Next steps
The workshop has shown that diverse capacity and implementation gaps regarding ABS regulation exist in many Eastern and Southern African Countries. Short and medium strategies for capacity building, advocacy and awareness raising are necessary to address these needs.
Based on the workshop recommendations and the articulated requirements the Dutch and German Development Cooperation are considering to support the following activities as first steps:
- Side event at the ABS WG in Granada to present and discuss the workshop results.
- Side event at COP 8 in Curitiba to launch a brochure on bioprospecting experiences including the workshop recommendations and feedback from Granada.
- Website serving as a platform for regional information exchange (including facilitated discussion fora), linked to CBD ABS Portal.
- Lobbying for ABS consideration in order to achieve better coherence anmongst different sector policies.
- Further asses and define capacity-building needs of different stakeholder groups.
- Identify topics and formats for future capacity-building workshops complementary to other ongoing ABS initiatives in the countries / region.
Identification of innovative ways of hands-on knowledge exchange on ABS at and between all levels.
