14 May 2014: The Secretariat of the of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions has released a ‘Training Manual for Chairs of Meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions,’ as part of a training programme for potential Chairs and Presidents of the BRS meetings. The manual was developed with the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies on Sustainability (UNU-IAS).

The training programme is funded by the Government of Switzerland, and the pilot training session took place in March 2014.

The 50-page manual is intended to serve as a source of information and guidance for delegates presiding over or chairing negotiations of the BRS Conventions in plenary sessions, contact groups or other group settings. It aims to: strengthen participants’ knowledge of practical procedures of meetings; develop participants’ skills and knowledge to enable them to efficiently and effectively chair meetings; strengthen communication techniques and skills of potential chairs; share best practices and lessons learned on efficient chairing of meetings; and strengthen synergies by using best practices and lessons learned across the BRS Conventions. [Publication: Training Manual for Chairs of Meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions]