POSTED ON BEHALF OF THE MODERATORS OF THE FORUM

Dear Forum Participants,

We would like to thank everyone for the active participation of the discussion under Theme 1.
From 23 March to 30 March, we will discuss Theme 2 on Collaboration for the Future: Mobilizing partnerships and funding for awareness and Theme 3 on Follow-up to the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation. Please find below the guiding questions for Theme 2.

Theme 2: Collaboration for the Future: Mobilizing partnerships and funding for awareness
Partnerships and funding opportunities are important to facilitate awareness raising activities.

Sharing examples of national experience in this regard may be useful.

1. Could you provide any examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?
2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?
3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors.

Please note that the discussion for Theme 2  is from 23 March 2018 (9:00 a.m. EDT) to 30 March 2018 (5:00 p.m. EDT).

Please note that participants must register and sign into the BCH in order to post messages.

Individuals wishing to participate via e-mail after initial messages can choose to “watch forum” in the online discussion platform at http://bch.cbd.int/onlineconferences/portal_art23/pa_forum.shtml.   These individuals will then receive copies of the posted messages by e-mail.

If you have any questions or if you encounter difficulties in accessing the discussion sessions or posting your messages, please send an e-mail to: [email protected] or [email protected]

We look forward to reading your suggestions and comments.

Best regards,

Moderators

• Central and Eastern Europe:
Ms. Angela Lozan ([email protected])
• Western Europe and other States:
Mr. Helmut Gaugitsch ([email protected])
• Africa:
Ms. Ntakadzeni Tshidada (EN) ([email protected]) and
Mr. Mahaman Gado Zaki (FR) ([email protected])
• Latin America and the Caribbean:
Ms. Leslie Melisa Ojeda Cabrera ([email protected])
• Asia and the Pacific:
Mr. Wei Wei ([email protected])
• UN Environment:
Mr. Alex Owusu-Biney ([email protected])

Publié au nom de Mr. Mahaman Gado Zaki, Niger:

Chers Participants au Forum  ,

En tant que modérateur du groupe francophone nous tenons à vous remercier pour votre active participation  aux discussions du  Thème 1.

Du 23 Mars au 30 Mars, nous discuterons des thèmes suivants: 

Thème 2: Collaboration pour le futur: Mobilisation des partenaires et financement des actions de sensibilisation

Les partenaires et le financement sont de opportunités pour accroitre les activités de sensibilisation  le partage des expériences nationales et des exemples  sont très utiles

1. Pouvez-vous fournir des exemples de partenariat et des opportunités de financement ?
2. Dialogue de haut niveau jeunesse et genre en matière de sensibilisation pourraient jouer un rôle important dans ce domaine ?
3. Quels type de partenariat et d’opportunités de  financement les parties et les parties prenantes  doivent se focaliser pour accroitre la sensibilisation  et de quelle manière

Nous vous encourageons à participer activement.
Nous vous encourageons à participer activement.

Veuillez noter que les discussions pour le Thème 2 auront lieu du 23 mars 2018 (9h00 EDT) au 30 mars 2018 (17h00 EDT).

Veuillez noter que les participants doivent s'inscrire et se connecter au BCH afin de poster des messages.

Les personnes souhaitant être alertées par e-mail chaque fois qu’un message est posté sur le forum peuvent choisir de «suivre» les discussions qui se déroulent sous les différents thèmes.

Meilleures salutations,

Modérateurs

• Europe centrale et orientale:
Mme. Angela Lozan ([email protected])
• Europe occidentale et autres États
M. Helmut Gaugitsch ([email protected])
• Afrique:
Mme. Ntakadzeni Tshidada (EN) ([email protected]) and
M. Mahaman Gado Zaki (FR) ([email protected])
• Amérique latine et Caraïbes:
Mme. Leslie Melisa Ojeda Cabrera ([email protected])
• Asie et Pacifique:
M. Wei Wei ([email protected])
• L’ONU Environnement:
M. Alex Owusu-Biney ([email protected])

Estimados Participantes del Foro

Agrademos a cada uno de ustedes por su activa participación en la discusión del Tema 1.

Desde el 23 al 30 de Marzo, deseamos discutir el Tema 2 sobre Colaboración para el Futuro: La movilización de alianzas y financiamiento para la concienciación pública; y el Tema 3 sobre Seguimiento al programa de trabajo sobre conciencia, educación y participación pública. Encuentren a continuación las preguntas guía para el Tema 2  de esta discusión.

