Background and history
A brief history of capacity-building in the UNFCCC process

A country cannot mitigate or adapt to climate change without first having the capacity to do so. That is why capacity-building has been part of the UNFCCC negotiating process since its inception two decades ago. Capacity-building has long been recognized in the Convention's work on such issues as national communications, greenhouse gas inventories, technology transfer and adaptation <<more>>

Capacity-building Portal: Milestones
Credit: UNFCCC
Capacity-building Portal: Milestones
http://enb.iisd.org/climate/cop7/fri02.html
COP 7
Credit: IISD/ENB-Leila Mead
2001

The capacity-building portal is a web-based tool that emerged from the different key milestones as listed below. The basis for the identification of needs and creating an overview of existing activities, such as the capacity-building portal for developing countries, emerged from decision 2/CP.7. In this context, it is worthwhile noting that many areas for capacity-building identified under the Convention are also relevant to the preparation of Parties with economies in transition for participation under the guidance of the Kyoto Protocol (decision 3/CP.7, paragraph 3). In line with 2/CP.7, in 2012 the capacity-building portal was developed, taking into consideration the need for an overview of activities and the intention to gather information on capacity-building support provided to developing countries.

At the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties, pursuant to decision 16/CP.22, paragraph 9, Parties decided to invite United Nations agencies, multilateral organizations and relevant admitted observer organizations engaged in providing capacity-building support to developing countries to provide information to the secretariat to be uploaded on the capacity-building portal. Consequently, the secretariat launched a process, to annually release an information note for non-Party stakeholders engaged in providing capacity-building support to developing countries to submit information to be uploaded onto the capacity-building portal.

Key Milestones of the Capacity-building Portal

Timeframe
 		 Decision
 		 Description
 
2001
Marrakesh Accords		 2/CP.7 A framework for capacity-building in developing countries is adopted and contains the predefined 15 priority areas for capacity-building
  3/CP.7 A framework for capacity-building activities in countries with economies in transition is adopted and it is noted that many areas for capacity-building identified under the Convention are also relevant to the preparation of Parties with economies in transition for participation in the Kyoto Protocol when it enters into force

2005

29/CMP.1

and

30/CMP.1

29/CMP.1
Capacity-building relating to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in developing countries

Emphasizing that capacity-building is a continuous, progressive and iterative process, the implementation of which should be based on the priorities of developing countries

Decides that the framework for capacity-building adopted by decision 2/CP.7 is applicable to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and reaffirms the framework to guide capacity-building activities relating to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in developing countries


30/CMP.1
Capacity-building relating to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in Parties with economies in transition

Decides that the framework for capacity-building adopted by decision 3/CP.7 is applicable to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and endorses this framework to guide capacity-building activities relating to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in Parties with economies in transition
2011 2/CP.17 Requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to further enhance the monitoring and review of the effectiveness of capacity-building by organizing an annual in-session Durban Forum for in-depth discussion on capacity-building with the participation of Parties, representatives of the relevant bodies established under the Convention and relevant experts and practitioners, with a view to sharing their experience and exchanging ideas, best practices and lessons learned regarding the implementation of capacity-building activities
2012
Establishment of the capacity-building portal		   The capacity-building portal is established to facilitate the user-friendly retrieval of data for further analysis
2015
Paris Agreement		 1/CP.21 The Paris Committee on Capacity-building is established, aiming to address gaps and needs, both current and emerging, in implementing capacity-building in developing country Parties and further enhancing capacity-building efforts, including with regard to coherence and coordination in capacity-building activities under the Convention
Call for submissions 14/CP.21 Invites Parties to submit via the submission portal by 9 March 2016, as part of their annual submissions pursuant to decision 4/CP.12, suggestions on additional potential topics for the 5th meeting of the Durban Forum and their views on possible ways to enhance the information included in the capacity-building portal
2016
Information Note		 16/CP.22 Pursuant to decision 16/CP.22, paragraph 9, United Nations agencies, multilateral organizations and relevant admitted observer organizations engaged in providing capacity-building support to developing countries are invited to submit information to be uploaded on the capacity-building portal
2017
Establishment of the capacity-building portal working group of the PCCB		   The Paris Committee on Capacity-building established a working group on enhancing the capacity-building portal
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