|
Many of the coordinating structures
of the Convention have been strengthened, most
importantly national representation through the
focal points. The focal points institutions have
been supported to operationalise their offices
and to initiate a reporting mechanism for the
Convention by compiling national status reports
on the coastal and marine environment.
The National Focal Point shall
be a senior government official whose selection
will be based on the strong knowledge and experience
on Convention matters and supported with a national
budget (or Convention budgetary allocation) to
implement the Convention’s activities including
creating awareness of such activities.
A forum of focal points of the
Abidjan Convention was held at the Erata Hotel
in Accra, Ghana, from 24 to 26 November 2004.
The objective of the forum was to prepare a detailed
and realistic work programme for the period 2005–2007,
for presentation to the Contracting Parties at
their seventh meeting, in Gabon, in February 2005,
in accordance with the Parties’ decision
at their sixth meeting. The work programme would
be implemented within the framework of the NEPAD
environmental component and its platform for the
management of the marine and coastal resources
of Western Africa.
The forum discussed and agreed
on the formal establishment of the focal points
network to support the operation of the Regional
Coordinating Unit. Terms of reference for focal
points and for the focal point forum of the Convention
were drafted and presented during the forum and
will be submitted for adoption to the Contracting
Parties at their next meeting; The forum also
entrusted the secretariat with the establishment
of task teams to follow up on the implementation
of the work programme, in order to support the
operation of the Regional Coordinating Unit.
A focal points forum and specific
terms reference for the focal points have been
established. The focal points institutions have
been supported to operationalise their offices
and to initiate a reporting mechanism for the
Convention by compiling national status reports
on the coastal and marine environment. The national
reporting mechanism for the Convention will give
guidance on national priorities within coastal
and marine management in preparation for the Convention’s
Work Programme for 2008 and onwards.
National Focal Point
Terms of Reference:
- To serve as the channel for all formal communications
between the Regional Coordinating Unit and the
government and national collaborating institutions
and task force members;
- To coordinate information flow from national
institutions, non-governmental organizations
and locally-based national, bilateral or multilateral
projects and ensuring the dissemination of information
to and within their country;
- To ensure/facilitate regular and timely contribution
to the Trust Fund of his/her country’s
contribution for timely implementation of the
Convention’s work programme;
- To participate in or assure adequate representation
at the meetings of the National Focal Points
Forum at least once every year and at the COP
meetings;
- To facilitate internalization of the agreements
on policy, legal, regulatory etc of the Convention
and its protocols for timely implementation;
- To participate in biennial work plans as
national experts and ensure preparation and
submission of reports on the implementation
of biennial work plans and relevant activities
implemented at the national level by institutions,
departments, agencies, non-governmental organizations
etc.;
- To coordinate the preparation of the ‘’state
of the marine and coastal environment’’
as contribution to the regional report of the
RCU;
- To ensure inter-sectoral coordination at the
national level on the implementation of all
activities approved by COP meetings and report
same to RCU;
Convention Focal Point
Forum:
- Actively promote the objectives and implementation
of the work plan of the Abidjan Convention and
other complimentary activities;
- Prepare the work plan to be approved by the
Conference of Parties in collaboration with
the RCU and taking into account activities of
partners of the Abidjan Convention;
- Oversee the implementation of regional programs
under the Convention;
- Provide guidance, technical and scientific
advice to the RCU; and policy recommendation
for the Convention;
- Act as a platform for information sharing
and exchange within the participating countries,
and Convention partners;
- Review and adopt regional programs/project
proposals for presentation to COP and potential
partners;
- Identify issues/activities that require the
establishment of taskforces, constitute and
monitor the progress of such taskforces;
- Identify, initiate and recommend resource
mobilization activities in consultation with
the RCU.
National Focal Points
Back
|