Tema 2: Colaboración para el Futuro: La movilización de alianzas y financiamiento para la concienciación pública

Las alianzas y las oportunidades de financiamiento son importantes para facilitar actividades de sensibilización. El compartir ejemplos de experiencias nacionales en este contexto puede ser de utilidad.

1. ¿Podría proveer algunos ejemplos de alianzas y oportunidades de financiamiento?

2. ¿Han jugado un papel importante en este sentido, los diálogos de alto nivel y los esfuerzos de sensibilización de los jóvenes y el enfoque de género?

3. ¿En qué tipo de socios y oportunidades de financiación deberían enfocarse las Partes y los actores pertinentes para crear conciencia, y cómo pueden participar? Especifique a nivel local, nacional y regional e incluya actores públicos y privados.

Recuerde que los participantes deben registrarse e iniciar sesión en el BCH para poder enviar mensajes.

Las personas que deseen participar por correo electrónico después de la publicación de  los mensajes iniciales, pueden elegir "ver el foro" en la plataforma de discusión en línea en http://bch.cbd.int/onlineconferences/portal_art23/pa_forum.shtml.  Estas personas recibirán copias de los mensajes publicados por correo electrónico.

Si tiene alguna pregunta o si encuentra dificultades para acceder a las sesiones de debate o publicar sus mensajes, envíe un correo electrónico a: [email protected] o [email protected]

Esperamos leer sus sugerencias y comentarios.

Atentamente,

Moderadores

• Central and Eastern Europe:
Ms. Angela Lozan ([email protected])
• Western Europe and other States:
Mr. Helmut Gaugitsch ([email protected])
• Africa:
Ms. Ntakadzeni Tshidada (EN) ([email protected]) and
Mr. Mahaman Gado Zaki (FR) ([email protected])
• Latin America and the Caribbean:
Ms. Leslie Melisa Ojeda Cabrera ([email protected])
• Asia and the Pacific:
Mr. Wei Wei ([email protected])
• UN Environment:
Mr. Alex Owusu-Biney ([email protected])

POSTED ON BEHALF OF DR Jonathan Mufandaedza, Zimbabwe:
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Dear Forum Participants,

My name is DR Jonathan Mufandaedza, from Zimbabwe. iam the chief executive officer and registrar of the National biotechnology Authority of  Zimbabwe.  I am  also  the BCH National Focal Point. Its my maiden contribution to this forum.

1. Could you provide some examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?
It's always the best thing to locate other players operating with your space and creation of partnerships becomes easier. For instance, we have created a biosafety monthly newsletter for public awareness and education of our stakeholders. The newsletter has created a positive impact where stakeholders are coming on board to help with resources for its publication and in return we give them a small advertisement space. We created  awareness on school kids  as we help them to form biotech and biosafety clubs. The clubs have created a lot of traction in this space and we have since teamed up with another resourceful organization which is  promoting the use of technologies in schools.

2. Have played an important role in this regard, high-level dialogues and advocacy efforts of youth and gender?

The National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe has secured NEPAD/SADC SANBIO grant to run a female bioentreprise program called FemBioBiz . The program focuses on  actively promoting biotechnology research and development among female business entrepreneurs. The FemBioBiz program  has of late attracted the Government of Zimbabwe ,banks, NGOs and industry financially supporting this noble cause. We have linked this FemBioBiz programme with our biosafety newslatter to  promote biosafy in women bioentrepreneurs

3. What kind of partners and funding opportunities should focus Parties and relevant stakeholders to raise awareness, and how they can participate? Specify a local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors

A sustainable way to keep partners and stakeholders to be kept involved with biosafety issues, especially NGOs, government departments, is to mainstream biosafety issues in circular of schools, collages, and in genetic conservation activities. As funds for curriculum and courses are set aside, it means biosafety awareness activities are budgeted for.  Internationally, the need to have dedicated   funds for biosafety public awareness should be set aside when GEF projects are proposed.  Nationally, the National Focal Points for BCH and Cartagena protocol should lobby for funds for biotechnology and biosafety awareness programs as an important element of genetic conversation. At times national regulatory provisions would somehow compel stakeholders to observe biosafety requirements in a given country.

