Poverty alleviation was not the policy maker's primary concern when the relevant parts of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) were drafted. Nevertheless, it seems obvious that an additional transfer of resources through ABS agreements to the South can contribute to poverty alleviation. But the relationship is not that simple: the poverty-alleviating effect of ABS agreements depends, firstly, on the volume of monetary benefits transferred, secondly, on the types of benefits, and thirdly, - of course - on the beneficiaries.

Based on several case studies, an analysis published by the German Development Institute [1] highlights that depending on the relevant policies of the provider countries of genetic resources ABS agreements can help to foster opportunities - by direct monetary transfers, by investments in capital and human resources through e.g. training - and empowerment - by participation in the negotiation and implementation of ABS agreements - of the poor, even if so far the volume of monetary benefits is limited. This covers well the World Bank's three part strategy for poverty alleviation: promoting opportunities, facilitating empowerment, and enhancing security. Concepts for poverty alleviation should ideally tackle all dimensions of poverty if the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that the international community has set itself are to be achieved. However, benefits geared to enhancing the World bank's third third perspective of poverty - security - are harder, if not impossible, to identify in the context of ABS agreements.

Against this background it is obvious that at the national level governments need to establish a broad participatory process when drafting ABS relevant legislation. They need to ensure that everybody is on board and that awareness is raised to a level where it affects   the outcome of ABS negotiations. Especially in Africa, a continent with major ethnical, social and political diversity, a participatory and multi-stakeholder approach is key requirement for the successful development and implementation of ABS regulations. Furthermore, legislation or policy should stipulate explicitly that benefits for the local poor are to be addressed when benefits are being negotiated. Additionally, at the international level the benefit-sharing requirement of the CBD must be brought into reality through appropriate user measures as outlined in the Bonn Guidelines as well well as changes in that perspective should made in other relevant multilateral agreements.

Therefore, the ABS Capacity Development Initiative for Africa envisions to create a win-win situation for poverty alleviation and the conservation of biological diversity trough the implementation of the third objective of the CBD. The latter can only be achieved if the private sector invests in bioprospecting activities - where necessary in cooperation with national and international research institutions - and share generated profits with national governments as well as local communities.

This requires capacity development to empower stakeholders not only to identify and articulate their own interests but also to find fair and mutually agreed solutions in the negotiations at international (ABS international regime of the CBD) and in national measures (legislation/regulations) as well as in contractual agreements. Key stakeholders in this context are: policy makers, legislators, implementing agencies, national and international research institutions, the private sector and last but not least representatives of local and indigenous communities. Only consensus on principles, procedures, rules and regulations among these stakeholder groups will allow to generate sustainable benefits in the framework of ABS - not only in Africa.

A tangible picture of a desired African reality - as a translation of this programmatic vision derived from overarching development goals - was developed by the participants representing all mentioned stakeholder groups of the first Africa-wide ABS capacity development workshop under the Initiative.

[1] Henne, G., Liebig, K., Drews, A. & Plän, T., 2003. Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS): An instrument for poverty alleviation. Proposals for an International ABS Regime. German Development Institute (GDI), Bonn, 71 pp.