| Overview : The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), an agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity, was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya (Japan) and entered into force on 12 October 2014, it provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of the 3rd objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - to be pursued in accordance with its relevant provisions, are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and “the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding”. The Protocol applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and to the benefits arising from their utilization, it also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources held by indigenous and local communities. Contracting parties to the Nagoya Protocol need to fulfil core obligations to take measures in relation to access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and compliance. The UNDP-GEF Project “Strengthening human resources, legal frameworks, and institutional capacities to implement the Nagoya Protocol” (Global ABS Project) is a 3-year project that specifically aims at assisting 24 countries in the development and strengthening of their national ABS frameworks, human resources, and administrative capabilities to implement the Nagoya Protocol. The project seeks to achieve this through its 4 components namely: - Component 1: Strengthening the legal, policy and institutional capacity to develop national ABS frameworks;
- Component 2: Building trust between users and providers of genetic resources to facilitate the identification of bio-discovery efforts; and
- Component 3: Strengthening the capacity of indigenous and local communities to contribute to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol.
- Component 4: Implementing a Community of Practice and South-South Cooperation Framework on ABS.
As per the approved Annual Work Plans for the year 2018 for Botswana, the project will proceed with the recruitment of a national consultant to strengthen the national ABS legal frameworks. The consultant will work closely with key national stakeholders to undertake an assessment of the policy, legal and institutional aspects of ABS in Botswana. The outcome of the assessment should guide the development of a national instrument in a simple, efficient manner, which can be adapted to national and local circumstances |