Thank you

Dear Colleagues,

I personally feel that the guiding questions in Theme 2 are quite challenging and most critical, and would invite and encourage our colleagues including scientists, risk assessors and policy makers, especially those from Asia and Pacific regions to challenge those questions. Attached blow is my answers after a consultation with Ms. Yan Liu, one of our experienced colleagues. To facilitate understanding and communication with colleagues who speak Chinese, I also include a Chinese version for each answer.

1. Could you provide any examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?

AW: Project of scientific popularization and public communication on transgenic technology has been included in the State Key Transgenic Varieties Development Program in China. Several scientific popularization and education bases, such as those in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University and in the Botanic Garden of the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of sciences, are supported in this kind of project to work on public communication. However, they basically focus on the technology itself other than biosafety.
在中国国家级的科技重大专项-转基因新品种培育项目中，专门设有转基因科普和公众交流的项目。一些科普教育机构如上海交通大学和中国科学院植物研究所植物园，设有常年向公众开发的转基因科普教育基地，承担了转基因技术公众交流项目。但主要侧重转基因技术本身，涉及生物安全的内容较少。

2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?

AW: Totally agree to this point, but we nearly have no such experience in China. High-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts are important in raising public awareness, it is also important to encourage the involvement of public of various backgrounds to participate in the cross-talk, especially those stakeholders including farmers (the user of biotech and producer), industries/universities (the developer) and the consumers (the users of biotech products).
赞成这一观点，中国在这方面的经验较少。高层对话以及青年和性别相关的公众意识提高很重要，但鼓励不同背景的公众来参与和对话同样重要，包括农民（转基因技术的使用者和产品的生产者）、企业或科研单位（技术的开发者）以及消费者（技术产品的使用者）。

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors.

AW: From national to local level, the funds for public participation and public awareness raising shall have a diverse sources, including the department for LMOs development and departments for environmental/food safety, and other regular funding sources, e.g. the Ministry (Bureau) of Scientific and Technology, national (provincial) natural/social science foundation and academy of science etc. From regional to global, global organizations (governmental or non-governmental), such as GEF, FAO and IUCN etc., shall be encouraged to establish funding sources to support public participation and public awareness raising in biosafety area. More participation and investments of stakeholders shall be encouraged to promote public participation and public awareness.
从国家层面到地方，提高公众参与和公众意识的资金应该来自不同的部门，包括转基因生物的研发部门，环境安全、食品安全的机关部门，以及其他常见的项目资助渠道如科技部（厅）、国家（或地方）基金委和科学院等。在区域水平或全球范围，应当鼓励更多全球性国际组织（政府和非政府）设立资金渠道，如GEF、FAO、IUCN等，来支持和推动生物安全领域的公众参与。在中国，公众意识和公众参与，应当鼓励更多的利益有关方投入和参与。

I look forward to hearing your input and comment.

All the best

Wei

Dear participants,
I am taking this opportunity to provide explanation on partnership and funding on awareness according to the guided questions.

1. Could you provide any examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?
Tanzania are working very close with ICGEB, ABNE, NEPAD and PBS. Those are our partners who provide various programs of training to NBFP, ABTEC, and NBC members. The provided training are risk assessment, Risk management and Communicating GMO. There are numbers of technical experts who attended Master’s program, short course training and PhDs under the assistance of those mentioned partners.   Partners facilitated our National Biosafety Focal to study in Uganda, Argentine, and Ghana.  

2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?
For the time being we don’t have specific awareness program for youth or women. However we are not yet conduct High-level dialog on biosafety or biosafety awareness.

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?

For the time being we don’t have another funding partiers except ICGEB, ABNE, NEPAD and PBS in which they normally provide training and training workshop.

Regard,
Martha Ngalowera
Environmental Public awareness Officer

Dear participants,

I wasn’t able to respond on week 1, but I would like to share my experience here in Bolivia.
Sadly the biosafety national framework hasn’t been developed yet for several reasons, one of them being the actions of activists who generated different misleading ideas that lead to inactivity from the government to develop this field.

As a former biosafety regulator, I’m glad that I can participate now in a national information platform on agrobiotechnology. We have met with many producers, who produce with GMOs but didn’t know the technical explanation on why it has been useful for them. We have also met students at universities and reporters. All had misleading ideas with no clue on the scientific part of this topic.

