Notification 2022-046

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decisions BS-VI/12 (https://www.cbd.int/decision/mop/default.shtml?id=13245) and CP-VIII/12 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/mop-08/mop-08-dec-12-en.pdf), the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety requested the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to support regional and subregional capacity-building activities on risk assessment of living modified organisms. In response to this request, and with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea Biosafety Capacity-Building Initiative, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is organizing a training course on risk assessment of living modified organisms for Francophone Africa, to be held in Dakar, Senegal from 19 to 22 September 2022, with the objective of providing theoretical and hands-on training for participants from Francophone African countries. The workshop will address the following: (a) The risk analysis and risk assessment processes (concepts, methodology, key issues to be considered); (b) Problem formulation approach (hypothesis formulation, risk scenarios); (c) Hands-on training in the evaluation of case studies of living modified organisms for environmental release. Accordingly, I am pleased to invite your Government to nominate a representative to take part in the workshop. The nominee must be involved, or is expected to be involved, in conducting risk assessment of living modified organisms and must have an understanding of molecular biology, biotechnology and biology concepts related to biosafety. The workshop will be conducted in the French language. The official nomination letter must be accompanied by: (i) Annex I - nomination form, duly completed, indicating the activities in which the nominee has been involved that are relevant to biosafety and risk assessment of living modified organisms, as well as the anticipated benefits of the workshop; (ii) Annex II - HR Mini Master Registration Form duly completed (Parts A and B); (iii) Copy of the bio page of a valid national passport for the nominee, which will enable the Secretariat to process the travel. Participants will be selected on the basis of their relevant expertise, as well as geographical representation and gender balance. Only nominations submitted through the Cartagena Protocol Focal Point and accompanied by complete forms will be considered. Due to the limited availability of funds for the workshop, only nominees from eligible Parties to the Cartagena Protocol will receive financial assistance to cover the cost of travel and a daily subsistence allowance. Relevant organizations with activities in francophone countries in the Africa region are also welcome to nominate representatives with practical experience in the subject matter of the workshop, by submitting an official nomination letter signed by the head/senior authority and completing the attached Annex I. Please note that due to space restrictions, nominations by Parties will have priority. Nominations should be sent to the Secretariat via e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int or by fax at +1 514 288-6588. In order to enable the Secretariat to finalize arrangements for the workshop in a timely manner, it would be appreciated if nominations are sent as soon as possible but no later than 10 August 2022. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support to the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: Cartagena Protocol National Focal Points of: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, CBD National Focal Points (where CPB focal points have not yet been designated) and relevant organizations, cc: Biosafety Clearing-House National Focal Points of the Francophone Africa region