UNDP Side Event Access

1
UNDP Side EventAccess Benefit Sharing and
Traditional Knowledge

• Analysis Findings of Capacity Assessment
  Reports undertaken by countries on ABS TK
• 16 February 2004
• CBD COP7, Kuala Lumpur

2
Overview of Capacity Assessments

• Under the UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Enabling
  Activities, Country Capacity Assessments on TK
  and ABS have been received from 13 countries,
  including
• 8 Assessments of TK Benin, Bolivia, Grenada,
  Guinea, Iran, Mali, Niue, and the Philippines
• 5 Assessments of ABS Armenia, CAR, El Salvador,
  Sudan, Zimbabwe (now also Samoa)
• A comparative analysis was undertaken in Oct-Dec
  2003 to assess common capacity concerns
  identified by these countries, as well as to
  identify the best practices and experiences
  generated within countries.

3
Key Areas for Capacity Building

• Capacity building aspects identified by countries
  have been categorized within four broadly related
  themes
• Access to genetic resources
• Conservation and management of genetic resources
• Benefit sharing
• Traditional knowledge

4
Findings Access to Genetic resources

• Awareness/valuation programmes focusing on the
  need to increase awareness of stakeholders and
  policy makers about the value and potential
  benefits of biodiversity
• Stakeholder participation recognizing that
  stakeholder participation is insufficient at
  present and needs to be enhanced through
  awareness raising, capacity building, and through
  an emphasis on trust and transparency

5
Findings Access to Genetic Resources (contd)

• Regulatory coordination there is a need to
  address overlapping jurisdictional mandates and
  develop mechanisms for effective coordination
• Establishing procedures and institutions to
  process requests for access and Free Prior
  Informed Consent
• Training for government officials, policy-makers
  and various stakeholders on ABS

6
Findings Conservation Management of Genetic
Resources

• Awareness/valuation programs seen as an important
  means of stressing the importance of conservation
  of genetic resources
• Genetic resource inventory the lack of a
  comprehensive survey and inventory of genetic
  resources has made it difficult for many
  countries to assess the status of genetic
  resources including their utilization, which has
  impeded the formulation of genetic
  resource-specific access policies

7
Findings Conservation Management of Genetic
Resources (contd.)

• Taxonomic resources Improved training of customs
  officials in species identification, as well as
  improved capacity of research organizations to
  classify genetic resources.
• Conservation infrastructure to enhance the
  capacity to improve conservation and management
  efforts for protected areas
• Resources/staffing Government and ancillary
  organizations (e.g. gene banks and research
  organizations) may lack adequate resources and/or
  adequate staffing

8
Findings Benefit Sharing

• Legislative frameworks there is a need to draft
  and implement laws regulations on equitable
  benefit sharing
• Stakeholder participation countries have
  emphasized the need to ensure stakeholder
  participation in the management and use of
  natural resources

9
Findings Benefit Sharing (contd.)

• Inclusion of communities surrounding PAs in
  sharing the benefits derived from PA resources
• Bioprospecting countries have recommended
  development of model agreements as a short term
  measure with drafting of legislation in the
  long-term
• Model agreements countries have recognized that
  most model agreements are created on a
  case-by-case basis and standard procedures still
  need to be established for FPIC and equitable
  sharing.

10
Findings Traditional Knowledge

• Awareness/valuation programs Countries have
  identified the need to properly value TK as a
  means to empower indigenous and local communities
  in negotiating contracts with collectors and
  developers
• Legislative framework Most countries have
  identified a need to create a legislative
  framework to protect TK that is separate from
  traditional intellectual property regimes

11
Findings Traditional Knowledge (contd.)

• Training Countries have identified a need for a
  focal point for communications with indigenous
  and local communities, and for such focal points
  to undergo cultural sensitivity training and
  legal training in TK
• Incorporating TK into development Some
  countries have indicated the need to bring TK
  into development projects and plans in order to
  enhance sustainability and increase the prestige
  afforded TK, thereby helping to appropriately
  value TK

12
Next Steps and Future Actions

• Undertake a more comprehensive analysis as more
  country assessments become available in coming
  months.
• Consider how the lessons and best practices
  identified in country assessments could be
  exchanged among countries.
• Integrate capacity building concerns identified
  by countries into ongoing activities and in the
  design of planned projects and activities.