Financial Mechanism and Resources

T17 (Biosafety): How to Use GEF Funding

This page aims to provide information regarding the capacity for, and implementation of biosafety measures and measures for the handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits, for recipient Parties and relevant stakeholders, including how to access funding of the Global Environment Facility in this regard. It is a work in progress and will be updated as necessary.

Financial support of the Global Environment Facility

GEF-financed projects related to biosafety

GEF-8 biodiversity focal area strategies
Objective 2. To effectively implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Project Support
"402. The GEF will support the ratification of the Protocol by the countries that have not done so and support the implementation of National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs). The aim of GEF investment is to build capacity to ensure that countries have functional NBFs and are in full compliance with the requirements of the Protocol and have mobilized adequate resources to support implementation of the Protocol. Parties will be supported to implement the provisions of the Protocol, including capacity-building related to risk assessment and risk management in the context of country-driven projects, and enhancing public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms. In addition, GEF will support the updating and revision of existing NBFs and compliance action plans to allow countries to adapt to the regulation and safe use of new biotechnologies and synthetic biology consistent with the provisions of the protocol.
"403. The GEF will support thematic projects addressing some of the specific provisions of the Cartagena Protocol. The thematic projects will also address the integration of the Protocol into the Convention as anticipated into the approach adopted in the GBF and the Post 2020 implementation plan and capacity building action plan. These projects should be developed at the regional or sub-regional level and built on a common set of targets and opportunities to implement the Protocol beyond the development and implementation of NBFs.
"404. The GEF will also provide support for the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the CPB. There will also be a specific focus on capacity building and regional cooperation to support the effective implementation of the supplementary Protocol."

Guidance to the financial mechanism

The Conference of the Parties has invited the Global Environment Facility to support:

• National measures: Ratification and implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya–Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26); Development and implementation of national biosafety frameworks, in particular biosafety legislation (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26), including those Parties that have not yet done so in fully putting in place measures to implement the Protocol (Decision 14/23, paragraph 8(a); XIII/21, paragraphs 33 and 36);
• Detection and identification: Identification of living modified organisms or specific traits that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26); Regional projects to support the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol, including projects aimed at building scientific capacity that could support countries’ actions towards detection and identification of living modified organisms, and in particular that could promote North-South and South-South sharing of experiences and lessons (Decision 14/23, para. 9);
• Risk assessment and risk management: Building, consolidating and enhancing sustainable human resource capacity in risk assessment and risk management (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26, and XIII/21, paragraph 35) in the context of country-driven projects (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26);
• Socioeconomic considerations: Capacity-building on socioeconomic considerations; (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26)
• Unintentional release: Capacity-building to take appropriate measures in cases of unintentional release of living modified organisms; (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26)
• Public awareness: Enhancing capacity for public awareness, education and participation regarding the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, including for indigenous peoples and local communities (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26); Effective implementation of the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, in the context of relevant project activities and within its mandate; (Decision XIII/21, paragraph 34)
• Clearing-house: Public participation and information sharing, and use of the Biosafety Clearing-House. (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26; XIII/21, paragraphs 30 and 31; 14/23, paragraph 7(b))
• Capacity-building: Further implementation of the Framework and Action Plan for Capacity-Building. (Decision XIII/21, paragraph 32)
• Reporting: National reports under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. (Decision XIII/21, annex II, paragraph 26; 14/23, para. 8(b))
• Compliance: Implementing compliance action plans regarding the achievement of compliance with the Protocol. (Decision 14/23, para. 8(c))
• Regional cooperation: Projects and capacity-building activities on issues identified by the Parties to facilitate further implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, including regional cooperation projects, such as those using regional and subregional networks to build capacity for the detection of living modified organisms, with a view to facilitating the sharing of experiences and lessons learned, and harnessing associated synergies. (Decision XIII/21, paragraph 36(b); 14/23, para. 7(a))

