Notification 2016-092

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform you that, with the generous support of the Government of Japan through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in collaboration with the Government of Bhutan and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, is organizing a regional training workshop for the Asian region, which will be held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 17 to 21 October 2016. The aim of the training workshop is to train trainers from indigenous peoples and local community (IPLC) organisations and Parties from Asian countries in: (i) Developing community protocols on traditional knowledge (TK), including TK associated with genetic resources under the Nagoya Protocol; (ii) Operationalising the Convention’s indicators on TK and customary sustainable use (CSU) including through Community-Based Monitoring and Information Systems (CBMIS); and (iii) Implementing the Global Plan of Action on Customary Sustainable Use. The training programme and workshop will familiarize trainers with training materials to organize their own national or local capacity-building workshops on these thematic issues, in line with the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, particularly Targets 16 and 18. The training workshop will be conducted in English. I am therefore pleased to invite interested Parties, in particular Parties that have nominated TK focal points, and IPLCs in the Asian region to nominate representatives based on the following selection criteria: (i) Expertise on traditional knowledge, customary sustainable use, and related indigenous peoples and local communities’ issues; (ii) Ability to conduct further trainings at the regional, national, subnational or local levels on community-based monitoring and indicators on TK and CSU, and on community protocols on TK, including TK associated with genetic resources under the Nagoya Protocol; (iii) Ability to communicate effectively in English (both verbal and written); (iv) Member of an indigenous and local community organisation, institution and network or government representative working on issues relevant to Articles 8(j), 10(c) and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Nominations should take the form of an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, by e mail at: secretariat@cbd.int, or by fax at: +1 (514) 288-6588, and must contain full contact details of the nominee, along with a curriculum vitae clearly indicating the relevant areas of expertise and the attached form duly completed. Nominations should be submitted no later than 11 August 2016. Subject to the availability of funds, the Secretariat will select participants on the basis of regional balance, gender equity, ethnicity, relevant expertise, ability to offer capacity building trainings indigenous peoples and local communities at national, sub-national and/or local levels and to develop local training materials on the above-mentioned topics. The list of selected participants will be posted on the CBD website (http://www.cbd.int/meetings/) once the selection of participants is completed. The Secretariat will cover all the travel expenses of the selected participants. Selected participants will be contacted directly by the Secretariat. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD, NP and TK Focal Points, indigenous peoples and local community organizations and relevant Asian international organizations