Information

Recalling Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention on Biological Diversity,

Recalling further decision 11/6 on financial resources and mechanism,

1. Adopts the Memorandum of Understanding contained in the annex to the present decision;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to transmit this decision to the Council of the Global Environment Facility.

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereinafter the Conference of the Parties) and the Council of the Global Environment Facility (hereinafter the Council),

Recognizing the characteristics of the financial mechanism for the provision of financial resources for the purposes of the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereinafter the Convention) outlined in Article 21, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and the provisions of Article 21, paragraph 2, of the Convention, which call upon the Conference of the Parties to decide on the arrangements to give effect to Article 21, paragraph 1, after consultation with the institutional structure entrusted with the operation of the financial mechanism,

Recognizing further the willingness of the Global Environment Facility (hereinafter GEF) to serve for the purposes of the financial mechanism for the implementation of the Convention,

Recognizing that the financial mechanism shall function under the authority and guidance of and be accountable to the Conference of the Parties for the purposes of the Convention and that GEF as decided by the Conference of the Parties will operate the financial mechanism of the Convention on an interim basis in accordance with Article 39 of the Convention,

Having consulted with each other and taking into account the relevant aspects of their governance structures as reflected in their constituent instruments,

Have reached the following understanding:

1. Purpose

1.1 The purpose of the present Memorandum of Understanding is to make provision for the relationship between the Conference of the Parties and the Council in order to give effect to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph 1, of the Convention and paragraph 26 of the GEF Instrument and, on an interim basis, in accordance with Article 39 of the Convention.

2. Guidance from the Conference of the Parties

2.1 In accordance with Article 21 of the Convention the Conference of the Parties will determine the policy, strategy, programme priorities and eligibility criteria for access to and utilization of financial resources available through the financial mechanism, including monitoring and evaluation on a regular basis of such utilization. GEF, in operating the financial mechanism under the Convention, will finance activities that are in full conformity with the guidance provided to it by the Conference of the Parties. For this purpose, the Conference of the Parties will communicate its guidance, and any revisions to such guidance as it may adopt, on the following matters:

(a) Policy and strategy;

(b) Programme priorities;

(c) Eligibility criteria;

(d) An indicative list of incremental costs;

(e) A list of developed country Parties and other Parties which voluntarily assume the obligations of developed country Parties;

(f) Any other matter relating to Article 21, including periodic determination of the amount of resources needed as detailed in paragraph 5 of this Memorandum.

2.2 The Council will communicate to the Conference of the Parties all relevant information, including information on the projects in the area of biological diversity funded by GEF outside the framework of the financial mechanism of the Convention.

3. Reporting

3.1 The Council will prepare and submit a report for each ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

3.2 The reports will include specific information on how the GEF Council, its Secretariat and its Implementing and Executing Agencies have applied the guidance and implemented the policy, strategies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria determined by the Conference of the Parties, as well as any other decision of the Conference of the Parties communicated to GEF, under Article 21 of the Convention. The Council should also report on its monitoring and evaluation activities concerning projects in the biodiversity focal area.

3.3. In particular, the reports will provide detailed information on the GEF biodiversity focal area, including:

(a) Information on how GEF has responded to the guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties as described by paragraph 2, including, where appropriate, through its incorporation in the GEF operational strategy and operational programmes;

(b) The conformity of the approved work programmes with guidance of the Conference of the Parties;

(c) A synthesis of the different projects under implementation and a listing of the projects approved by the Council in the biodiversity focal area, as well as a financial report with an indication of the financial resources allocated to these projects;

(d) A list of project proposals submitted for approval to the Council, through the GEF Implementing Agencies, by eligible Parties, including reporting on their approval status and, in cases of projects not approved, the reasons therefore;

(e) A review of the project activities approved by GEF and their outcomes, including information on funding and progress in implementation; and

(f) Additional financial resources leveraged by GEF for the implementation of the Convention.

3.4 In order to meet the requirements of accountability to the Conference of the Parties, reports submitted by the Council will cover all GEF-financed activities carried out for the purpose of the Convention, whether decisions on such activities are made by the Council or by the GEF Implementing and/or Executing Agencies. To this end, the Council will make arrangements as might be necessary with the Implementing Agencies regarding disclosure of information.

