During the negotiations of the Nagoya Protocol the Initiative supported the “African Group” by organizing preparatory meetings, high-level events and (sub-)regional multi-stakeholder workshops and trainings. As a result the “African Group” was able to negotiate with one voice and to effectively participate in the negotiations.  

• Countries and regions: Africa (on this website)
• Briefing of African Delegates Prior to the 6th Meeting of the ABS Working Group, 18-19 January 2008, Geneva, Switzerland
• 6th Meeting of ABS Working Group - Documents

In the context of the GIZ implemented Support Program to the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), the ABS Initiative provided assistance in the development of a sub-regional ABS strategy, adopted by the COMIFAC Ministers Council in November 2010. This strategy, in addition to the international ABS frameworks, provides guidance for national regulations in member countries. The ABS Initiative is now backstopping ABS implementation in COMIFAC member countries.

• COMIFAC ABS Strategy (January 2011, pdf, only in French)
• COMIFAC

Africa has developed effective instruments for the protection, sustainable use and access and benefit sharing of biological resources. These resources respond to the challenges posed by globalization and climate change while taking into account the continent-specific needs. The African Model Law for the Protection of the Rights of the Local Communities, Farmers and Breeders and for the Regulation of Access to Biological Resources (the African Union Model Law) developed in the late 90s is a case in point. The adoption of the Nagoya Protocol in 2010 prompted a fresh look at the African Model Law by the ABS Initiative as requested by the AU Commission. The Initiative's resulting report highlighted significant gaps due to relevant international developments and recommended to develop Guidelines for a Coordinated Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS in Africa.

Ultimately, they have been developed as the African Union (AU) policy and technical guidelines for the coordinated implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in Africa, endorsed by the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU. The two documents provide strategic and practical step by step directions and tools to guide African countries in the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol.

African Union (ABS) Strategic Guidelines on ABS

African Union (ABS) Practical Guidelines on ABS

The ABS Initiative advised the development of draft Nagoya Protocol compliant policies and regulations in countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Madagascar, Micronesia, Morocco, Namibia, Palau, Samoa and Senegal.

The ABS Initiative supported the negotiation of ABS agreements for several natural ingredients/products. The support consisted of upfront capacity building of local providers and regulators as well as facilitating the negotiations that led to the signing of ABS agreements, e.g. in Cameroon, Namibia and South Africa. Core technical partners with regard to ABS agreements are the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) and the Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT).

In partnership with the ABS Initiative, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) has launched a toolkit and training course to point out essential legal requirements of the Nagoya Protocol, key technical resources available and the latest research on relevant legal frameworks. With funding from and implemented in partnership with the ABS Initiative the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) developed the course concept including the tool kit and implemented a pilot run in 2014 jointly with the ABS Initiative. Due to the success of the pilot course, 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.

The ABS Initiative, in collaboration with the NGO Natural Justice, supports IPLCs in managing their natural resources and interacting with potential users and governmental institutions. Key instruments in this regard are BCPs which, among others, facilitate the establishment of ABS agreements between IPLCs and industry. Facilitated by the Initiative, a BCP process in South Africa led to the non-disclosure agreement between a local Healer Association and a domestic cosmetic company.