14 January 2016
GEF-FAO-GOF Program to Strengthen Capacity for Participation in ABNJ Negotiations
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The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Global Ocean Forum (GOF) project on ‘Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ)' will strengthen the capacity of leaders from small island developing States (SIDS) and developing countries to address ABNJ resources and issues through the 2016 ABNJ Regional Leaders Program.

common_oceansJanuary 2016: The Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Global Ocean Forum (GOF) project on ‘Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ)’ will seek to strengthen the capacity of leaders from small island developing States (SIDS) and developing countries to address ABNJ resources and issues through the 2016 ABNJ Regional Leaders Program.

This Program will take place during the first session of the Preparatory Committee to establish an international, legally-binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in ABNJ.

In June 2015, UN Member States adopted Resolution (UNGA/RES/69/292) on the development of such an instrument and the establishment of a Preparatory Committee to make substantive recommendations to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the draft text of such an instrument. The Preparatory Committee will address: the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of ABNJ; marine genetic resources, including on the sharing of benefits; and measures such as area-based management tools, including marine protected areas (MPAs), environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and capacity building and the transfer of marine technology. The Preparatory Committee will convene two times in 2016, with the aim of reporting on its progress to the UNGA by 2017. The UNGA is expected to decide on launching an intergovernmental negotiating conference to adopt the new instrument by the end of 2017.

The 2016 ABNJ Regional Leaders Program will select eight leaders to participate in the course, which will take place simultaneously with the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee. Selected leaders will participate in the first session of the Preparatory Committee as well as convene to discuss global and regional ABNJ policy frameworks and processes and issues related to biodiversity conservation and fisheries. [ABNJ Capacity Building Project Website] [GEF ABNJ Website] [GOF ABNJ Website] [ABNJ Regional Leaders Program Announcement] [IISD RS Story on UNGA Resolution on ABNJ] [Natural Resources Policy & Practice Coverage of ABNJ]


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