well as the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae should be submitted directly to IDLO via e-mail: AichiLaw@idlo.int. Please note that the deadline for application is 22 February 2016. The selected candidates from developing countries and countries with economies in transition will receive funding support to cover travel and accommodation costs and will be informed by 28 March 2016. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration,

Executive Secretary

To: ABS National Focal Points and CBD National Focal Points