Secretariat: programme budget for the biosafety work programme for the biennium following the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,

Noting that according to Article 31, paragraph 1, of the Protocol, the Secretariat of the Convention established by Article 24 of the Convention shall serve as the secretariat of the Protocol,

Noting also that, according to Article 31 paragraph 3, to the extent that they are distinct, the costs of the secretariat services for this Protocol shall be met by the Parties hereto,

Recognizing that in the absence of a fully developed work programme for the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol and the uncertainty whether, in the early years following the entry into force of the Protocol, the number of Parties at that time may not have the financial capacity to provide the necessary funding for activities under the Protocol,

Recognizing that in the future there is a need to distinguish the costs associated with the implementation of the Protocol,

Emphasizing that the budget for the biosafety work programme should be considered within the overall budget of the Convention,

1. Recommends that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention approve the following elements and include them in the BY, BE and BZ trust funds for the Convention on Biological Diversity and in the relevant decision of the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting:

(a) A core programme budget of $2,441,597 for the year 2003 and of $1,701,934 for the year 2004, for the purposes, as set out in table 1 on page 31 below, and incorporate it into the core budget of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

(b) An additional amount of $325,000 from the core budget for the organization of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol in case it is not convened back-to-back with the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

(c) That the total cost of the core budget referred to above be considered within the overall budget of the Convention for the biennium 2003-2004; 11/

(d) The sum of $949,200 for the purposes, as set out in annex I to the present recommendation, and incorporate it into the Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BE) for Additional Voluntary Contributions in Support of Approved Activities under the Convention on Biological Diversity for the biennium 2003-2004;

(e) The sum of $2,203,500 for the purposes, as set out in annex II to the present recommendation, and incorporate it into the Special Voluntary Trust Fund (BZ) for Facilitating Participation of Parties in the processes of the Convention for the biennium 2003-2004;

(f) A Biosafety Protocol staffing level of 10 posts (seven Professional and three General Service) at the level indicated in table 2 on page 31 below and to further assess the staffing requirements at the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties;

(g) [That the total cost of the core budget (BY Trust Fund) of the biosafety work programme will continue to be borne on an interim basis by the Parties to the Convention for the biennium 2003-2004 or until such a time that the Protocol is ratified by an agreed number of developed and developing country Parties where the costs will then be borne by the Parties on a pro rata basis];

(h) That all Parties to the Convention are invited to note that contributions to the core budget (BY 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 1 October of the year 2002 for the calendar year 2003 and by 1 October 2003 for the calendar year 2004 the contributions required to finance expenditures approved, and, in this regard, requests that Parties be notified of the amount of their contributions by 1 August of the year preceding the year in which the contributions are due;

(i) That all Parties and States not Parties to the Protocol, as well as governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other sources, be urged to contribute specific funding for the Protocol to the BY, BE and BZ trust funds;

(j) That the Executive Secretary has the authority to, in concurrence with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, 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;

(k) That the Executive Secretary prepares and submits a budget for the programme of work for the biennium 2005-2006 to the second meeting the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, and report on income and budget performance as well as any adjustments made to the Protocol budget for the biennium 2003-2004;

(l) That the Executive Secretary enters into direct administrative and contractual arrangements with Parties 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 as it relate to the Protocol, 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 in accordance with relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol;

2. Recommends further that the Conference of the Parties seek advice, as appropriate, from the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Protocol for any adjustments that may be needed to the figures reflected in the present recommendation.

Table1. Biosafety resource requirements from the core budget (BY Trust Fund)

(United States dollars)

Table 2. Biosafety staffing requirements from the core budget

Annex I

BIOSAFETY RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE SPECIAL VOLUNTARY TRUST FUND (BE) FOR ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF APPROVED ACTIVITIES THE 2003-2004 BIENNIUM

(in United States dollars)

Annex II

BIOSAFETY RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE SPECIAL VOLUNTARY TRUST FUND (BZ) FOR FACILITATING PARTICIPATION OF PARTIES IN THE CONVENTION PROCESS FOR THE 2003-2004 BIENNIUM

(in United States dollars)