Notification 2017-090

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform you that the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is organizing, in collaboration with the National Environment Management Authority of Uganda, a Regional Bio-Bridge Initiative Round Table for Africa to be held from 7 to 9 November 2017 in Entebbe, Uganda. The round table is organized with the generous funding from the Republic of Korea, as part of its overall support for the Bio-Bridge Initiative. As you may recall, the Bio-Bridge Initiative was established by the Government of the Republic of Korea at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in 2014 to enhance technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer for the effective implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The objective of the round table is to raise awareness of the Bio-Bridge Initiative and facilitate interaction between Parties requiring technical assistance and Parties and/or organizations that could provide such assistance with a view to identifying matchmaking opportunities and fostering partnerships. The round table also seeks to identify opportunities for upscaling projects, facilitated by the Bio-Bridge Initiative, by leveraging additional support from relevant initiatives and mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, the Climate Technology Centre and Network, the Standards and Trade Development Facility and the Sustainable Development Goals Technology Facilitation Mechanism. Accordingly, I am pleased to invite your Government to nominate one representative, working in the field of technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer under the Convention and/or its Protocols, to participate in the round table. Subject to the availability of funds, participation of nominated representatives from eligible countries will be supported in accordance with relevant United Nations rules and based on a first come, first served basis. Nominations should be submitted to the Secretariat using the attached nomination form and must be accompanied by an official signed letter of nomination, clearly indicating the name and full contact information of the nominee. The nominations should be sent via e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int or faxed to + 1 514 288 6588 as soon as possible but no later than 29 September 2017. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points and CHM Focal Points in Africa