Notification 2019-066

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform you that, with financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is convening the fourth Sustainable Ocean Initiative Training of Trainers Workshop from 14 to 18 October 2019, in Seocheon, Republic of Korea. The workshop is being convened in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea and various other partners of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI). The workshop aims to support experts from national-level agencies of developing country Parties to contribute to enhanced national implementation towards achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas, in particular by strengthening capacity on: (1) the ecosystem approach and area-based management tools, such as integrated marine and coastal area management and marine spatial planning; (2) the use of biodiversity-inclusive impact assessments and strategic environmental assessment; and (3) the incorporation of traditional knowledge in the application of area-based management tools. The workshop will focus on providing experts with the tools, guidelines and information on the above-noted issues and to further disseminate and transmit this knowledge in their respective countries, including through the development of training programmes at the national and/or sub-national levels. The Sustainable Ocean Initiative is a global platform that aims to build partnerships and enhance capacity to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets most relevant to marine and coastal biodiversity. Its implementation is being coordinated by the CBD Secretariat in collaboration with various SOI partners. SOI was created on the margins of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity to respond to the need for training and capacity-building of developing country Parties with respect to conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity. CBD Parties are therefore invited to nominate an expert to participate in this workshop. Experts who take part in this workshop will be expected to develop a subsequent training programme at the national and/or sub-national level, with the support of their respective government and/or institution. Participants should be individuals from national agencies tasked with ocean and coastal management who are in a position to develop and implement training programmes at the national and/or sub-national level. Participants to this workshop will be selected from nominations received from Parties that are developing countries or economies in transition, based on the following criteria and taking into account regional and gender balance: • Long-term experience, knowledge and expertise, and a clear responsibility within a national-level institution/agency, related to management of marine and coastal biodiversity; • Indication of the ability to develop and implement training programmes on achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas at the national and/or sub-national level; • Ability to facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration in the implementation of training programmes on achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas; and • Indication of support from a national institution/agency to develop and implement a training programme on achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in marine and coastal areas. The Secretariat will be in a position to finance the participation one expert from each eligible Party who meets the above criteria. Preference will be given to nominations that are sent with a formal letter from a national institution/agency expressing its commitment to support the expert in developing and implementing a national or sub-national training programme. Parties should provide the name and contact details of their nominees via a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary and signed by the National Focal Point. Nominations must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the areas of expertise and experience of the nominees. The extent to which the nominee meets the above-mentioned criteria should be clearly explained in the curriculum vitae and nomination letter. All nominations must also be accompanied by the attached nomination form duly completed. Nominations should be forwarded immediately but no later than 30 August 2019 (scanned and attached to an e-mail addressed to secretariat@cbd.int, or faxed to +1 (514) 288-6588). Workshop materials will be forwarded to the selected experts and posted on the CBD website in due course. The workshop will be conducted in English. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter and your continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Focal Points and SBSTTA Focal Points