Under the Convention, all Parties must report on the steps they are taking to implement the Convention (Articles 4.1 and 12). In accordance with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" enshrined in the Convention, the required contents of these reports (known as "national communications") and the timetable for their submission is different for Annex I and non-Annex I Parties. Non-Annex I Parties are also eligible for financial and technical assistance to prepare their national communications. This assistance is provided by the GEF, acting as the financial mechanism of the Convention, through its implem

enting agencies (UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank) and following specific guidance from the COP.
With regard to the timetable for submission, non-Annex I Parties must make their initial communication within three years of the entry into force of the Convention for that Party, or of the availability of financial resources. Least developed country Parties may make their initial communication at their discretion.

With regard to the contents of their national communications, non-Annex I Parties must follow reporting guidelines agreed upon by COP 2 (see decision 10/CP.2). To date, 29 non-Annex I Parties have submitted their initial national communications. At COP 5 (see decision 8/CP.5), Parties initiated a process to review the reporting guidelines in order to improve them by COP 7 (Oct/Nov, 2001).
Non-Annex I communications are compiled and synthesized by the secretariat in reports that are submitted annually to the SBI and the COP. The first such report was requested by COP 4 (see decision 12/CP.4) and made available to SBI 11 (Oct/Nov 2000) and COP 5 (held during the same sessional period).

In order to improve the preparation of non-Annex I Party national communications, COP 5 decided to establish a Consultative Group of Experts on national communications from non-Annex I Parties (CGE) (see decision 8/CP.5). The CGE is composed of five experts from each of the developing country regions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean), six experts from Annex I Parties, and three experts from organizations with relevant experience. Members the CGE were drawn from a roster of experts with expertise in greenhouse gas inventories, vulnerability assessment and adaptation, abatement issues and national communications. The CGE meets twice a year, and its mandate will be revised by COP 7.

One of the functions of the secretariat under the Convention is to facilitate technical assistance to non-Annex I Parties in preparing their national communications. This assistance includes facilitating the work of the CGE, participating in regional workshops and expert group meetings, promoting information exchange, and training. The secretariat provides regular reports to the SBI on these activities.

The CGE met for the first time in Bonn on 8-9 June 2000 and elected Mr. José Miguez (Brazil) as its Chairman. In addition, three regional workshops were held, for the Latin American and Caribbean region (Mexico City, Mexico, 8-12 May 2000), for the African region (Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 August 2000) and for the Asia and the Pacific region, in Bangkok, Thailand, 16-20 October 2000.

Part 1 of SBI 13 (Lyon, Sept) considered a report on secretariat activities to facilitate financial and technical support to developing countries. The report is complemented by a detailed table on the status of the preparation of non-Annex I Party national communications available from the secretariat's web site. A list of projects for financing submitted by non-Annex I Parties (Article 12.4 states that non-Annex I Parties may propose such projects as part of their national communications) is also available on the secretariat's web site.

Part II of SBI 13 meeting in The Hague in November will consider details of the financial support made available by the GEF to non-Annex I Parties to prepare their initial national communications. In addition, the SBI will consider the second compilation and synthesis of initial national communications by non-Annex I Parties prepared by the secretariat (covering 27 national communications) and forward recommendations to COP 6.

The second meeting of the CGE is scheduled for 9-10 November 2000. The CGE will make an oral report on its second meeting to Part II of SBI 13, which will include information on the regional workshops for the African and Asian regions.