Introduction

During the COP 7 of the Abidjan Convention, which was held in Gabon in March 2005, the Republic of South Africa offered to host the COP 8 of the Abidjan Convention alongside the COP 5 of the Nairobi Convention. This offer was discussed and supported in a meeting of the focal points forum of the Nairobi Convention, held in Tanzania in November 2005. The meeting later came to be referred to as the Joint Conference of Parties or the Joint COP.

The Joint COP will be organised in collaboration with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The collaboration with NEPAD builds on an agreement reached during the launch of the Interim Secretariat of NEPAD in Dakar in November 2002. The participating countries requested that the Joint Implementation Mechanism of the Nairobi and Abidjan Conventions should become a central instrument in the implementation of the environmental component of NEPAD, especially with regards to the marine and coastal environment.

Introduction to the Joint Conference of Parties for the Abidjan and Nairobi Convention

1. Background to the Abidjan and Nairobi Convention
2. Political Commitment: Gathering momentum
3. Coordination and Partnerships.
4. Financing
5. Organisation of the Joint COPs.
6. Themes for the COPs.
7. Outputs and Impacts of the Joint COPs.
8. Requirements.

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