1. Could you provide any examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?
Our partners are a mixed group of big producers, who are concerned with the scientific stagnation we are facing. This sort of effort, to inform, educate and guide different groups of society is an activity that needs constant funding, and as long is not part of a general education plan, we will always have gaps.

For a couple of seminars, we had some expertise support with a local research institution. As funding is scarce, this type of know-how exchange has helped us out a lot. We have some alliances with a couple of universities, where they welcome us to lead seminars or discussion panels.

2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?
Yes, especially in the last seminar where we participated, students saw that desperation (from activists) can lead to a tantrum that is unable to keep the dialogue or debate, little less bring scientific information to refute our points. We distribute to each participant a DVD with more than 200 publications, so they can review and in our portal they can get the links to new publications.

We have found women who are also producers and demand the use of GMO in their work. They have been kind to present their cases and in some seminars, and it’s interesting the reaction of participants, as they expect that only men are the ones who are in charge of agriculture. We are now looking now to promote women in plant science, so they can gain once more their voice and cease the fear that they will be intimidated by those who oppose GMOs.

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors.

We have seen that funding opportunities should be raised from an interaction between private industry, government (national and local) and academy. However, not all parts always value the investment. This is where a national biosafety framework would be useful so that all partners are aware that this is a national effort to develop agriculture with the help of some GMO in a responsible way.

Best regards,
Cecilia

Estimada Cecilia
Bienvenida a este foro de discusión.
De nuevo muchas gracias por compartir sus experiencias en Bolivia. Es interesante poder observar la forma en que algunos grupos o sectores pueden defender  su oposición frente a los OVM´s, incluso cuando las normativas propuestas por el gobierno, para el análisis de riesgo van en pro del uso y siembra responsable.  En Guatemala hemos tenido experiencias similares, cuando se hacen seminarios de conciencia y capacitación, donde también han participado activistas, academia y sector privado. 

No hay una receta de como solventar las inquietudes de los participantes, lo que si es cierto es que muchas personas están conscientes de lo que necesitan es más y mejor información. Me encanta la iniciativa de repartir CD´s entre los participantes, porque es muy probable que al menos por curiosidad abran los documentos y los lean.
Al estar informados es más objetivo poder emitir críticas y comentarios, del porque estar a favor o en contra.

Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
Mes éléments de réponse du thème 2 sur la Collaboration pour le futur : Mobilisation des partenaires et financement des actions de sensibilisation

1. Pouvez-vous fournir des exemples de partenariat et des opportunités de financement ?
Au Burkina Faso, notre Agence de régulation de la biotechnologie est parvenue à nouer un certain nombre de partenariat avec des organisations internationales en charge des questions de biosécurité que sont par exemple ICGEB, ABNE/ NEPAD. Avec ces partenaires, l’ANB a bénéficié d’un appui en renforcement de capacités.  Aussi, il convient de noter que d’autres de ses partenaires ont octroié des financements pour mener des activités d’information et de sensibilisation du public.

2. Dialogue de haut niveau jeunesse et genre en matière de sensibilisation pourraient jouer un rôle important dans ce domaine ?
Des échanges sur la thématiques de biotechnologie/ biosécurité au profit des jeunes parait très important pour l’encrage de la culture de biosécurité. Les jeunes étant à la quête du savoir sont plus  réceptifs à l’information. Aussi, ce sont de potentiels futurs décideurs. Ils importent alors qu’ils soient outillés sur l’avancée de cette science. Bien outillés, ils pourront participer plus facilement à la prise de décision sur les OGM. Dans cette optique, l’ANB a pu par exemple organiser des journées portes ouvertes sur la biosécurité au profit des élèves et étudiants. Il faut toutefois reconnaitre que de telles activités nécessitent de moyens financiers conséquents.

3. Quels types de partenariats et d’opportunités de financement les parties et les parties prenantes doivent se focaliser pour accroitre la sensibilisation et de quelle manière ?
Pour moi, les structures de régulation peuvent entreprendre des partenariats avec des organismes œuvrant pour la sauvegarde de l’environnement et la préservation de la santé, des structures publiques tout comme privées. En effet, des plaidoyers doivent être faits auprès de ces derniers pour la recherche de financement afin de contribuer à mener des activités de sensibilisations des populations sur ces questions.

