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Decision COP II/3
UNEP/CBD/COP/DEC/II/3

CLEARING-HOUSE MECHANISM

The Conference of the Parties,
Informational Implemented Retired
1. Takes note of the document prepared by the Secretariat on the establishment of the clearing-house mechanism to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation (document UNEP/CBD/COP/2/6);
Informational
2. Notes that many information systems and activities relevant to the objectives of the Convention have been and are being established at international, subregional, regional and national levels;
Informational
3. Notes that the enhanced cooperation between these information systems and activities will contribute to capacity-building, and notes that, in this context, the role of the Secretariat is to promote and facilitate access to this clearing-house mechanism;
4. Decides, as a contribution to the implementation of the objectives of the Convention, that the clearing-house mechanism, established by decision I/3 adopted at its first meeting in accordance with Article 18, paragraph 3 of the Convention, should be developed:
Operational Implemented Retired
(a) Starting with a pilot phase for 1996-1997;
Operational Active
  (b) Through specific and focused areas of activities related to the promotion of international technical and scientific cooperation;
Operational Active
(c) By gradually building up its functions in response to clear and identified demand based on experience gained and resources available;
Operational Active
(d) In a neutral, transparent, cost-effective, efficient and accessible manner;
Operational Active
  (e) As a decentralized mechanism using such resources as print and electronic media, including the Internet;
Operational Active
(f) By making full use of existing facilities, which will avoid any duplication or overlap of activities and allow for the early implementation of the mechanism;
Operational Active
  (g) In close cooperation with relevant international organizations and entities as active partners in the clearing-house mechanism to maximize the existing experience and expertise;
Operational Active
    (h) By enhancing networking between existing national, regional, subregional and international centres of relevant expertise, as well as governmental and non-governmental institutions and the private sector;
Operational Implemented Retired
5. Decides also that, during the pilot phase for 1996-1997, the Secretariat should act as a focal point and should:
  (a) Encourage the development of a network of active partners, such as those specified in 4(h). These partners should focus initially on:
  (i) developing national capabilities through exchanging and disseminating information on the experiences and lessons learned by Parties on the implementation of the Convention. This can be done through guidelines, training programmes, seminars, workshops, where appropriate, and upon request, and by using the clearing-house mechanism;
  (ii) facilitating access to and dissemination of research relevant to the objectives of the Convention;
    (iii) facilitating the transfer of technology through exchanging and disseminating information on experiences and technologies relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity;
(b) Provide information on and facilitate access to these operating active partners;
  (c) Support the active partners to develop specific training for the effective participation of users in the clearing-house network;
6. 
Operational Implemented Retired
(a) Decides also to provide funding for the pilot phase through the budget of the Convention;
Operational Implemented Retired OTHERS
(b) Calls also upon the international community to make additional voluntary contributions for the implementation of the pilot phase;
Operational Elapsed
7. Takes note of the designation by Parties of their national focal point for the clearing-house mechanism (document UNEP/CBD/COP/2/Inf.5) and calls upon those who have not designated their focal point to do so, where appropriate, as soon as possible, and no later than February 1996;
Operational Implemented OTHERS
8. Invites all relevant international, regional, subregional and national organizations and entities willing to offer their cooperation as active partners in the operation of the clearing-house mechanism to communicate the details of their offer and requests the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat to enter into collaborative arrangements and to report to its third meeting on the results of such arrangements;
Operational Implemented Global Environment Facility
9. Requests the Global Environment Facility to explore the modalities of providing support through the financial mechanism to developing country Parties for capacity-building in relation to the operation of the clearing-house mechanism and report to the Conference of the Parties at its third meeting;
Operational Implemented Retired Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
10. Decides to review the implementation of the pilot phase of the clearing-house mechanism at its third meeting and requests the Executive Secretary to submit a progress report;
Operational Implemented Retired SBSTTA
11. Decides also to review the implementation of the pilot phase at its fourth meeting and requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to provide scientific and technical advice.
Body
Conference of the Parties (COP)

Meeting
COP-02
Second Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
6 - 17 November, 1995
Jakarta, Indonesia

Decision document
II/3
CLEARING-HOUSE MECHANISM
Related documents
UNEP/CBD/COP/2/6
Item 4.2 of the Provisional Agenda <br>Establishment of the Clearing-House Mechanism to Promote and Facilitate Technical and Scientific Cooperation
UNEP/CBD/COP/3/36
Item 5 of the Provisional Agenda <br> Modalities for GEF Assistance for Capacity-Building in Relation to the Operation of the Clearing-House Mechanism
UNEP/CBD/COP/5/INF/2
Scientific and Technical Cooperation and the Clearing-House Mechanism (Article 18)<br>Report of the Independent Review of the Pilot Phase
UNEP/CBD/COP/6/INF/17
Strategic plan, national reporting and operations of the Convention on Biological Diversity<br />Review of the status of the decisions of the Conference of the Parties
Related decisions / recommendations
VI/27 B para 3
Operations of the Convention
III/4 para 1
Clearing-House mechanism to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation
I/3
Clearing-House mechanism for technical and scientific cooperation
IV/2 para 10 11)
Review of the operations of the clearing-house mechanism
III/4 para 15
Clearing-House mechanism to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation
IX/30 para 2
Scientific and technical cooperation and the clearing-house mechanism
III/4
Clearing-House mechanism to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation
IV/2
Review of the operations of the clearing-house mechanism