CMS and AEWA Participate in ACP-MEAs Workshop in Brussels

An inception workshop for the EC funded ACP-MEAs Programme entitled “Capacity Building Related to the Implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries – ACP MEAs Phase II” was hosted in Brussels by the ACP Secretariat from 11 - 13 February 2014.

The workshop was attended by representatives from the European Commission, UNEP-DELC, WCMC, FAO (United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization), Regional Hub Representatives, UNEP MEA Focal Points for the ACP Region, MEAs (including CMS, AEWA, CITES and CBD) and NGOs.

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss capacity building and national reporting activities in the ACP region for MEAs and best practice on advice and assistance in the sustainable implementation of MEAs in the ACP region and in promoting synergies between MEAs.

Among the activities which will be implemented in the context of Phase II of the MEAs ACP Programme, will be the further development of the Online Reporting System (ORS) for MEAs developed by UNEP-WCMC. The project aims to make technical improvements to the ORS and enhance the system so as to make reporting to MEAs more efficient and the outputs of reporting more valuable to both the countries and to MEA Secretariats.

 It was recognized that in the ACP region, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the synergies between MEAs, both financially and through implementation and enforcement was vital.

Francisco Rilla, from CMS, and Florian Keil from AEWA used the meeting to showcase a number of new CMS Family capacity building tools, ranging from the CMS Family National Focal Point Manual to the new E-Community for National Focal Points. During the meeting, they also underlined the importance of the ACP regions to CMS and how the CMS Family can work together with other MEAs in promoting not just implementation but sustainable development in the ACP countries as well. For more information please visit the ACP/MEA website.

Last updated on 24 February 2014