PUBLIÉ AU NOM DE Doumi Mohamed ZAN KARAMBIRI, BURKINA FASO
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L’Agence Nationale de Biosécurité (ANB), autorité nationale compétente en matière de biosécurité au Burkina Faso a tissé des relations de coopération avec le NEPAD, et l’UEMOA. Ces relations de partenariat ont permis d’appuyer l’ANB sur le plan technique et financier. A titre d’exemple, les Journées Portes Ouvertes (JPO) ont permis de sensibiliser des milliers d’élèves des villes de Ouagadougou et de Bobo-Dioulasso de 2010 à 2013. A cela s’ajoute, les tournés de sensibilisation dans plusieurs régions du Burkina. Le dialogue de haut niveau Jeunesse et genre permettra de sensibiliser des groupes spécifiques, notamment les jeunes, les femmes sur les questions de biotechnologie/biosécurité et de susciter leur participation au processus de prise de décision. Les jeunes, très actifs dans la communication sur les réseaux sociaux peuvent être de bon relais de l’information s’ils sont bien outillés.
Les activités de communication méritent d’être déployées dans les provinces et communes rurales du Burkina Faso afin de donner l’information juste aux populations sur la question de la biotechnologie/biosécurité et susciter leur participation à la prise de décision. Ces activités peuvent être soutenues par les collectivités territoriales, les projets et programmes de développement intervenant dans le domaine du développement durable, les Organisations de la Société Civile (OSC), ainsi que les partenaires au développement. Les institutions publiques peuvent y participer en intégrant la biosécurité dans leurs politiques sectorielles.
ZAN KARAMBIRI D Mohamed

POSTED ON BEHALF OF Milena Roudna, Czech Republic
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See attached file

Dear Martha,

Thank you so much for your contribution, particularly sharing the insight about funding mechanisms that Tanzania has explored to implement this programme of work on public awareness, education and participation. Just for interest sake do you see other partners useful in the future and how do one go about engaging the current partners to raise awareness and focus on Tanzinia's needs on public awareness.

Regards,
Ntakadzeni
South Africa

Dear moderator, dear all,
For Theme 2 "Collaboration for the Future: Mobilizing partnerships and funding for awareness
Partnerships and funding opportunities are important to facilitate awareness raising activities", below is my comments:

1. Could you provide some examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?
To effectively implement the Cartagena Protocol for biosafety of LMOs, partnership with various stakeholders are important, and that should be on a bona fide basis. Funding is scarce, and CBD may take a more proactive roles in this and international funding should be avail to member states of CBD, if possible.  

2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?
In Malaysia, there is many workshops, seminar, newsletter, brochure, and others that will help in the dialogues. On this aspect, gender-related awareness efforts certainly plays an pivotal role.

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors.
Education, awareness campaign on the fair view of LMOs biosafety are the main focus for handling LMOs biosafety issues. Again, international and national funding opportunities should be made available for this purpose, which the latter can be managed by the national focus point.

Dear Milena,

thank you very much for your contribution to the forum and inetersting suggestion in mobilizing partnership and funding for awareness.

Could you please specify which “specialized European institutions” you have partnerships with.

You gring here a great point about the high-level dialogues leading to possibly adoption of national legislation for access to Information and collaboration with ministries. Could you please give us more details of this process base on the experience of your country and also, on the interesting points about the commission raising awareness.

Could you please inform us of  what regional grants have been and/or should be engaged. The CEE regional collaboration in this specific topic is not encouraging by the regional grants and capacity building activities. What is your opinion of how we can refresh and made more proactive the regional collaboration and exchange of information and good practices.

Thank you and I would like to ask other participants from the CEE region to bring your ideas and suggestions.

Angela

Dear moderator, dear all,

For Theme 2 "Collaboration for the Future: Mobilizing partnerships and funding for awareness
Partnerships and funding opportunities are important to facilitate awareness raising activities", in attached file you can view comments.

Best Regards,
Elizabeth Castillo

Dear participants,

Please note that the online discussion on public awareness regarding LMOs for Theme 2 will be extended to 5 April to facilitate further messages.

Best regards,

Ulrika Nilsson
Associate Information Officer
Biosafety Unit
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
United Nations Environment Programme
413 St Jacques Street, Suite 800,
Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel: +1-514-287-8720
Email: [email protected]
Internet: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/

Dear colleagues,
Dr. Wei has already gave lots of valuable information from China. I try to add some information based on my experience.
1. Could you provide any examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?