3.5 The Council will also provide information on other matters concerning the discharge of its functions under Article 21, paragraph 1, as may be requested by the Conference of the Parties. If the Council has difficulties in responding to any such request, it will explain its concerns to the Conference of the Parties and the Conference of the Parties and the Council will find a mutually agreed solution.

4.1 The Conference of the Parties may raise with the Council any matter arising from the reports received.

4.2 The funding decisions for specific projects should be agreed between the developing country Party concerned and GEF in accordance with policy, strategy, programme priorities and eligibility criteria established by the Conference of the Parties. The GEF Council is responsible for approving the GEF work programmes. If a Party considers that a decision of the Council regarding a specific project was not made in compliance with the policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria established by the Conference of the Parties in the context of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties should analyse the observations presented to it by the Party and take decisions on the basis of compliance with such policy, strategy, programme priorities and eligibility criteria. In the event that the Conference of the Parties considers that this specific project decision does not comply with the policy, strategy, programme priorities and eligibility criteria established by the Conference of the Parties, it may ask the GEF Council for further clarification on the specific project decision.

4.3 As provided for in Article 21, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties will periodically review the effectiveness of the financial mechanism in implementing the Convention and communicate to the Council relevant decisions taken by the Conference of the Parties as the result of such review, to improve the effectiveness of the financial mechanism in assisting developing country Parties to implement the Convention.

5.1 In anticipation of the replenishment of GEF, the Conference of the Parties will make an assessment of the amount of funds that are necessary to assist developing countries, in accordance with the guidance provided by the Conference of the Parties, in fulfilling their commitments under the Convention over the next GEF replenishment cycle, taking into account:

(a) Article 20, paragraph 2, and Article 21, paragraph 1, of the Convention;

(b) Guidance to the financial mechanism from the Conference of the Parties which calls for future financial resources;

(c) The information communicated to the Conference of the Parties in the national reports submitted in accordance with Article 26 of the Convention;

(d) National strategies, plans or programs developed in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention;

(e) Information communicated to the Conference of the Parties from GEF on the number of eligible programmes and projects that were submitted to GEF, the number that were approved for funding, and the number that were turned down owing to lack of resources;

(f) Experience gained by those concerned in the implementation of projects.

5.2 On the occasion of each replenishment, GEF will, in its regular report to the Conference of the Parties as provided for in paragraph 3 of this Memorandum of Understanding, indicate how it has responded during the replenishment cycle to the previous assessment by the Conference of the Parties prepared in accordance with paragraph 5.1 and inform the Conference of the Parties of the conclusion of replenishment negotiations.

5.3 On the basis of the report referred to in paragraph 5.2 of this Memorandum of Understanding the Conference of the Parties will review the amount of funding necessary for the implementation of the Convention, on the occasion of each replenishment of the financial mechanism.

6. Reciprocal representation

On a reciprocal basis, representatives of GEF will be invited to attend meetings of the Conference of the Parties and representatives of the Convention will be invited to attend meetings of GEF.

7. Inter-secretariat cooperation

The Secretariat of the Convention and the Secretariat of GEF will communicate and cooperate with each other and consult on a regular basis to facilitate the effectiveness of the financial mechanism in assisting developing country Parties to implement the Convention. In particular, the two secretariats will consult on the project proposals under consideration for inclusion in a proposed work programme, especially with regard to the consistency of the project proposals with the guidance of the Conference of the Parties. Official documentation of GEF will be made available to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

8. Amendments

Any amendments to the present Memorandum of Understanding will be decided upon by the Conference of the Parties and the Council in writing.

9. Interpretation

If differences arise in the interpretation of the present Memorandum of Understanding, the Conference of the Parties and the Council will reach a mutually acceptable solution.

10. Entry into effect

10.1 The present Memorandum of Understanding will come into effect upon approval by the Conference of the Parties and by the Council. Either participant may withdraw this Memorandum of Understanding at any time by written notification addressed to the other. The withdrawal will take effect six months after its notification.

10.2 The withdrawal of this Memorandum of Understanding by either Party to this Memorandum of Understanding shall not affect any projects considered and/or approved in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding prior to the withdrawal.