30 May 2014: The tenth meeting of the Liaison Group on Capacity-Building for Biosafety has developed a series of recommendations to improve implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as an integral part of strategies and measures to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

On integrating biosafety into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and other relevant policies, plans and programmes, the Group recommends, among other measures, that the Executive Secretary assess gaps to tailor capacity building interventions and organize regional workshops of Protocol and Convention national focal points. Protocol Parties are encouraged to establish or strengthen inter-ministerial committees to promote integrated implementation and to strengthen mechanisms for cooperation among relevant institutions. The Group also suggests guiding questions for an online discussion to be held on this issue through the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH).

On resource mobilization, the Group recommends, among other measures that the Executive Secretary collect information from Parties on sources of funding and capacity building needs, and communicate with focal points of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) regarding declining allocation of GEF funding towards biosafety implementation. Parties are encouraged to organize workshops among national focal points to consider biosafety when allocating GEF funds for biodiversity and to share experiences and lessons learned on mobilizing resources.

The Liaison Group on Biosafety Capacity Building is an ad-hoc group of experts convened by the CBD Executive Secretary to provide advice on specific capacity-building issues related to the coordination and effective implementation of the Biosafety Protocol’s capacity-building Action Plan. Its tenth meeting was held from 7-9 April 2014, in Budapest, Hungary. [Report of the Tenth Meeting of the Liaison Group on Capacity Building for Biosafety][CBD website on Biosafety Capacity Building]