FCCC/SB/1999/CRP.9

3 November 1999

ENGLISH ONLY

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Eleventh session

Bonn, 25 October - 5 November 1999

Agenda item 7

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Eleventh session

Bonn, 25 October - 5 November 1999

Agenda item 7

At their eleventh sessions, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation decided to recommend the following draft decision for adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth session:

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling Article 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, and 4.7, taken within the context of Article 3, and also

Articles 5(c) and 6(b) of the Convention,

Recalling further the provisions relating to capacity-building for developing countries contained in its decisions 10/CP.2, 11/CP.2, 9/CP.3, 2/CP.4, 4/CP.4, 5/C P.4, 6/CP.4, 7/CP.4, 12/CP.4 and 14/CP.4,

Welcoming the submissions by Parties on the subject of capacity-building (FCCC/SB/1999/MISC.9, FCCC/SB/1999/MISC.11),

Affirming that capacity-building is critical for the effective participation of developing countries in the Convention and Kyoto Protocol processes,

BNJ.99-756

Recognizing the importance of taking stock of existing activities in the field of capacity-building, including the enabling activities of the Global Environment Facility,

Acknowledging that work has begun on implementing provisions for capacity-building contained in decisions 4/CP.4, 7/CP.4 and 14/CP.4, but that substantial work still remains to be done,

Recognizing that the constraints to implementing the Convention in developing countries include the lack of financial resources and appropriate institutions; the lack of access to necessary technologies and know-how, including information technology; and the lack of regular opportunities to exchange information and views among developing countries,

Recognizing also that developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing states amongst them, because of their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change, require special capacity-building initiatives,

Underlining that capacity-building for developing countries must be country-driven,

reflecting their national initiatives and priorities, and that it is primarily to be undertaken by developing countries and in developing countries in partnership with developed countries, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention,

Emphasizing that capacity-building is a continuous process aimed at strengthening or establishing, as appropriate, relevant organizations, institutions and human resources in order to provide expertise in all areas relating to the implementation of the Convention,

Emphasizing further that an integrated approach should recognize the responsibility of individual Parties to promote conditions that are conducive to the development of human, institutional and technical capacity, and that every effort should be made to improve the coordination and effectiveness of existing efforts and promote participation of a wide range of actors and constituencies, including governments at all levels, international organizations, civil society and the private sector,

Emphasizing also the importance of creating an enabling environment for investment, which promotes capacity-building activities in developing countries,

Noting that capacity-building activities are conducted by United Nations agencies, international organizations and bilateral and multilateral institutions, including the Global Environment Facility as an operating entity of the financial mechanism,

1. Decides:

(a) That financial and technical support for capacity-building activities in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing states amongst them, for implementing the Convention should be provided through the financial mechanism and through bilateral and multilateral agencies, as appropriate;

(b) That capacity-building activities related to the implementation of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol should take fully into account the provisions of this decision;

(c) That existing capacity-building activities and programmes should be comprehensively assessed to determine their effectiveness and to identify gaps and weaknesses in ongoing efforts, and that the special needs of developing countries should be further elaborated in accordance with this decision, through a country-driven process, so as to take a comprehensive decision at its sixth session;

(d) That UNFCCC national focal points or national authorities designated to handle climate change in developing countries should play a key role in the assessment referred to in paragraph 1 (c) above and urges Annex II Parties, the secretariat, the Global Environment Facility and relevant international organizations to assist in strengthening them for this purpose;

(e) That the assessment should consider, inter alia, the following ways and means for capacity-building:

(i) Strengthening the UNFCCC national focal points or national authorities designated to handle climate change;

(ii) Building expertise and strengthening institutions, including collaborating centres, in developing countries which can undertake capacity-building activities at the national, subregional and regional levels, so as to enable them to collect, analyse and provide information on climate change relevant to policy- and decision-making using state-of-the-art information technology;

(iii) Supporting the networking of these institutions among themselves, and between them and relevant institutions in developed country Parties;

(iv) Using, as appropriate, national experts or consultants to undertake studies, design and implementation of projects at the national level;

(v) Conducting training, seminars and exchange programmes for the personnel of developing country institutions and in relevant institutions of other developing countries and in developed countries;

2. Invites Parties not included in Annex I to elaborate their specific needs and priorities for capacity-building, by 1 March 2000;

