Notification 2015-147

Dear Madam/Sir, In its decision XII/2B paragraph 8(d), the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary, inter alia, to undertake an evaluation of the effectiveness of capacity-building activities that the Secretariat has supported and facilitated, including recommendations on how to further integrate the needs expressed by Parties using participatory approaches. In addressing this decision, the Secretariat is conducting a survey of National Focal Points and participants (including government officials and representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities) who have taken part in capacity building activities it has facilitated and/or supported during the period 2013-2015 (The results of this survey will complement the report of the mid-term review of the Japan Biodiversity Fund (JBF) activities carried out between 2011 and 2012. The review was conducted by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies to, inter alia, assess the relevance and effectiveness of capacity building activities of the JBF and document the lessons learned.). Accordingly, I would like to invite you to complete a short survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BB9S27W to enable the Secretariat to prepare a report for consideration by the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, which is scheduled to take place on 2 - 6 May 2016. You are kindly requested to complete the survey as soon as possible, but no later than 14 January 2016. Should you have any questions concerning the survey, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat at secretariat@cbd.int. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my best wishes for 2016 and reiterate my appreciation for your continued support towards the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, Cartagena Protocol National Focal Points, ABS National Focal Points