Guidance to Parties

National planning

• Review and align, as appropriate, their national action plans and programmes relevant to the implementation of the Protocol, including their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, with the Implementation Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (CP-10/3, para. 4)
• Allocate the necessary resources for the operation of their biosafety institutions, given the crucial role of these institutions in implementing the Protocol; (CP-10/7, para. 5)
• Mobilize resources from all available national and international sources, including international cooperation and the private sector, to further support operation of their biosafety institutions; (CP-10/7, para. 6)
• Put in place legal, administrative and other measures to implement their obligations under the Protocol, in particular biosafety legislation, as a matter of priority, and recognizes that further support is needed in this area; (CP-10/7, para. 8)
• Consider indigenous peoples and local communities, gender, women, youth and a human rights-based approach in their national biosafety frameworks; (CP-10/7, para. 9)

Synthetic Biology

• Develop or implement, as appropriate, measures to prevent or minimize potential adverse effects arising from exposing the environment to organisms, components and products of synthetic biology in contained use, including measures for detection, identification and monitoring, in accordance with domestic circumstances or internationally agreed guidelines, as appropriate, with special consideration to the centres of origin and genetic diversity; (14/19, para. 12)
• Approve organisms resulting from synthetic biology techniques for field trials only after appropriate risk assessments have been carried out in accordance with national, regional and/or international frameworks, as appropriate; (XII/24, para. 3(c))
• Apply a precautionary approach, taking into account the current uncertainties regarding engineered gene drives, and only consider introducing organisms containing engineered gene drives into the environment, including for experimental releases and research and development purposes, when scientifically sound case-by-case risk assessments have been carried out, risk management measures are in place to avoid or minimize potential adverse effects, as appropriate, and where appropriate, the “prior and informed consent”, the “free, prior and informed consent” or “approval and involvement” of potentially affected indigenous peoples and local communities is sought or obtained, where applicable in accordance with national circumstances and legislation; (XI/11, para. 4; 14/19, para. 11)
• Establish, or have in place, effective risk assessment and management procedures and/or regulatory systems to regulate environmental release of any organisms, components or products resulting from synthetic biology techniques, and carry out scientific assessments concerning organisms, components and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques with regard to potential effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking into account risks to human health and addressing, as appropriate, and according to national and/or regional legislation, other issues such as food security and socioeconomic considerations with, where appropriate, the full participation of indigenous and local communities; (XII/24, para. 3(a), 3(d))
• Take into account, as appropriate, socio-economic, cultural and ethical considerations when identifying the potential benefits and potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products resulting from synthetic biology techniques in the context of the three objectives of the Convention; (XIII/17, para. 8)
• Conduct research on the benefits and adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology on biodiversity, and promote interdisciplinary research that includes related socioeconomic considerations, with a view to filling knowledge gaps and identifying how those effects relate to the objectives of the Convention and its Protocols; (XII/24, para. 3(a); XIII/17, para. 9(a))
• Cooperate in the development and/or strengthening of human resources and institutional capacities, with a view to assessing the potential benefits and potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology and, if necessary, updating and adapting current methodologies for risk assessment of living modified organisms to organisms resulting from synthetic biology, as appropriate, including through existing global, regional and national institutions and organizations and, as appropriate, by facilitating civil society involvement; (XII/24, para. 3(f); XIII/17, para. 9(c))
• Promote and enable public and multi-stakeholder dialogues and awareness-raising activities on the potential benefits and potential adverse effects of organisms, components and products of synthetic biology on biodiversity, involving all relevant stakeholders and with the full and effective engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities; (XIII/17, para. 9(b))
• Disseminate information and share, especially through the clearing-house mechanisms of the Convention and the Biosafety Clearing-House, experiences on scientific assessments of the potential benefits and potential adverse impacts of synthetic biology to biological diversity, including, inter alia, that of specific applications of organisms containing engineered gene drives, and from the use of living modified organisms that have been released into the environment; (14/19, para. 13)

Transit and Contained Use (Article 6)

• Develop and implement domestic administrative and legal systems to manage living modified organisms in transit, as well as specific measures for contained use that effectively limit the contact of living modified organisms with, and their impact on, the external environment (BS-V/10, para. 1; VIII/17, para. 2, 6-7; 9/12, para. 4)

Notification (Article 8)

• Address any gaps that may exist in domestic implementation of the notification requirements under Article 8 of the Protocol, including in the context of general obligation to take the necessary and appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to implement their obligations under the Protocol (BS-VI/10, para. 1, 3-4)

