Awareness-raising strategy

At its first meeting, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol adopted the Awareness-raising Strategy for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (annex to decision NP-1/9) which aims at providing a systematic and coherent approach to assist Parties in the implementation of Article 21.Awareness-raising activities must respond to the specific needs and contexts of each Party. Therefore, the awareness-raising strategy is country-driven. The strategy identifies four priority activities and for each priority activity, sets out operational objectives, expected outcomes, indicators, the role of the Secretariat, activities and actors. The priority activities are the following:

1. Communications situation analysis and the development of needs-based awareness-raising strategies at the national, regional and subregional levels;
2. Creation of toolkit and awareness-raising materials;
3. Train communicators and engage target groups; and
4. Evaluation and feedback.

The Strategy also recognizes the importance of raising awareness among users of genetic resources for the effective implementation of the Protocol as well as the importance of facilitating the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in national and regional awareness-raising activities.To assist Parties in the implementation of the strategy, the Secretariat is currently developing a toolkit containing methodologies, templates and descriptive materials to support the development of national awareness-raising strategies and associated materials and tools (priority activity 2).Parties and others are encouraged to share national awareness-raising strategies, products and tools through the ABS Clearing-House, to facilitate the sharing of experiences and lessons learned in communicating ABS issues.