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SBI 44, Bonn, May 2016
1. The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) welcomed the information provided by
the secretariat of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on the financial support provided by the GEF
for the preparation of biennial update reports (BURs) by Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention (non-Annex I Parties).1
2. The SBI invited the GEF to continue to provide detailed information on its
activities relating to the preparation of BURs, including the dates of requests for funding, approval
of funding and disbursement of funds and the approximate date of submission of BURs to the
secretariat, for consideration at SBI 45 (November 2016).
3. The SBI noted that, as at 16 May 2016, 32 non-Annex I Parties had submitted their
first BUR and that a further 11 non-Annex I Parties are expected to submit their first BUR by 31
December 2016.
4. It also noted that, as at 16 May 2016, the GEF secretariat had received and
processed a total of 92 requests for funding from non-Annex I Parties to prepare their first BUR.
Five of those requests were received after the initial deadline for submission of the first BURs in
December 2014. The GEF has also received 12 requests from non-Annex I Parties for funding for the
preparation of their second BUR; four such BURs are expected to be submitted by 31 December
2016.
5. The SBI further noted that, as at 24 May 2016, there were many
outstanding submissions of BURs from non-Annex I Parties, while recognizing the challenges that
non-Annex I Parties face in submitting their BURs in a timely manner. It recalled decision 2/CP.17,
paragraph 41(a), which states that non-Annex I Parties, consistent with their capabilities and the
level of support provided for reporting, should submit their first BUR
by December 2014. It encouraged non-Annex I Parties that have not yet completed and submitted their
first BUR to do so as soon as possible.
6. Recalling decision 2/CP.17, the SBI reiterated its
urging2 of the non-Annex I Parties that
have yet to submit their request to the GEF for support for the preparation of their first BUR to do
so in a timely manner. In addition, it encouraged the GEF agencies to continue to facilitate the
preparation and submission of project proposals by non-Annex I Parties for the preparation of their
BURs and to respond to the project proposals.
7. The SBI recalled the information provided by the GEF in its report
to the Conference of the Parties (COP) at its twenty-first session3 on the procedures available to facilitate access by
non-Annex I Parties to funding for the preparation of their national communications and multiple BURs
within one application. Noting that 13 Parties have successfully utilized that facilitated procedure,
the SBI encouraged all non-Annex I Parties to consider applying for funding for the preparation of
multiple reports within one application, and requested the GEF agencies to respond to such requests
in a timely manner.
8. The SBI welcomed the information provided by the GEF on its Global
Support Programme for National Communications and Biennial Update Reports,4 especially regarding the development and implementation
of its 2016 work programme. The SBI encouraged non-Annex I Parties to take advantage of the
opportunities for technical assistance and support available under the Global Support
Programme.
9. The SBI noted with appreciation that the GEF had made good progress
on the establishment of the Capacity-building Initiative on Transparency as requested at COP
21.5 It reiterated its request to the
GEF to provide further information on this matter in its report to COP 22 (November
2016).
10. The SBI recognized the contribution made by the Consultative Group
of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (CGE) in
providing technical support to non-Annex I Parties, and urged developed country Parties included in
Annex II to the Convention and other developed country Parties in a position to do so to provide
financial resources for the implementation of the CGE work programme.6
11. The SBI, recalling the request7 of non-Annex I Parties for further technical support
aimed at improving their domestic capacity to facilitate continuity in meeting their reporting
requirements, also urged developed country Parties included in Annex II to the Convention and other
developed country Parties in a position to do so to provide financial resources for the secretariat
to implement the activities referred to in the conclusions of SBI 42.8 It noted that such activities support non-Annex I Parties in
building their transparency-related capacity, and requested the secretariat to report at SBI 45 on
the progress made in this regard, including on relevant regional workshops held in
2016.
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1 FCCC/SBI/2016/INF.2.
2 FCCC/SBI/2012/15, paragraph 53.
3 FCCC/CP/2015/4, page 12.
4 A project administered jointly by the United Nations Development Programme
and the United Nations Environment Programme with the objective of enhancing the support provided to
non-Annex I Parties for the timely preparation of their national communications and BURs.
5 Decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 86.
6 Details of the work programme of the CGE are available at:  work programme
7 FCCC/SBI/2015/10, paragraph 29.
8 As footnote 7 above.
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