Bilateral, Regional and Multilateral Agreements and Arrangements (Article 14)

• Improve and strengthen collaboration at the regional and national levels among focal points of organizations, conventions and initiatives relevant to the implementation of the Biosafety Protocol, including regional cooperation aimed at building scientific capacity that could support countries’ actions towards detection and identification of living modified organisms, and in particular that could promote North-South and South-South sharing of experiences and lessons; (BS-VII/6, para. 1; 14/23, para. 7(a), 9)

Risk Assessment and Risk Management (Articles 15 and 16)

• Promote mechanisms, partnerships, cooperation and synergies at national and regional levels between agencies and experts in order to draw widely on the experience and expertise relevant to risk assessment and risk management; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-III/11, para. 5, 13, 14; BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(d); VIII/15, para. 10; 9/6, para. 1)
• Establish testing and detection facilities for living modified organisms, as well as regional, sub-regional and national centres of excellence in biosafety research; (III/11, para. 19)
• Take the Guidance on Risk Assessment of Living Modified Organisms (roadmap for risk assessment of living modified organisms, risk assessment of living modified plants with stacked genes or traits, with tolerance to abiotic stress, of living modified trees, living modified mosquitoes, and monitoring of living modified organisms released into the environment) into account as a voluntary tool to assist in conducting risk assessment in accordance with the Cartagena Protocol while acknowledging that other guidance documents and national approaches can also assist in conducting risk assessment in accordance with the Protocol; (BS-II/9, para. 1; BS-IV/11, para. 5; BS-VI/12, para. 2-3; BS-VII/12, para. 2 and 5; BS-VIII/12, para. 3, 4 and 6)

Unintentional Transboundary Movements and Emergency Measures (Article 17)

• Cooperate in building the capacity, transferring the technology and exchanging information necessary to detect and respond to occurrences resulting in a release that could lead to unintentional transboundary movement of a living modified organism that is likely to have significant adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VI/16, para. 3; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(f))
• Establish and maintain appropriate measures to prevent unintentional transboundary movements of living modified organisms; and Establish a mechanism for emergency measures in case of unintentional transboundary movements of living modified organisms that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health; (BS-VI/16, para. 2)
• Establish effective mechanisms to support the workflow for sampling, detection and identification by, for example, providing border control officials and laboratories with the appropriate mandates to sample, detect and identify living modified organisms, ensuring that laboratories remain functional and that they receive high-quality test samples; (BS-VIII/16, para. 6)
• Establish, support and participate in regional and subregional networks on the detection of living modified organisms in order to promote technical cooperation in the field and, subject to the availability of funds, for example through the roster of biosafety experts, provide the networks with opportunities to host training workshops, and requests the Global Environment Facility to provide funds for the hosting of such workshops; (BS-VIII/16, para. 7)
• Adopt the necessary measures to regulate contained use of living modified organisms and living modified organisms in transit as well as unintentional transboundary movement of living modified organisms, and recognizes the importance of supporting those Parties in adopting such measures and developing capacities in that regard; (CP-10/7, para. 31)

Handling, Transport, Packaging and Identification (Article 18)

• Take measures to ensure the use of a commercial invoice or other document required or utilized by existing documentation systems, or documentation as required by domestic regulatory and/or administrative frameworks, as documentation that should accompany living modified organisms that are intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, ensuring that the documentation accompanying living modified organisms that are intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, provides the details of a contact point for further information: the exporter, the importer, and/or any appropriate authority, when designated by a Government as the contact point, and ensuring that the documentation is in compliance with the requirements of the country of import, and clearly states: (a) In cases where the identity of the living modified organisms is known through means such as identity preservation systems, that the shipment contains living modified organisms that are intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing; (b) In cases where the identity of the living modified organisms is not known through means such as identity preservation systems, that the shipment may contain one or more living modified organisms that are intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing; (c) That the living modified organisms are not intended for intentional introduction into the environment; (d) The common, scientific and, where available, commercial names of the living modified organisms; (e) The transformation event code of the living modified organisms or, where available, as a key to accessing information in the Biosafety Clearing-House, its unique identifier code; (f) The Internet address of the Biosafety Clearing-House for further information; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(c); BS-I/6, para. 1-5; BS-III/10, para. 1-4, 10-12; BS-IV/9, para. 1-3; BS-V/8, para. 1-4; BS-VII/8, para. 1)
• Develop domestic systems or use existing ones, as appropriate, to prevent imported living modified organisms intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing, from being used for other purposes such as introduction into the environment; (BS-V/8, para. 5)
• Implement the requirements of para. 2(b) and 2(c) of Article 18 of the Protocol and related s through the use of a commercial invoice or other documents required or utilized by existing documentation systems, or documentation required by domestic regulatory and/or administrative frameworks; (BS-VI/8, para. 2)

