Introduction
The stated objective of the Action Plan is to facilitate and support the development and strengthening of capacities for the ratification and effective implementation of the Protocol at the national, sub regional, regional and global levels, in a timely manner, including the provision of financial, technical and technological support to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition.
The Action Plan provides a general framework highlighting global priority areas/ elements requiring urgent action and outlines a series of key steps and activities to be undertaken. It is intended to foster a strategic approach to capacity-building and to guide capacity-building efforts. It also serves as a reference point for Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations providing capacity-building assistance in this area (including the GEF and its implementing agencies, donor countries and other agencies).
At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Biosafety, adopted in annex 1 of
decision BS-I/5, an Action Plan for Building Capacities for the Effective Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. At its second meeting, COP-MOP in
decision BS-II/3 adopted terms of reference for a comprehensive review of the Action Plan and invited Governments and relevant organizations to submit information regarding the progress and effectiveness in their implementation of the Action Plan as well as suggestions on the desired revisions. The Secretariat prepared, on the basis of the submissions received, a synthesis paper including strategic recommendations for a possible revision of the Action Plan. At its third meeting, COP-MOP in
decision BS-III/3 adopted an updated version of the Action Plan (contained in the annex to the decision).
At its fourth meeting, COP-MOP in
decision BS-IV/3, welcomed the report on the status of implementation of the Action Plan which was prepared by the Executive Secretary
(UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/4/4). Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations were invited to submit progress reports on their capacity-building activities to the Secretariat and the BCH at least six months before the regular meetings of the COP-MOP, to facilitate comprehensive reporting on the implementation of the Action Plan and the sharing of experiences in capacity-building activities. Donor Governments, the GEF and relevant organizations were urged to provide new and additional financial and technical resources to support developing countries to address their capacity-building needs. The COP-MOP also approved a revised set of indicators for monitoring the updated Action Plan (
Decision BS-IV/3, Annex).
The COP-MOP highlighted the need for long-tem biosafety education and training to develop core expertise for the effective implementation of the Protocol. In this regard, it invited national authorities to collaborate with academic institutions and other relevant organizations in the development and/or expansion of biosafety academic programmes. It also invited Governments, GEF, bilateral and multi-lateral agencies to provide financial and other support to enable universities and relevant institutions to develop and/or expand such programmes. The Executive Secretary was requested to initiate collaboration with relevant academic institutions involved in biosafety education and training.
