The objective of the project is to support Pacific Island countries (PICs) to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) and to implement key measures to make it operational in this region. In this way, the project will support 14 PICs to facilitate access to their genetic resources and secure benefit-sharing in a fair and equitable way in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its objective is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
There are four main project components:
COMPONENT 1: Baseline research and analysis
A baseline analysis to identify common assets (particularly relating to traditional knowledge), issues and needs between countries.
COMPONENT 2: Ratification of the Nagoya Protocol
Assist countries to ratify the Protocol through supporting national authorities.
COMPONENT 3: Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol
Establishment of an enabling environment for the implementation of basic provisions of the Protocol. This will include stocktaking and assessment of capacities and systems currently in place, development or review of strategy and action plans.
COMPONENT 4: Regional Coordination, Technical Support and Capacity Building
Provide regional coordination and technical support and capacity building. Project monitoring and evaluation.
- Development of practical guidelines for the coordinated implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in the Pacific region.
- Development of regulatory frameworks for ABS within the Pacific region.
- The 14 participating countries all ratify the Nagoya Protocol.
- Building capacity for the implementation, and sharing the experiences from the 14 participating countries to support development of a regional approach to regulatory policy. This will require developing appropriate capacities and measures to ensure that countries have the requisite conditions to meet the obligations under the Nagoya Protocol.
- Coordinate activities with the ongoing GEF ABS projects funded using Nagoya Protocol Implementation Funds (NPIF), particularly the medium sized projects (MSP) projects administered through UNDP in Fiji and the Cook Islands. The ‘lessons learned’ and best practices that arise during the implementation of these national MSPs will be shared throughout the Pacific region as part of this project.
Total budget: USD 2,996,557
GEF funds: USD 1,762,557
Co-finance: USD 1,234,000
PIC Government (in-kind)US$ 1,000,000
SPREP (in-kind) US$ 150,000
UNEP (in-kind) US$ 50,000
Multi-donor funded ABS Capacity Development Initiative US$ 34,000
GEF (grant) US $1,762, 557
Project Execution modality
Direct execution by SPREP
UNEP
SPREP
14 Pacific island countries include: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu
Development Partners:
ABS Capacity Development Initiative