Information Sharing and the Biosafety Clearing-House (Article 20)

• Keep the records up-to-date, through national, regional, sub-regional and institutional nodes that are interlinked with the Central Portal, focusing in particular on information related to: (a) final decisions regarding living modified organisms and living modified organisms intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing; (b) final decisions on the first intentional transboundary movement of living modified organisms for intentional introduction into the environment of the Party of import and related risk assessments as requested under the Protocol, with special emphasis on the first intentional transboundary movement of living modified organisms intended for field trials(c) occurrence resulting in a release that leads, or may lead, to an unintentional transboundary movement of a living modified organism that is likely to have significant adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health in such States;(d) national biosafety frameworks, legislation, regulations and guidelines; (e) summaries of risk assessments; (f) national focal points and national points of contact; (g) information on bilateral, regional or multilateral agreements or arrangements into which they have entered and which have relevance for biosafety;(h) capacity-building activities, projects and opportunities; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(h); BS-I/3, para. 4; BS-II/2, para. 3-7; BS-III/2, para.1, 3-4, 6-9; BS-IV/2, para. 1-3; BS-V/2, para. 1-4, 7, 10-13; BS-VI/2, para. 2; BS-VII/2, para. 2-3; BS-VIII/2, para. 1-5; 9/12, para. 3; 9/1, para. 8-9)
• Publish information available at the national level in the Biosafety Clearing-House in accordance with the obligations of the Protocol; (CP-10/5, para. 2)
• Review records they have previously published in the Biosafety Clearing-House to verify their accuracy on the new platform and to make any revisions or updates as necessary in a timely manner; (CP-10/5, para. 3)
• Ensure that records remain up to date; (CP-10/7, para. 33)
• Make all required information available to the Biosafety Clearing-House and keep their records up to date, focusing in particular on information related to (a) national legislation, regulations and guidelines; (b) summaries of risk assessments; (c) final decisions regarding the importation or release of living modified organisms; (d) national focal points, national points of contact and competent national authorities; (e) information on bilateral, regional or multilateral agreements or arrangements into which they have entered; and (f) information concerning illegal transboundary movements of living modified organisms; (CP-10/7, para. 36)

Capacity building (Article 22)

• Adopt a long-term perspective in the design and implementation of biosafety capacity-building initiatives, also focusing on building up research capacities and institutional frameworks in order to assess needs and possible adverse effects of living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health; (BS-III/3, para. 9; BS-V/3, para. 5; BS-VIII/15, para. 11)
• Develop proactive, systematic and coordinated national strategic plans and programmes to address identified capacity building needs and priorities and the issue of sustainability of capacity-building and promote synergies between existing capacity-building initiatives; (BS-I/5, para. 8, 23; BS-II/3, para. 18-20; BS-III/3, para. 10; BS-VI/3, para. 11)
• Promote regional and subregional initiatives and approaches to address common needs and priorities and make effective use of locally existing facilities and expertise, including through exchange of experts; (BS-II/3, para. 21)
• Integrate biosafety in their national biodiversity strategies and actions plans and broader national development strategies in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals; (BS-III/3, para. 7; BS-VIII/3, para. 6)
• Develop core local expertise in biosafety through long-term formal training and/or attachment of personnel to specialized institutions or centres of excellence, develop training of trainers’ programmes in technical aspects of biosafety in collaboration with relevant partners, including regional centres of excellence and national training institutions, promote and facilitate direct bilateral exchanges of technical experts between countries in order to build capacities in biosafety and encourage bilateral or regional cooperation and coordination; (BS-II/3, para. 8 and 10; BS-V/3, para. 11; BS-III/3, para. 11)
• Review and align, as appropriate, their national action plans and programmes relevant to the implementation of the Protocol, including their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, with the Capacity-building Action Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (CP-10/4, para. 4)
• Identify relevant actors to support the implementation of the Capacity-building Action Plan, as appropriate, noting the importance of avoiding and managing conflicts of interest, in accordance with national legislation. (CP-10/4, para. 7)
• Cooperate in biosafety capacity-building, including at the regional level; (CP-10/7, para.13)

