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Approaches and Instruments

Guided by the elevator principle the ABS Capacity Development Initiative successfully targets its objectives by linking the local level with the ABS negotiations at UN level using regional and sub-regional activities as kick-off platforms. Until 2008 the Initiative established three sub-regional platforms taking into account different levels of ABS implementation, language barriers and legal systems: (1) Eastern and Southern Africa, (2) Central Africa, and (3) West Africa, Maghreb and Indian Ocean Islands.

The Initiative implements its activities using the following approaches to achieve its objectives:

a. Capacity development of relevant stakeholders
b. Preparation and follow-up of CBD meetings on ABS
c. Support national implementation of ABS measures.

The elevator principle for ABS capacity development through the Initiative

Level of intervention	Preparation national ABS authority	Other stakeholders	Main instruments used at different levels*
UN level	Negotiation International Regime	ABS authorities of other countries	African inputs on ABS to relevant meetings Technical papers and studies CEPA for ABS
Developing recommendations
(sub-) regional level in Africa	Harmonization of legislation Regional cooperation	ABS authorities of other countries Academia Private sector Communities	Multi-stakeholder WS Information exchange/CHM Issue based Trainings Technical papers/studies Best practices with private sector CEPA for ABS
Developing and implementing recommendations
National level	Laws and regulations	Academia Private sector Communities	Best practices with Private Sector Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange CEPA for ABS
Local level	Implementation and monitoring	Academia Private sector Communities	Best practices with private sector Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange CEPA for ABS

*Instruments

The activities under each of these approaches may include one or more of the following instruments:

	Multi-stakeholder workshops to discuss emerging ABS issues and to define priorities for capacity development in a participatory manner; Activities: To design and organise - in close cooperation with African counterparts - a platform to initiate/facilitate the exchange among and between stakeholders on the following issues: bioprospecting cases, updates on legislation/regulations, compliance across jurisdictions, intellectual property rights and alternative approaches of genetic resources ownership, realisation of Farmers' Rights, role of civil society in shaping and implementing ABS and Farmers' Rights, etc.
	Thematic and/or stakeholder-focused training courses based on needs; Activities: To assess the needs, to design and organise regional tailor-shaped trainings on negotiation skills, legal issues, outreach and media approaches, monitoring, project planning and design, etc.
	Peer-to-peer knowledge transfer at national and local level between African countries, as well as globally, e.g. between private-sector and governmental decision-makers; Activities: To identify and to "broker" between appropriate institutions/organizations and individuals as ABS knowledge providers and recipients; facilitating local-local learning exchange, government-government on-the-job exchange, etc.
	ABS best practices with the private sector, including lessons learned in order to identify additional participants and potential investors; Activities: To initiate, support the design and facilitate fair and equitable ABS show case projects in cooperation with the private sector (North-South PPP). This includes approaching and sensitizing enterprises in Europe and Africa dealing with biological/genetic resources to engage in such partnerships.
	Information exchange and knowledge management within the different stakeholder groups at national level and on a pan-African and global basis; Activities: To develop a (virtual) African knowledge base, shaped according to regional conditions including a documentation of bioprospecting cases, updates on policies and legislation/regulations and a literature database.
	Technical papers and studies in order to set priorities, stimulate substantive discussion and give support for decision making; Activities: To identify, commission and backstop analysis' and approaches for implementing current and future elements of the international regime in the African context, including options for regional harmonization.
	Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) for ABS; Activities: To identify, commission and backstop the development of tools and outreach material for communicating ABS to policy makers and the general public; to develop university courses on ABS and to integrate ABS in relevant university curricula.
	Active participation of and/or substantial inputs by African representatives to important ABS meetings at UN level; Activities: To provide methodological guidance and thematic input to the international negotiation process through regional preparatory meetings and delegates briefings including through side events and Inf.-docs.

Approaches and Instruments

The elevator principle for ABS capacity development through the Initiative

*Instruments

ABS Workshop