ABS Management Tool

Sponsored by: SECOOrganized by:IISD, Stratos Inc., Jorge Cabrera

International Meeting on Implementation of the ABS Management Tool

October 9, 2007Montreal

Meeting Objectives

To launch the ABS Management Tool – Final version

  To build support and engagement for

implementation of the ABS Management Tool

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Agenda

1)Welcome and Introductions2)The ABS – MT Project and Presentation of

the Management Tool3)Discussion of the Implementation Plan4)Discussion of Factors for Successful

Implementation5)Next Steps

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ABS Management Tool ProjectPhase 1 (2003 - 2004)

Research on ABS and other standards Development of working draft Management Tool

Phase 2 (2004 – 2007) Field Testing Outreach and stakeholder consultations Assessment of implementation options Revision and finalization of the ABS-MT

International Advisory Committee--------------------------Supported by Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

Executed by IISD Stratos Inc. Jorge Cabrera

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Project ActivitiesDevelopment of the Management Tool:

Working Draft + User Guide – 2004 Revised Working Draft – 2006 Best Practice Standard and Handbook - 2007

Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement

Field Testing of the ABS – MT

Design of an Implementation Plan

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Outreach and Feedback

CBD Forums Industry Indigenous Peoples Governments Researchers NGOs International ABS Practitioners Workshop

- Costa Rica

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Testing the Management Tool in Practice

Field Tests Use of the ABS-MT in new ABS negotiations (project

level)

• Australia

• Bolivia

• Cameroon

• Malaysia

• Tanzania

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Lessons Learned – ABS Trends

Growing areas of activity Micro-organisms, plants, animals with novel enzymes Bulk collection of genetic/biological resources – cosmetics,

herbal medicines New environments – marine, severe environmental

conditions

Strong demand for international guidance: By governments, industry, research institutions +

communities

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Lessons Learnt – ABS Challenges

Lack of legal certainty – particularly at national level

Many genetic resource users still don’t understand ABS requirements covered by CBD: Need for capacity building – governments, Indigenous

peoples, other communities, companies

Chilling effect of publicized cases Fragmentation/increasingly complex supply chain Importance of linking ABS to conservation

objectives No clear boundaries between access for research

and bio-prospecting

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The Need ABS Management Tool

Build confidence to interact

Guide & inform negotiation and decision-making

Engender trust to work together

Ensure compliance with the Bonn Guidelines

Provider UserCollaborative and

mutually beneficial relationships

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Purpose of the ABS Management Tool

Best practice standard and handbook which provides guidance and tools on ABS practice for Users and Providers to ensure compliance with the Bonn Guidelines and CBD requirements

A structured process and fair and equitable means of participating in and making decisions about ABS negotiations and the implementation of ABS agreements

To inform and guide Users and Providers in a neutral way to help them establish necessary relationships based on confidence and trust

The ABS-MT applies to all stages of genetic resource activity: Prior to access Access (collection and discovery) Academic research

Research and development Commercialization

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Management Processes

Use in an Organization’s Management System or Procedures

Other Management Considerations:

The Participation of Indigenous and Local Communities

Documentation and Information-management sharing

Reporting

Emerging Practices on Certificate of Origin/Compliance with National Law

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ABS – MT Decision Making

www.iisd.org/abs/abs_mt.asp

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Implementation Support Program

Purpose is to facilitate:

Broad use of the ABS-MT as a neutral source of guidance to ABS practice;

Adoption of the ABS- MT as a recognized ABS best practice standard for compliance with the Bonn Guidelines (and an international regime in the future); and

Support to users and providers of genetic resources to improve ABS practices and processes.

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Proposed Implementation Strategy

Main ActivitiesDissemination

of information & ABS-MT

Capacity building

Support & technical services

Strategic Elements

Host Institution

Partnerships

Funding

Governance

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Host Institution – Potential TOR

• Identify key partner institutions to establish cooperative agreements, joint ventures, or contracted activities to support implementation

• Create an active ABS website with an interactive version of the ABS-MT

• Promote and provide outreach on use of the ABS-MT through guidance and the dissemination of neutral information

• Provide and facilitate capacity building and training for Providers and Users, using the ABS-MT as the basis

• Facilitate access to ABS expertise for development of ABS agreements or needed technical assistance through partnerships with other organizations or experts

• Liaison with the CBD Secretariat and represent the ABS MT at key international and national meetings related to ABS

• Animate the best practice network of ABS practitioners; and

• Identify funding sources and submit proposal for on-going funding to support ABS functions and activities

Host Institution Selection Criteria

Knowledge of CBD and ABS issues Perceived as neutral among a range of ABS interests Experience in developing countries and cross-cultural

environments Existing institutional relationships and networks Strong communications platforms in place Organizational management capacity

Process Swiss government (SECO) to identify and select :

• Tender; or• Selection and direct negotiation

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Potential Host Institutions

ABS-MT Office would best be housed in an existing organization. Four neutral and internationally recognized organizations have been identified as possible hosts for an ABS-MT Office:

IUCN – The World Conservation Union ;

UNCTAD BioTrade Program;

United Nations University – Institute for Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS);

the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

Other?

Potential Partnerships Industry associations active on ABS;

Organizations promoting the use of related standards such as the BioTrade Facilitation Program (BTFP); and the IUCN/WWF/BfN International Standard for Sustainable Wild

Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP)

Research institutions;

Aboriginal and community groups;

Inter-governmental /multilateral organizations;

International NGOs;

Foundations ; and

Professional societies.21

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Fundraising + Potential Donors

To date, funding has been provided by SECO.

Potential donors can include:

foundations

bilateral donors

multilateral donors

industry.

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Governance Adoption and wide use of the ABS-MT will require

international support and endorsement.

The Implementation Program may benefit from a governance structure which brings together key interests with a stake in the successful application of the ABS-MT. Possible elements of such a governance structure could include:

1) An International Steering Committee – with representation or individual membership from a regionally balanced set of interests – government, Indigenous and communities, industry, research community and NGOs;

2) A Tecnhnical Advisory Committee comprising of experts from a variety of disciplines and aspects of ABS practice; and

3) A Network of ABS Practitioners to ensure that the ABS MT remains up-to-date in its application, informed by experience and best practices around the world.

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Factors for Successful Implementation

Key factors for successful implementation of the ABS-MT:

Authoritative endorsement

Widely distributed

Adopted and applied

Feasible plan in place

Other?

Initiating the Implementation Support Program

1. Identify and select host institution

2. Fundraising from a variety of sources

3. Establishment of initial partnerships

4. Mounting web based version of ABS - MT

5. Broad dissemination of the ABS-MT

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