Public Awareness and Participation (Article 23)

• Develop and implement national programmes for public awareness, education and participation, including public access to information, concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms; (BS-II/13, para. 3;)
• Mainstream biosafety in educational systems, develop and/or expand degree-granting programmes that focus on training biosafety professionals, and promote, develop, and/or participate in, as appropriate, exchange and scholarship programmes related to biosafety; (BS-III/11, para. 16-17; 9/1, para. 12)
• Make effective use of the media to promote public awareness and education concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms; (BS-II/13, para. 6)
• Develop and support subregional and regional public awareness and education initiatives concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, including through educational systems and regional centres; (BS-II/13, para. 7)
• Explore and maximize opportunities for cooperation in the promotion of public awareness, education and participation concerning living modified organisms through the frameworks provided by related national and international instruments, in particular the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in -making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; (BS-II/13, para. 11)
• Enhance capacity for public awareness, education and participation, including access to information, regarding the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms, including for indigenous peoples and local communities, and to integrate training, public awareness, education and participation into national initiatives for communication, education and public awareness, initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals, initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation and other environmental initiatives; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(g); VIII/15, para. 14; VIII/18, para. 7)
• Provide support, especially for developing countries, for effective participation in biotechnological and biosafety research activities, in accordance with Article 22 of the Protocol and Article 19 of the Convention. (CP-10/7, para. 49)
• Share relevant materials on public awareness, education and participation through the Biosafety Clearing-House; (CP-10/7, para. 46)

Socio-Economic Considerations (Article 26)

• Use the voluntary Guidance on the Assessment of Socio-Economic Considerations in the Context of Article 26 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, research on socio‑economic impacts of living modified organisms and engage local institutions of higher education with a view to building domestic capacity in socio-economic analysis of the impact of living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-II/12, para. 1-2, 4; BS-IV/16, para. 4; BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/13, para. 1; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(e); 9/14, para. 2; VIII/15, para. 12)
• Promote the involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities, women, and youth when undertaking research on socioeconomic considerations; (CP-10/7, para. 28)
• Cooperate and share relevant experiences on taking socioeconomic considerations into account in decision-taking on living modified organisms in accordance with Article 26 of the Protocol; (CP-10/12, para. 2)
• Use the “Guidance on the Assessment of Socio-Economic Considerations in the Context of Article 26 of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” and submit experiences in the use of the Guidance to the Executive Secretary, as well as examples of methodologies and applications of socioeconomic considerations in the light of the elements of the voluntary Guidance; (CP-10/12, para. 3)

Liability and redress (Article 27)

• Ratify and implement the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress, including, where appropriate, the development of policy and legislative instruments that provide for response measures for damage to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity resulting from living modified organisms which find their origin in a transboundary movement, taking also into account risks to human health; ()

Financial mechanism and resources (Article 28)

