The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources at its first meeting, which took place from 14 to 18 November 2023 in Geneva, agreed that further intersessional work will be carried out leading up to its second meetings. This work is led by the Co-Chairs of the Committee of the Whole established during the first meeting as summarized in its report.
The informal intersessional work includes:
(a) Information-sharing activities, as needed and as appropriate;
(b) An informal advisory group;
(c) Online informal regional consultations facilitated by the Co-Chairs.
Informal Advisory Group (IAG) on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources
Pursuant to notification 2023-130, issued on 1 December 2023, Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations and initiatives were invited to nominate representatives to serve the Informal Advisory Group (IAG) on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources. The composition of the IAG was announced in notification 2024-004, issued on 15 January 2024. An updated list of IAG members is available in the following document: IAG members 2024-01-19.pdf.
The IAG was created with a view to contribute to increasing the understanding of and move forward on some of the elements on which there is a need for further discussion, as contained in the annex to the report of the first meeting of the Working Group.
The IAG will meet online monthly, rotating times in order to accommodate the different time zones. A preparatory meeting took place on Tuesday, 16 January 2024 at 7:00 a.m. EST, and subsequent meetings are posted in the CBD calendar of meetings . Additionally, the presentations made by experts at the preparatory meeting will be posted on this webpage, pending the presenter’s approval.
The Co-Chairs will prepare a report on the outcomes of the intersessional work for the second meeting of the Working Group, scheduled in August 2024.
This page will be updated as information becomes available. (Last updated: 1 March 2024)
The table below provides an overview of all IAG meetings, including the topics discussed and pertinent documentation.
Date | Time in UTC | Topic | Preparatory reading | Presentations delivered online during IAG meetings |
January 16, Tuesday | 12:00 | Preparatory Meeting | | 16 Jan- Kickoff meeting.pdf |
January 23, Tuesday | 7:00 | DSI databases, research methodologies and products | Report of the IAG from Nov 2021 (Section II.B.10, p. 14) Report of the IAG from June 2022 (Section II.E, p. 7) Report of the WGDSI-1 (Annex, section A, p. 8, and D, p. 11) | Masanori Arita (DDBJ) & Guy Cochrane (SMBL-EBI)_The International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration the home of DSI.pdf Douglas Miano (University of Nairobi, nominated by the government of Kenya)_Workflow in generation, analysis and utilization of DSI data in research.pdf Kat Bruce (NatureMetrics)_A case study in DNA-based Biodiversity Assessment.pdf |
Data governance (including associated traditional knowledge) | Report of the IAG from Nov 2021 (Section II.B.2, p. 12, and Section II.B.3(b), p. 13) Report of the IAG from Oct 2022 (Annex II, p. 31) Document WGDSI/1/2 (Section D, p. 5) | Tim Hirsh (GBIF)_Data governance in an open access environment the GBIF experience.pdf Preston Hardison (Tebtebba Foundation)_Open and Responsible DSI Data Governance, and Addressing IP&LC Concerns Not If But How.pdf and Preston.Hardison_Notes.pdf Ann McCartney (Native BioData Consortium)_Prioritising Justice, Equity and Inclusion for Indigenous DSI Sharing.pdf |
February 15, Thursday | 14:00 | Collaboration and cooperation with other approaches and systems – whom, what and how | 15/9. Digital sequence information on genetic resources Co-Chairs’ report of the work of the IAG3 section II.A (p.3) Overview document from WGDSI-1 section II.E | Kathryn Garforth (SCBD)_Other intergovernmental fora where negotiations related to benefit-sharing from the use of DSI are taking place.pdf Amber Hartman Scholz (Leibniz-Inst_DSMZ) DSI_harmonization_Feb2024.pdf |
Legal considerations, and incentives to participate | Synthesis of views pursuant to decision 15/9 section A and D.3 | Kathryn Garforth (SCBD)_Legal Considerations.pdf Daphne Yong d'Herve (ICC)_Business engagement in the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism.pdf |
March 15, Friday | 5:00 | Non-monetary benefit-sharing | Report of the WGDSI-1 (para. 32-36) Document WGDSI/1/2 (Section II.C Non-monetary benefit-sharing) Document CBD/WGDSI/1/2/Add.1 (Section II.C Non-monetary benefit-sharing Document CBD/WGDSI/1/INF/1 (Section on the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture’s Benefit-Sharing Fund ) | Natalie Feltman (South Africa)_Benefit Sharing Examples in South Africa.pdf Martha Cepeda (DSI Scientific Network)_Biodiversity Research Gives Back_Non-monetary Benefit Sharing in Colombia and Beyond.pdf |
Modalities for disbursement of funds | Report of the WGDSI-1 (para. 23-26) Document WGDSI/1/2 (Section II.B Disbursement of the funds ) Document CBD/WGDSI/1/2/Add.1 (Section II.B Disbursement of the funds) Document CBD/WGDSI/1/2/Add.2/Rev.1 (Section III.B Disbursement criteria, processes and costs, and impact of funds ) | Charlotte Germain-Aubrey (SCBD) Disbursement of funds.pdf |
| April 16, Tuesday | 1:00 | Fund governance and governance of mechanism Fund host | Document CBD/WGDSI/1/3 Report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of DSI on its first meeting – Annex paras 48, 49 Document CBD/WGDSI/1/3 Report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of DSI on its first meeting – annex paras 13, 47, 51, 52 | Charlotte Germain-Aubrey (SCBD) Governance and Fund Host.pdf Jennifer Corpuz Tauli (IIFB) DSI Fund Governance_Proposals to ensure Direct Access of IPs and LCs .pdf Andrew Deutz (The Nature Conservancy) Design Options for a DSI Mechanism Fund.pdf |
| May 7, Tuesday | 11:00 | How the mechanism will meet the requirements laid out in decision 15/9 paras 6-10 Compatibility with the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol | | |
| June 12, Wednesday | 19:00 | Trigger points for contribution | | |
Photo attribution: IISD/ENB - Kiara Worth