AW: As Dr. Wei stated, Chinese government provide funding project, “the Special Programme for New Transgenic Variety Breeding of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China”, which usually set 1-2 projects for scientific popularization. However, it is not enough. We need more channel to provide financial support.

2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?

AW: Actually, Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) held one training class on risk valuation and management of GMO every year for local staff of environmental protection departments from Chinese cities or counties. I have participated in these classes as a speaker. Maybe other Ministries, like Ministry of Agriculture, held similar training classes (not sure).

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors.

AW: I totally agree Dr. Wei for this question.

Regards,


Yongbo Liu

Estimados participantes

Tengan en cuenta que la discusión en línea sobre  el Tema 2 sobre Colaboración para el Futuro: La movilización de alianzas y financiamiento para la concienciación pública, se extenderá hasta el 5 de abril, para facilitar la publicación de más mensajes.

Saludos a todos y gracias por su valiosa participación.

Leslie Melisa Ojeda Cabrera

POSTED ON BEHALF OF Mr. Sayed M. Zaher Maher, AFGHANISTAN
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I really appreciate for excellent online discussion . Such as discussions continue is very important for all countries. I have a question ?
1_  the world population increased yearly need to food , food safety and food security .Please shortly information regarding LMO and GMO food effect to human health and environment?

Best Regards
Zaher Maher

POSTED ON BEHALF Of Ph.D. Milena Roudna, CZECH REPUBLIC
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In my contribution to the Forum the main principles were highlighted on the basis of our national experience.

The access to the documents of the European institutions are open to all interested countries and entities, through the European databases or the Institutions websites - it is not purely bilateral cooperation. The regional workshops or conferences are good opportunities for  such contact (e.g. Conference on Risk Assessment and New Breeding Techniques organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Women´s Affaires in cooperation with the Environment Agency Austria,Vienna, October 17, 2017, or the FAO Regional Training Workshop, Prague, December 12 – 15, 2017, etc.).
As to Czech Republic experience, this has been offered on the bilateral basis to other countries and realized e.g. with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – we are still open to all who needs such assistance.
High-level dialogue: As example can serve the meeting with the members of the Parliament, especially prior to adoption of some legislation related to biosafety/GMOs.
As to inter-sectoral cooperation, it was described already. Existing forms are e.g. through the representatives in the Czech Commission on the Use of GMOs and Genetic Products. Bilateral cooperation exists mainly between the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, in certain aspects between the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Health, as to education and public awareness between the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Education and Youth.
Members of the Czech Commission on the Use of GMOs and Genetic Products also contribute to the public awareness through presentations in different workshops, meetings or radio broadcasting.
Regional grants have different forms. Sometimes it is useful to combine proposal with those oriented to education/environmental education, to cultural sphere etc. Communication and cooperation are always prerequisite for the success (nevertheless generally not easy to be reached).
For regional cooperation it is important to use all existing possibilities and forms (regional workshops, conferences, meetings …).

Estimada Dra. Elizabeth
Gracias por tan valiosa contribución en el tema 2 de este foro de discusión. Invito a todos los participantes, a leer sus aportes, ya que la amplia experiencia de México es compartida mediante la participación pública cuando se incluyen a otros países de América Latina, mediante los cursos impartidos, así como otras iniciativas a nivel nacional que han llevado a mejorar el nivel de conciencia pública sobre OVM´s. Sin duda un ejemplo a seguir.

Saludos cordiales.

Dear Mr. Sayed M. Zaher Maher,

Thanks for your interesting question. I mean this question is quite important for our future. From current view, foods derived from LMOs can make contribution to world food supply. In the long term, however, no evidences have been generated yet. I personally assume that the LMOs biotech is not the only way to help food security and there are other alternative ways, e.g. ecological agriculture and biodiversity. In addition, it is risky to solely depend on LMOs biotech and the risks lie not only in biosafety issues but also in securing the world food supplies (food security). We need diverse solutions and all they can work together to give us a better tomorrow.

Hope we can also hear comments from our colleagues on this question.

