In Decision V/26 on Access to Genetic Resources, the Conference of the Parties recognised that key capacity building needs include:

1. assessment and inventory of biological resources as well as information management;
2. contract negotiation skills;
3. legal drafting skills; and
4. means for the protection of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.

At its meeting in Bonn in October 2001, the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing considered issues of capacity-building. In its recommendation on other approaches, the Working Group requested the Executive Secretary, in consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, to convene, as soon as possible and depending on voluntary financial contributions by Parties and other donors, an open-ended expert workshop on capacity-building for access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing. The workshop was to further develop draft elements for an Action Plan on Capacity-building for access and benefit-sharing, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting.

This request was confirmed by decision VI/24 B in which the Conference of the Parties reconfirmed the decision:

"[To] convene an Open-ended Expert Workshop on Capacity-building for Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing. The Workshop will be open to participation by representatives including experts, nominated by Governments and regional economic integration organizations; as well as representatives of relevant intergovernmental organisations, and indigenous and local communities. The Workshop should further develop the draft elements for an Action Plan on Capacity-building for Access and Benefit-sharing annexed to the present decision."

Accordingly, the Open-ended Expert Workshop on Capacity-building for Access and Benefit-sharing met from 2 to 4 December 2002. The meeting included over 100 participants from Governments, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, indigenous and local communities, the private sector and academia. The Workshop agreed on a draft Action Plan on Capacity-building for Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing for onward transmission to, and adoption by, the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting. The draft action plan is included in annex to the report of the meeting.

At its seventh meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted the Action Plan on Capacity-building for Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing, available in Annex to Decision VII/19 F.