Decision COP V/14

The Conference of the Parties,

Reaffirming its previous requests to the Global Environment Facility, contained in decisions I/2, II/3, II/6, III/4, III/5, IV/2 and IV/13, to provide support for scientific and technical cooperation and capacity-building in relation to the clearing-house mechanism,

Recalling decision III/4, in which the Conference of the Parties established an informal advisory committee to be constituted and coordinated by the Executive Secretary in a transparent manner, to assist the clearing-house mechanism, and decision IV/2, in which the Conference of the Parties requested that the clearing-house mechanism be continuously assisted in its functioning by the informal advisory committee during and after the pilot phase,

1. Notes the report of the independent review of the pilot phase of the clearing-house mechanism (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/INF/2);

2. Supports the implementation of the strategic plan for the clearing-house mechanism (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/INF/3);

3. Requests the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the informal advisory committee, to monitor and review the operation of the clearing-house mechanism and report to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting on any recommended adjustments to the operation of the clearing-house mechanism or to the strategic plan;

4. Decides that the strategic plan for the clearing-house mechanism shall become a component of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity;

5. Endorses the longer-term programme of work for the clearing-house mechanism (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/INF/4), recognizing the important role that country partnerships can play in implementing this programme of work;

6. Recommends that Parties and Governments, subject to availability of resources and relevance, undertake as priorities for the biennium 2001-2002 the measures identified in annex I to the present decision;

7. Decides that the informal advisory committee referred to in decision III/4 shall have the following objectives:

8. Decides that the continuation and mandate of the informal advisory committee shall be reviewed at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

9. Calls upon the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the informal advisory committee, to develop operational procedures for the informal advisory committee, for review at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and to make these procedures, as well as the membership, available through the clearing-house mechanism;

10. Requests the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the informal advisory committee and other relevant bodies, and subject to available resources, to undertake the activities identified in annex II to the present decision.