Best wishes

Wei

POSTED ON BEHALF OF Mr. Sayed M. Zaher Maher, AFGHANISTAN
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Dear Mr Wei from China,
Many thanks for your scientific knowledge and good information. Please information us regarding Organic food and Non Organic food effect to human health.
Best Regards
Zaher Maher from Afghanistan

Greetings to all and apologies for the late entry. Unfortunately, could not participate in the Theme 1 discussions.  My inputs for Theme 2 based on national and regional experience are as follows:

1. Could you provide any examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?

Currently, in India, funding through GEF is the main source of support for biosafety capacity building and public awareness and education programs.  However, programmes under GEF have been leveraged to access opportunities in other ongoing programs such as the South Asia Biosafety Program and national programs such as strengthening Institutional Biotechnology Members under the Institute Council of Agriculture Research. 

Other regional level opportunities include the programs conducted under ICGEB,  National Academy of Sciences, South Asian University (SAU) etc.

At the national level, funding opportunities are also available under Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, and Ministry of Agriculture programs.  These programs provide fellowship to students for higher education, participation for international conferences and workshops in addition to research grants and awards in the areas of biotechnology. Some examples include the iGEM Foundation  Program  dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education and competition. This program  provided opportunities to Indian students to interact with international students and experts from various regions on the innovations achieved and improvements required.   The Team iGEM IIT Delhi has been the flag bearer for synthetic biology in India for the past three years where they secured bronze medal in the  iGEM  competition. 

Various bilateral programs related to trade, agriculture and science & technology under international co-operation also provide opportunities for sharing of national experiences and knowledge related to use of biotechnology and associated biosafety. 

2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?

Gender Mainstreaming in Agriculture and allied sector and Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme for women scientists are part of the ongoing national efforts.

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors. 

It is important to partner with research institutions (both private and public), central and local governments, extension workers, academia, and education systems (where funding is available)  for developing country specific strategy for public awareness and education programs on LMOs.  The level of awareness and outreach material and the curricula so developed should be tailored to meet the understanding of various stakeholders (from a basic level to advanced level).  The strategy should modalities for a survey to assess the baseline, identify innovative tools and incentives to achieve the desired outcome.

POSTED ON BEHALF OF Mr. Sayed M. Zaher Maher, AFGHANISTAN
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Dear all participants,
Appreciated for excellent online discussion . I have sugestions:
1_  If possible the cotinution of this programme the next month.
2_ coordintion and communications between
Related countries experts regarding Biosafety public awarness ,education and participations
LMO and GMO for implementation Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.
3_ funding apportunity is very important for implementation of BCH and Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.

Best Regards
Zaher  Maher  from Afghanistan

Dear Mr. Zaher  Maher and colleagues,

Thanks all the inputs and precious suggestions you had given.

Unfortunately, we will not continue this current online discussion on public awareness regarding LMOs as we will have to make summaries for a general notification for Parties to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol and to begin preparing materials for the celebration.

However, as noted in the summary from Theme 1 by the moderators, they are suggesting that the Secretariat establishes a permanent online network, at which you can continue to express your concerns and provide your comments on public awareness raising issues of LMOs. Please NOTE that all participants are welcome to express their interest to be a moderator of the network to represent their region. I copied below the related paragraph regarding the proposed network on PAEP from the summary of Theme 1 discussion for your reference:

"Moderators recommend a network on public awareness, education and participation (PAEP), including access to information, regarding living modified organisms (LMOs). The objective is to enhance the capacity of Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to effectively implement the programme and its priority areas until 2020. The network would have an online discussion group that is ongoing with a number of themes and timelines throughout a year. The first theme will be on the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The first theme will further plan and discuss activities to ensure biosafety awareness. Within the theme, three topics will be discussed: The Capacity-building (e.g. developing training-of-trainers efforts through the BCH, webinars, question and answer sessions and other means), the national initiatives (e.g. implement media plan for a media campaign and building a network of communicators to facilitate Q and A sessions for international days and the CEPA fairs at COP-MOP) and the local initiatives (e.g. facilitating the setting up of radio programmes and mobile phone announcements by developing and disseminating videos and voice recordings of biosafety issues as well as building capacities for town hall meetings in local languages through biosafety presentations). Based on the limited resources, the Secretariat would facilitate the online discussion in the permanent online network with the assistances of regional moderators. Based on the limited resources, Parties and other stakeholders would also be encouraged to hold national online discussions on public awareness, education and participation regarding LMOs to discuss similar themes with national stakeholders."

In addition, a summary will be provided shortly after Theme 2 and 3 discussion.

Thank you!

