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WGRI 3 Recommendations

WGRI 3 Recommendation 3/11

3/11.Further consideration of the proposed biodiversity technology initiative

The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its tenth meeting adopt a decision along the following lines:
The Conference of the Parties,
1.Recognizing the potential contribution of a [voluntary] Biodiversity Technology Initiative (BTI) to promoting and supporting the effective access to and transfer of technology among Parties to the Convention, as essential elements for the attainment of the three objectives of the Convention, emphasizes that such a Biodiversity Technology Initiative needs to:
(a)Provide support to the implementation of the pertinent provisions of the Convention, the programme of work on technology transfer and scientific and technological cooperation 37, taking into account the strategy for the practical implementation of the programme of work 38, as well as of the Strategic Plan of the Convention for the period 2011-2020;
(b)Be demand-driven, well-defined, and be based on the technology needs, in particular, new technologies, identified by recipient countries;
(c)[Be of a voluntary nature;]
(d)Be driven through the active and balanced participation of developed countries and developing countries, including the least developed and small island developing States among them, and countries with economies in transition;
(e)Be adequately funded, and contribute to leveraging new and additional funding, without constituting an additional financial burden for developing countries;
(f)Provide and leverage increased capacity-building and training for developing countries, including the least developed among them, small island developing States, and countries with economies in transition, on pertinent issues related to technology transfer and scientific and technological cooperation under the Convention;
(g)Further consider issues such as its structure, governance, funding arrangements, etc., in due detail when establishing the initiative;
(h)Create an enabling environment that aims to remove technical, legislative and administrative barriers to technology transfer and technology adaptation, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations;
(i)Take into account that the participation, approval and involvement of women, indigenous and local communities and all relevant stakeholders is key for the successful transfer of technology of relevance to the Convention;
(j)Build on, and cooperate with, existing processes and initiatives, including sectoral programmes and initiatives, such as, for instance, the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), with a view to promoting synergy and avoiding the duplication of work;
2.Recognizing the need to further identify gaps in the work of existing processes and initiatives, including sectoral initiatives, with a view to fully realizing synergies and avoiding duplication of work by a prospective Biodiversity Technology Initiative;
(a)Invites Parties and other Governments, as well as relevant international organizations and initiatives, research institutions and the business sector, to submit to the Executive Secretary information on activities currently being undertaken by international, regional or national organizations and initiatives, including sectoral organizations and initiatives, which support, facilitate, regulate or promote technology transfer and scientific and technological cooperation of relevance to the Convention, such as on: (i) support for technology needs assessments and regulations, including capacity-building for technology assessments; (ii) pertinent capacity building and training courses; (iii) pertinent seminars and symposia; (iv) information dissemination; (v) other implementation activities including match-making and catalysing or facilitating the establishment of research alliances or consortia, joint ventures, or twinning arrangements, on technologies of relevance to the Convention;
(b)Requests the Executive Secretary to analyse and disseminate this information through the clearing house mechanism of the Convention, and other communication mechanisms, with a view to providing concrete and practical information as well as best practices on ongoing activities that support, facilitate, or promote technology transfer and scientific and technological cooperation of relevance to the Convention, and to identify gaps in existing work as well as opportunities to fill these gaps and/or promote synergies;
(c)Invites interested Parties and other Governments, as well as relevant international organizations and initiatives, research institutions and the business sector, taking into account paragraph 1 above and the information provided in accordance with paragraphs 2 (a) and 2 (b) above, to consider supporting the establishment of a Biodiversity Technology Initiative[, to be hosted by the Secretariat of the Convention];
3.Invites Parties to consider including the preparation of technology needs assessments in the revision and updating of national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
4.Invites funding institutions, including the Global Environment Facility, to provide financial support accordingly.