Before most MEA negotiations and COPs, Cameroon usually holds preparatory meetings to discuss key issues. These meetings can be committee meetings or taskforce meetings that are convened by the focal point Ministry. In this context, the operational focal point plays an important role in providing the Minister with an analysis of the event’s key issues and considerations for Cameroon. Through these consultations, key Ministries and administrative bodies are able to exchange views on the issues. Moreover, NGOs may participate – depending on the particular circumstances – and in the past, NGOs have provided interesting arguments and information to inform the preparations. This was the case, for example, in preparing for the 2006 Biosafety COP-MOP.
This process has a number of benefits. Through this consultative process, all relevant (stakeholder) Ministries are informed of the issues and given a chance to share their views in advance of the meeting. This strengthens the negotiating position by integrating expert knowledge from the various ministerial departments. It also enables the various ministries to be informed in advance of the State’s views. This also builds consensus of views regarding certain major issues for negotiation. In building consensus, the various concerned ministries take ownership of the negotiation’s outcome and thereby build support for subsequent implementation and enforcement. The process saves time, since the workload is divided among delegation members: persons are identified already for specific group discussions. Moreover, since all members of the delegation have gone through the consultative process, they generally have the same views on the key issues and the delegates are better prepared for negotiations. Ultimately, this process has enabled Cameroon’s MEA negotiators to be better informed and prepared.
For more information, see http://www.spm.gov.cm or contact Peter Enoh enohpeter@yahoo.fr