UNEP
Stakeholder meeting, March 2007
With the aim of developing a financing proposal funded from the Ninth European Development Fund, and following a formulation study initiated by the European Commission (EC), the EC held a workshop in Brussels in March 2007 which brought together a large number of interested stakeholders from ACP countries and regional bodies, international environmental agencies and MEA secretariats.

Financing Agreement, December 2007
The resulting European Commission – ACP Secretariat Financing Agreement identified a number of partners to implement the Action on capacity building related to MEAs in ACP Countries. The Financing Agreement identified the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the overall coordinator and facilitator. Other partners include the African Union Commission (AUC), the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Separate contribution agreements between the EC and Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD-GM) and the EC and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), respectively, complement the contribution agreement between the EC and UNEP.

Consultative Stakeholder Meeting, February 2008
In its role of overall coordinator and facilitator, UNEP convened a Consultative Stakeholder Meeting in February 2008 to discuss implementation and to provide an opportunity to meet and exchange views, information and ideas on the relevant MEA implementation priorities and needs to be considered between and among the various partners.

Programme Structure and Outline
UNEP is the overall coordinator and facilitator of the following components:

Beneficiaries include the ACP Secretariat, ACP countries and other direct beneficiaries, including national and sub-regional organisations, NGOs, relevant academic institutions, rural and grassroots communities, private sector operators, women’s organisations and youth groups.