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APPROACH

Jointly with partners, the ABS Initiative provides the following support packages which are tailored to meet the needs of countries depending on their progress towards the implementation of the Protocol.

Guidance on developing and implementing national institutional and legislative ABS frameworks, including permitting systems and administrative processes

ABS relevant technical trainings, for example on user sectors or intellectual property rights

Trainings on the negotiation of MAT clauses, including benefit-sharing, information on monitoring and compliance systems in user countries as well as on relevant market standards

Setting up of dialogue and exchange fora with ABS stakeholders

Identification of cooperation partners and innovation opportunities leading to ABS agreements

Specific awareness raising on ABS among relevant stakeholders such as policy makers, public administration, academia, private sector and IPLCs

In addition, the Initiative supports transboundary harmonization and exchange of experiences on ABS by offering (sub-) regional trainings and workshops in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

At a global level the ABS Initiative maintains an interface between national activities and international processes through participation in meetings and joint activities with international actors.

Tools

Jointly with partners, the ABS Initiative developed and applied a substantial amount of tools.

For the tools and publicationss available, please searchOpens internal link in current window here.

Knowledge generation and Management

Knowledge generation and Management

The Initiative documents processes and reviews lessons learnt. It also fosters communication and learning among all its stakeholders. Studies and assessments are conducted to stimulate discussion and support decision-making processes. The Initiative together with its various partners further develops conceptual approaches, e.g. on the harmonized national implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) or the development of BCPs. Last but not least, management and dissemination tools are used to compile and disseminate knowledge on ABS (e.g. ABS Initiative website and weekly Opens external link in new windowABS News Digest - open category Project and Programme Newsletters).

Human capacity development Tools

Human capacity development Tools

For the purpose of broadening the pool of experts and disseminators of ABS knowledge, the Initiative and its partner create innovative formats of capacity development. Many of these tools are tailored to meet specific needs at national and local levels. Examples are:

  • multi-stakeholder strategy workshops fostering exchange and understanding of different stakeholder perspectives,
  • a basic ABS training for national focal points jointly developed and implemented with the University of Cape Town between 2010 and 2015, and
  • a training course for lawyers on building regulatory ABS frameworks: With funding from and implemented in partnership with the ABS Initiative the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) developed the course concept and a toolkit pointing out essential legal requirements of the Nagoya Protocol, key technical resources available and the latest research on relevant legal frameworks. Building on the success of the pilot run of the course in 2014, the SCBD with funding from the Japan Biodiversity Fund and in partnership with IDLO further developed the course and the toolkit into a blended learning format during 2015/2016 which is being implemented since 2017 as (sub-)regional training courses.

Awareness raising tools

Awareness raising tools

Awareness raising triggers reflection and action. Thus the ABS Initiative puts emphasis on developing communication tools. Some target lay audiences (e.g. videos to explain ABS and standard presentations), others focus on particular stakeholders’ needs at the national level (e.g. the ABS-CEPA Guide and fact sheets on the ABS relevant industrial sectors).