1 Biosafety Clearing House Training Workshop date place

2 An Introduction to the Memorandum of Understanding preparation process Instructor names

3 The Project “Building Capacity for Effective Participation in the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” Treated as an Add-on to the “UNEP-GEF project for Development of National Biosafety Frameworks” though a UNEP project in its own rights Enabling Activity. Components: Training and Equipment

4 Concept for Implementation Project developed an OPERATIONAL HANDBOOK, aimed at assisting the NEA in its project execution, …as a simplified user guide and a continuous reference guide for all involved. Find under Project developed a TRAINING PACKAGE, aimed at providing a uniform training approach and implementation, linking the countries to the BCH Central Portal, web-based, continuously up-dated, with hands-on case studies. It constitutes a global tool for the Regional Advisors (RA). Project developed a STANDARD MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU), aimed at providing a simplified format for the agreement between the NEA and UNEP.

5 Standard MoU Agreement under which you: request for the required funding and support, find a clear reflection of expected output, and reporting requirements …. while the Operational Handbook will assist you to set-up and provide the required information …. and the Regional Advisors can assist you before, during and after the MoU has been signed Note: At any time after receipt of endorsement letter, a request for Regional Advisor can be made to the BCH Team, using Form 9 (OH, p.39)

6 BCH Regional Advisors Regional Advisors will: –Assist countries in making a choice for type and style of national participation in the BCH; –Deliver training activities, with national counterparts, in the use and access of the BCH; and –Assist in making the BCH participation operational. Note: Short biographies of BCH Regional Advisors can be found on: Up to a maximum of 15 days per country

7 MoU Preparation Step 1: Send endorsement letter from GEF Focal Point and/or letter of political commitment Step 2: Establish a BCH Task Force and use Form 1 -”Notification of the Nomination of the BCH Task Force”(OH, p.26) Step 3: Choose 1 of 4 options provided by the CBD Secretariat for national BCH (use a Regional advisor or your existing expertise), using Form 2 (OH, p.27) Step 4: Undertake a national assessment and describe the locally available BCH assets and requirements, using Form 3 (OH, p.28/29)

8 MoU Preparation Step 5: Prepare a detailed costing for ALL components of the proposed national BCH system, using Form 4 (OH, p.31-33) AEquipment to be procured BServices to be procured (incl. Task Force Meetings, national workshops etc excluding the Regional Advisor services) DEquipment to be procured or made available under Government Contribution EEquipment to be procured or made available under Donor Contribution (like equipment received during the NBF development project) FStaff and services to be procured or made available under Government Contribution Note: where UNDP services are required or audit services are recommended by the BCH Team, additional costing has to be reflected Step 6: Propose a Training Strategy for your national BCH system, using Form 5 (OH, pg.34)

9 MoU approval procedure Fill the NEA details and amounts calculated into the MoU, Reflect financial project requirements in Annex I, and Attach all Forms as reflected in the 6 Steps as Annex II plus a work-plan for the project duration (duration: 12 months) Submit for clearance and approval to the BCH Team Receive the official UNEP acceptance, reflecting your MoU reference number

10 MoU signing procedure Get the approved MoU and all 6 Steps-Forms signed by the CEO of your NEA and submit to the BCH Team for UNEP countersignature Receive your countersigned MoU Expect your funds within 3-4 weeks upon receipt of the countersigned MoU Send 2 original signed MoUs to the BCH Team and expect in return a countersigned original in due course

11 Reporting Requirements Upon completion of the procurement activities: Inventory of equipment, confirming insurance contracts, using Form 6 (OH, p.35) Upon BCH set-up functionality: Provide results of a test BCH communication, using Form 7 (OH, p.37) Upon completion of the workshop series: Detailed report on activities implemented, using Form 8 (OH, p.38) Upon completion of a Regional Advisor service: Detailed report on Regional Advisor performance, using Form 10 (OH, p.40)

12 MoU Funding  75% advance payment upon signature of the MoU  25% completion payment upon receipt of: Revised BCH strategy document Submission and approval of the final financial statement, using UNEP budget format in Annex I Supporting documents: duly filled and signed Form 6, 7 and 8

13 THANK YOU