• Requests the Parties included in Annex II to the Convention to supplement the information contained in their national communications on activities and programmes which facilitate capacity-building in developing countries in the area of climate change, by 1 March 2000;
  
  
• Invites relevant intergovernmental organizations to provide the secretariat with information on their ongoing capacity-building activities, by 1 March 2000;

• Requests the secretariat:

• To compile information contained in initial national communications from non-Annex I Parties related to capacity-building activities, programmes and needs, and make it available in both printed and electronic formats prior to the twelfth sessions of the subsidiary bodies;
  
  
• To compile information contained in national communications of Annex II Parties on activities and programmes implemented to facilitate capacity-building in developing countries relevant to the implementation of the Convention, as well as the information referred to in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 above, and make it available in both printed and electronic formats prior to the twelfth sessions of the subsidiary bodies;
  
  
• To take into account inter-sessional workshops, including workshops on the consultative process for technology transfer, held prior to the twelfth sessions of the subsidiary bodies, to further elaborate the specific capacity-building needs and priorities of Parties not included in Annex I, taking fully into account the list provided by them and contained in the annex to this decision;
  
  

• To develop in accordance with this decision, in close consultation with Parties at the twelfth sessions of the subsidiary bodies, based on the information compiled and synthesized, elements of a draft framework for capacity-building activities, including elements related to capacity-building emerging from discussions of other issues under the Convention and its

Kyoto Protocol, for consideration by the subsidiary bodies at their thirteenth sessions;

• To coordinate closely with, and seek the assistance of, the Global Environment Facility, as an operating entity of the financial mechanism, and the secretariats of relevant

United Nations agencies and international organizations, and bilateral and multilateral institutions, in preparing the elements of a draft framework in subparagraph (d), and continue to coordinate with these agencies, organizations and institutions regarding their climate change capacity-building activities in support of the implementation of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol, and to report on this coordination, including information on the financing of these activities, at regular intervals;

• To report at the twelfth sessions of the subsidiary bodies on progress in the review by the Global Environment Facility of its enabling activities, its capacity-building activities in the normal work programme, on the Country Dialogue Workshops and on the Global Environment Facility Capacity Development Initiative.

• Institutional capacity-building

• Strengthening of national UNFCCC focal points or national authorities designated to coordinate climate change activities
• Strengthening of relevant and key academic and research institutions and non-governmental organizations
  
  

• Capacity-building under the clean development mechanism

• Establishment of institutional linkages required for implementation of the clean development mechanism
• Project identification, formulation and design
• Monitoring, verification, auditing and certification of project activities
• Development of criteria, including for sustainable development indicators, e.g. for adaptation.
• Development of baselines
• Project negotiation skills
• Clean development mechanism demonstration projects to enhance capacity-building (learning by doing), including assessment of costs and risks (long- and short-term)
• Data acquisition and sharing
  
  

• Human resource development
  
  

• Fellowships and scholarships for formal training at higher levels, specialized training and informal training
• Development of a "pool" of expertise and skills
• Studies such as climate change detection and climate variability, impact assessment, vulnerability and adaptation studies, and policy analysis
• Workshops (including workshops to discuss the implementation plan)
• Exchange programmes among Parties
• Integration of climate change into educational curricula
• Networking and coordination at local, national, regional and international levels
  
  

• Technology transfer
  
  

• Identification and assessment of appropriate technologies
• Appropriate technology information needs including support for office and other relevant equipment

• Analysis of constraints to the transfer of technology (non-Annex I and Annex I Parties).
• Exchange programmes
  
  

• National communications
  
  

• Development of local emission factors
• Data collection, analysis and archiving
• Establishment of a technical assistance group, such as a non-Annex I Party expert group

• Vulnerability assessments, including scoping, modeling, analysis, method selection and reporting
  
  

• Adaptation

• Development of adaptation project guidelines
• Case studies of extreme weather events, documentation and dissemination of study reports
• Capacity-building and -enhancement in the marine sector, such as coastal zone management
• Identification and promotion of traditional knowledge, skills and practices which enhance adaptation
  
  

• Public awareness
  
  

• Development of public awareness programmes
• Development and production of public awareness materials
• Workshops
• Involvement and consultation

• Coordination and cooperation
  
  

• Coordination programmes at the individual, community, local, government, non-government, national and regional levels
• Involvement and consultation
• Linking and learning
  
  

• Improved decision-making

• Awareness and knowledge

• Research, data and information

• Technical and policy

• Integrating climate change policies into national development strategies and plans