RECOMMENDATIONS ON CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
PACNEWS AUG 2, 2000
APIA(Pacnews): Delegates at the 2nd ALLIANCE of SMALL ISLAND
STATES (AOSIS) workshop on climate change underway in the Samoan
capital, Apia have recommended that national needs assessments
must be initiated in the focal areas of climate change and
biodiversity (and land degradation as it relates to these two
areas), recognising that countries are at different stages of
these assessments.
Delegates have called for the establishment of national level
sustainable development offices in the focal areas of climate
change and biodiversity (and land degradation as it relates to
these two areas) and national commissions, or coordinating
mechanisms for policy planning and implementation as a matter of
priority.
They also underscored the need for international technical and
financial support for these offices, which will also require
access to ongoing training programme for further capacity
development.
Delegates stressed the need for AOSIS to have a country-based
assessment of capacity building needs carried out.
These could include issues related to legislative matters,
enforcement of existing regulations or further issues of
relevance to the country's needs assessment.
They also identified the need for technical assistance to carry
out these tasks for most of the countries.
They also highlighted the need to establish specific units to
implement the Conventions, while ensuring that the issue of
implementation and capacity needs for obligations and
opportunities under the Conventions be considered in the broader
terms of sustainable development.
Delegates underscored the need to ensure continuity of the Global
Environment Facility Capacity Development Initiative (GEF CDI)
and cautioned against a project-by-project approach to capacity
building.
They identified a range of specific capacity needs that would be
required, such as training in negotiation skills, resource
inventory and management and access to data and archives
and highlighted the usefulness of having training for cost
benefit analysis in the public service.
Delegates also highlighted the need for the involvement of all
sectors of society in the decision making process.
Emphasis was also placed on cross cutting issues looking at the
three focal areas of the CDI study (climate change, biodiversity
and land degradation as it relates to these two).
A number of key issues including national needs assessments and
data management as well as the need to strengthen the Small
Island Developing States (SIDS) information network, SIDSnet as
a clearing house mechanism for the data issues.
These mechanisms include negotiation management, strengthening
national policy and planning processes, research and systematic
observations and monitoring and national and regional approaches.
Other areas include development and training of country teams,
training and skill development in relevant areas and cultural
needs as appropriate in country specific assessment.
The workshop on Climate Change Negotiations, Management and
Strategy is being attended by AOSIS 43 member states in the
Pacific, Indian Ocean, Caribbean and Mediterranean as well as
donor communities and non-government organisations. Ends.
SOURCE: Pacnews
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