Wei

Posted on behalf of Mrs. Edel-Quinn Agbaegbu, Every Woman Hope Centre, 

Dear all,

Thank you for utilizing the excellent opportunity provided by this forum, for public awareness purposes on biosafety. The information and experience exchanged in Theme 1: improved understanding on biosafety related issues significantly.

Theme 2: Collaboration for the Future: Mobilizing partnerships and funding for awareness, Partnerships and funding opportunities are important to facilitate awareness raising activities. High-level dialogues and awareness efforts have played important role in this regard in Nigeria, where some policy makers are currently looking up to Scientist for proper guidance on biotechnology matters as a result of strategic communication activities which increased their awareness.

Parties and relevant stake holders should focus on partnership with the media & Non-Governmental Organisations, policy makers and researchers with donor bodies at local, national and regional levels. This is to increase accessibility of available information through strategic communication plan.

Dear all,

In the Plurinational State of Bolivia, public awareness, education and participation (PAEP) in environmental matters is one of the rights established in the Constitution, i.e. Art. 343 that indicates that every person has the right to participate in environmental management and to be consulted and informed on decisions that could affect the quality of the environment. Complementarily, the Environmental Law 1333 includes a chapter on environmental education in addition to specific indications on citizen participation (Art. 92) and right to information (Art. 93). These legal instruments are of comprehensive application, including in the Regulation on Biosafety (DS 24676) which is applied since 1997 in light of the recent regulatory provisions contained in the Law 071 on Right to Mother Earth (2010), Law 144 on Productive Communal Agricultural Revolution (2011) and Law 300 on Mother Earth and Sustainable Development for Well-Living  (2012). Finally, the regulation on GMO labeling (issued in 2015 and 2016) is based, among others, on the Law 453 (2013) which indicates the right to information as part of the rights of users and consumers.

On the indicated environmental and biosafety regulation and its implementation, are based the following answers:

1. Could you provide examples of partnerships and funding opportunities?

Examples of partnerships fostered by the Bolivian National Environment Competent Authority - responsible of inter alia the implementation of the biosafety regulation - include social movements of indigenous peoples and peasants, university scientist, and public institutions. Each partner sector contributes in the process and educational content of specific PAEP activities particularly the ones including  social movements, consumer groups and the private food sector.


2. Have high-level dialogues and youth and gender-related awareness efforts played an important role in this regard?

The experience of the Bolivian National Environment Competent Authority shows that high-level dialogues together with youth and gender awareness efforts are important to promote partnerships towards effective PAEP.  For instance, the Viceministry (and the Viceminister herself) of Environment, has established dialogues with women (particularly indigenous and peasant women) and youth on the national biosafety framework, among other related topics, such as biodiversity and its sustainable use.

3. What type of partners and funding opportunities should Parties and relevant stakeholders focus on to raise awareness and how can they be engaged?  Please specify at the local, national and regional levels and include public and private actors.

Some possible partnerships may include:

- At local level: Public entities responsible of implementation of the biosafety frameworks with the locally relevant and existing groups.
- At national level: the public sector with the academia, citizen organizations and media, among others.
- At regional level: Biosafety Focal Points of neighboring countries.

Best wishes,

Georgina Catacora-Vargas

Dear Wei and participants
Thanks all for your valued contributions.

To clarify a bit more.
GEF strategy does not fund stand-alone public awareness activities.  It must be embedded and woven in a project.
GEF can provide financial support for the project while UNEP can facilitate a biosafety projects. However, the CBD does not have the implementation mandate if you call it. It cannot provide funding for national projects. However, CBD can facilitate resources and certain capacity-building efforts such as holding regional workshops, if donors provide CBD with funding for that.

Regards

POSTED ON BEHALF OF MODERATORS:

Dear participants,

Thank you all for an interesting discussion on Theme 2 and 3.

Please find attached a draft moderator's summary and recommendations for Theme 2 and 3.

Best regards,

• Central and Eastern Europe:
Ms. Angela Lozan ([email protected])
• Western Europe and other States:
Mr. Helmut Gaugitsch ([email protected])
• Africa:
Ms. Ntakadzeni Tshidada (EN) ([email protected]) and
Mr. Mahaman Gado Zaki (FR) ([email protected])
• Latin America and the Caribbean:
Ms. Leslie Melisa Ojeda Cabrera ([email protected])
• Asia and the Pacific:
Mr. Wei Wei ([email protected])
• UN Environment:
Mr. Alex Owusu-Biney ([email protected])