A clearing-house mechanism for�capacity building relating to marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction �– what can we�learn from existing clearinghouses ?

Marjo Vierros

University of Edinburgh – Nippon Foundation Ocean Voices Programme

Introduction

• Based on a Global Ocean Forum 2018 Policy brief of capacity building and BBNJ
• Looked at the different CBTMT provisions of 9 different clearinghouses –
• Convention clearinghouses (CBD, Nagoya Protocol, UNFCCC…)
• Some smaller clearinghouses (housed by UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO...)
• Out of the 9, 2 are no longer active
• Why some clearinghouses fail:
• Information becomes out of date due to lack of updates, lack of personnel to maintain, or lack of stable finance
• Lack of users, if the clearinghouse does not meet user needs
• Changing institutional priorities (e.g. end of project)

https://globaloceanforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/policy-brief-on-bbnj-capacity-development-dec-2018-email-version.pdf

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Lessons for a successful clearing-house

• Ensure functionality, updating and fresh content
• Stable finance allowing for regular updating, maintenance and development of new features (Part of core secretariat functions, dedicated personnel)
• Engage a broad user community:
• Low barrier of entry - intuitive and easy access to information. Registration and form filling should only come after people are familiar with content.
• Searchable access in multiple languages – broadens user base
• Encourage all stakeholders to participate
• Include a social media strategy as appropriate

Clearing-house features for CBTMT

• Information related to treaty, including awareness materials (all clearinghouses do this)
• Information to support implementation (All clearinghouses do this)
• BBNJ – related data and information (Scientific data available through partners such as IOC UNESCO, but also ISA, CBD, etc.)
• Information about capacity building and technology transfer opportunities – whether organized by the Secretariat or others (Most clearinghouses do this)
• Information about country needs and requests for support (capacity building, technology) (Some clearinghouses do this)
• Matching capacity needs with available support, including providers of technology (Some examples)
• Access to relevant expertise (Most clearinghouses do this)
• Facilitate international cooperation and collaboration (Most clearinghouses aim to do this)
• Build on global, regional, and sub-regional clearinghouses and data repositories

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Access to CBTMT features of a clearing-house

• Separate capacity building and/or technology transfer portal
• Can be developed separately from the other clearinghouse functions (even prior to them)
• Dedicated “home” for CBTMT materials
• Can support early implementation

UNFCCC capacity-building Portal: https://unfccc.int/cbportal

Some common capacity building content

• Workshops
• E-learning tools
• Webinars
• Technical assistance
• Communities of practice
• Forums
• Workspaces
• Network of experts
• Case studies, guidance, videos, etc.

https://absch.cbd.int/en/kb/tags/getting-help

Training courses

• Not everything needs to be done in-house
• Partners can also participate in developing training courses using their existing platforms
• E.g. Ocean Teacher Global Academy (IOC UNESCO)

https://classroom.oceanteacher.org/

Information about relevant training and other capacity building activities by region or country

• Many different entities may engage in capacity building activities in many different locations
• Information sharing about available opportunities creates coherence
• Avoids duplication between activities
• Allows building on existing efforts
• Replication of potential activities if successful

https://www.fao.org/iuu-fishing/capacity-development/en/

Matching country needs with resources

• National needs assessments will have key role in guiding CBTMT efforts for the BBNJ Treaty
• Matching country needs with available resources, creating partnerships
• UNFCCC Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) provide one example that result in action-oriented plans

https://unfccc.int/ttclear/tna

Country needs and priorities

Basel – Rotterdam - Stockholm Convention Joint Clearinghouse

https://www.brsmeas.org/Implementation/TechnicalAssistance/NeedsAssessment/tabid/4898/language/en-US/Default.aspx

The importance of the human network

• The clearing-house mechanism should be more than just a passive website
• It should provide access to a human network of expertise – active facilitation
• Technical support (Secretariat)
• Expert advice (Roster of Experts)
• Support for partnership formation
• Mentorship
• Communities of practice

https://oceandecade.org/expert-roster/

https://tomai.sprep.org/

http://www.goa-on.org/pier2peer/pier2peer.php

Communities of practice

• Provide opportunities for collaboration and peer-to-peer learning among those working on similar issues
• E.g. SDG 14 Communities of Ocean Action
• For BBNJ, potentially:
• Early implementation
• Awareness raising
• ABMTs
• EIAs
• MGRs and benefit-sharing
• CBTMT

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https://sdgs.un.org/topics/oceans-and-seas/coas

CBTMT related to Indigenous and local knowledge and Indigenous Peoples participation

https://lcipp.unfccc.int/homepage

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IPBES, UNFCCC, Arctic Council

https://www.ipbes.net/indigenous-local-knowledge

Supporting early implementation

A standalone capacity building/technology transfer portal?

• Awareness raising materials (from general public to policymakers)
• Training materials and links (e-courses, webinars in person workshops) on the BBNJ treaty
• Linkages to scientific data (IOC databases, Ocean InfoHub etc.)
• Linkages to expert networks (using data from existing networks)
• Materials to support ratification (legal, institutional, participatory models, case studies, experience sharing webinars, e-courses)
• Identification of regional/national centres and databases to support CBTMT (link to clearing-house)
• Guidance for undertaking needs assessment
• Sharing needs assessments and priorities, discussion forums
• Matchmaking needs and priorities
• Early implementation fund (e.g. the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund)

https://www.migratoryspecies.org/en/content/capacity-building