• Identify and seek funding support from diverse sources including regional and international donor agencies, foundations and, as appropriate, through private‑sector involvement; (BS-VI/5, para. 4(a))
• Establish strategic partnerships with other Parties and other Governments and with various organizations, regional bodies or centres of excellence with a view to pooling resources and/or widening opportunities and possibilities for mobilizing resources from various sources; (BS-VI/5, para. 4(b))
• Identify and maximize opportunities for technical cooperation with regional and international organizations, institutions and development assistance agencies; (BS-VI/5, para. 4(c))
• Expedite the enactment of national biosafety laws to pave the way for securing dedicated funding allocations for biosafety in national budgets, and integrate and prioritize biosafety into national development plans and relevant sectoral policies, strategies and programmes, including development assistance programmes and national biodiversity strategies and action plans, to make possible to secure national budget support; (BS-VI/5, para. 4(d); BS-VII/5, para. 10; BS-VII/5, para. 16; BS-VII/5, para. 17(a); 9/1, para. 14)
• Ensure efficient use of available resources and adopt cost-effective approaches to capacity-building; (BS-VI/5, para. 4(f))
• Establish strong outreach programmes targeting key policymakers, parliamentarians, the general public and other stakeholders, to promote their awareness of biosafety issues and raise the profile of biosafety among other national priorities, and cooperate in organizing regional workshops with a view to raising awareness of the Cartagena Protocol as a tool for sustainable development and the importance of fulfilling obligations under the Protocol, identifying available local or regional capacities that may be utilized, and designing projects that have a better chance of being approved; (BS-VII/5, para. 9; BS-VII/5, para. 17(b), (d), (e); VIII/15, para. 16)

Monitoring and Reporting (Article 33)

• Monitor the implementation of the obligations under the Protocol, and fulfill reporting obligations under the Protocol, including the preparation and submission of their fourth national reports under the Protocol, through a consultative process involving all relevant stakeholders, as appropriate; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(i); 14/23, para. 8.(b); 14/31A, para. 2; BS-I/9, para. 2-4; BS-VI/14, para. 7; 9/5, para. 2-3; 9/1, para. 2, 6, 10)
• Ensure its publication in the Biosafety Clearing-House in coordination with the Secretariat, as necessary; (CP-10/9, para. 7)
• Provide the missing information as soon as possible; (CP-10/9, para. 8)
• Use the final format for the preparation of their fifth national report on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (CP-10/9, para. 10)
• Prepare their reports through a consultative process involving indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth, and all relevant national stakeholders, as appropriate; (CP-10/9, para. 11)
• Respond to all questions in the reporting format, and stresses the importance of the timely submission of fifth national reports in order to facilitate the midterm evaluation of the Implementation Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; (CP-10/9, para. 12)
• Submit to the Secretariat their fifth national report on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: (a) In an official language of the United Nations; (b) At the same time as the seventh national reports under the Convention are due; (c) Through the Biosafety Clearing-House; (CP-10/9, para. 13)
• Coordinate with the Secretariat to facilitate the publication of their national report in the Biosafety Clearing-House; (CP-10/9, para. 14)

Compliance (Article 34)

• Develop and implement compliance action plans regarding the achievement of compliance with the Protocol; (14/23, para. 8.(c); BS-V/1, para. 3; BS-VI/1, para. 6; BS-VII/1, para. 4; 9/1, para. 3-5, 11)
• Take the necessary and appropriate legal, administrative and other measures to implement the Protocol, and develop and update operational and effective national biosafety frameworks; (BS-III/1, para. 3-4; BS-VI/1, para. 1-2, 4; VIII/1, para. 4; 9/1, para. 1)
• Engage constructively with all stakeholders, including with industry the public, indigenous peoples and local communities, and women for the effective implementation of the Protocol; (9/1, para. 11)
• Development and implementation of national biosafety frameworks, in particular biosafety legislation, including by establishing institutional structures and legislative, administrative and policy measures on biosafety, taking into account the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, and other relevant stakeholders, in the development of such measures; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para. 13 and 15, and appendix I; 14/23, para. 8.(a); and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; BS-XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(b); BS-VIII/15, para. 9; 14/31A, para. 1)
• Ratify and implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya–Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress; (X/24, annex, para. 4.14; X/25, para. 20; XI/5, para. 28 and appendix II; XII/30, para.13 and 15, and appendix I; and BS-V/5; BS-V/2, preamble; BS-V/14, para. 6; BS-V/16, annex I, para. 15; BS-VI/5; BS-VI/2, preamble; BS-VI/3, annex I, para. 31 and 34; BS-VI/14 preamble; BS-VII/5; BS-VII/2, preamble, para. 5 and 6; XIII/21, annex II, para. 26(a) (Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety))
• Review and align, as appropriate, national action plans and programmes relevant to the implementation of the Protocol, including National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, with the Strategic Plan, and develop and implement national action plans for mainstreaming biosafety into national legal and policy instruments; (BS-V/16, para. 2(a); 14/31A, para. 3))