81305584-Provision of technical expertise, advisory and training services for the project

The Multi-Donor-Initiative on Capacity Development for Access and Benefit-sharing (short: ABS-CDI or ABS Initiative) aims at improving the capacity and conditions for successful cooperation between providers and users of biological resources for the fair sharing of benefits for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and local livelihoods. The ABS Initiative, launched in 2006 at the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 8) in Curitiba, Brazil, supports the implementation of a globally harmonised and mutually supportive ABS system with the Nagoya Protocol and the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as centerpieces. The intention is to support accomplishing the vision of human beings living in harmony with nature by making use of benefit-sharing for the fulfilment of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the respective goals of the GBF. The ABS Initiative is hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and funded by several governments (e.g. Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands) and international organisations. At the global level, based on a Memorandum of Understanding, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is the core collaboration and advisory partner of the ABS Initiative. For instance, based on its practical experiences the ABS Initiative is providing best practices, analyses and tools to the SCBD and the CBD"s Informal Advisory Committee on Capacity Building and Development whereas SCBD helps directing the ABS Initiative towards technical capacity development and conceptual and dialogue needs. The African Union Commission and United Nations organisations such as UNCTAD, UNEP, WIPO and the ITPGRFA are partnering with the ABS Initiative to support capacity development, for instance with a view to regional integration, the development of biodiversity-based economy strategies and the implementation of the GBF in Africa and other regions. The geographical focus of project implementation is on African countries, in particular Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa. The ABS Initiative"s approach is guided by a broad participatory process, good governance principles and gender equality. The implementation builds on more than a decade of experience, good practices collected, and lessons learned. The ABS Capacity Development Initiative contributes to poverty reduction, food security, technology transfer, social development including equity and rights, and biodiversity conservation through implementing the Nagoya Protocol on ABS and the third objective of the CBD in its entirety.