Terms of Reference Consultancy on the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety with special reference to its Article 26 on
socio-economic considerations
Protocol on Biosafety with special reference to its Article 26 on
socio-economic considerations
I. BACKGROUND
1. The Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety is a complementary agreement to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. It aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living
modified organisms (LMOs, or commonly known as GMOs –genetically modified
organisms) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on
biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It was
adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003 and now
has 164 Parties. 2. Article 26 of the Protocol provides Parties the option to
take into account socio-economic considerations arising from the impact of
living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity. It also encourages Parties to cooperate on research and information
exchange on socio-economic impacts of living modified organisms.1
Biosafety is a complementary agreement to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. It aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living
modified organisms (LMOs, or commonly known as GMOs –genetically modified
organisms) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on
biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It was
adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003 and now
has 164 Parties. 2. Article 26 of the Protocol provides Parties the option to
take into account socio-economic considerations arising from the impact of
living modified organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity. It also encourages Parties to cooperate on research and information
exchange on socio-economic impacts of living modified organisms.1
The full text reads as follows: Article 26:
Socio-economic Considerations 1. The Parties, in reaching a decision on import
under this Protocol or under its domestic measures implementing the Protocol,
may take into account, consistent with their international obligations,
socioeconomic considerations arising from the impact of living modified
organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,
especially with regard to the value of biological diversity to indigenous and
local communities. 2. The Parties are encouraged to cooperate on research and
information exchange on any socio-economic impacts of living modified
organisms, especially on indigenous and local communities.
Socio-economic Considerations 1. The Parties, in reaching a decision on import
under this Protocol or under its domestic measures implementing the Protocol,
may take into account, consistent with their international obligations,
socioeconomic considerations arising from the impact of living modified
organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity,
especially with regard to the value of biological diversity to indigenous and
local communities. 2. The Parties are encouraged to cooperate on research and
information exchange on any socio-economic impacts of living modified
organisms, especially on indigenous and local communities.
3. The Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the governing
body of the Protocol, has considered issues related to Article 26 at its
second, fourth, fifth and sixth meetings. It has considered, among other things,
views and case studies submitted by Parties and other stakeholders and analysis
of capacity building needs and priorities in the area. The Secretariat has also
conducted, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, an
online survey on the application of and experience in the use of socio-economic
considerations in decision making on living modified organisms.2 4. At its
sixth meeting held in Hyderabad, India from 1 to 5 October 2012, the governing
body of the Protocol agreed to a series of activities with a view to advance
its deliberations on socio-economic considerations. The meeting of the Parties
adopted decision BS-VI/13, which, inter alia, requested the Executive Secretary
“to compile, take stock of and review information on socio-economic
considerations arising from the impact of living modified organisms on the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, especially with
regard to the value of biological diversity to indigenous and local
communities, on the basis of: (a) Existing institutional frameworks,
legislation and policies with provisions on socioeconomic considerations; (b)
Capacity-building activities related to biosafety and socio-economic
considerations; (c) Existing expertise and experience; (d) Other policy
initiatives concerning social and economic impact assessments”.3 5. The
purpose of the compilation and review of information or the research, as
indicated in paragraph 2 of the decision, is to develop a global overview. This
exercise is also required to keep in mind national and regional specificities
and policies along with other commitments. 6. The outcomes from this research
are to feed into an ad hoc technical expert group as one of the bases on which
it is to develop conceptual clarity in the context of paragraph 1 of Article
26.
meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the governing
body of the Protocol, has considered issues related to Article 26 at its
second, fourth, fifth and sixth meetings. It has considered, among other things,
views and case studies submitted by Parties and other stakeholders and analysis
of capacity building needs and priorities in the area. The Secretariat has also
conducted, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, an
online survey on the application of and experience in the use of socio-economic
considerations in decision making on living modified organisms.2 4. At its
sixth meeting held in Hyderabad, India from 1 to 5 October 2012, the governing
body of the Protocol agreed to a series of activities with a view to advance
its deliberations on socio-economic considerations. The meeting of the Parties
adopted decision BS-VI/13, which, inter alia, requested the Executive Secretary
“to compile, take stock of and review information on socio-economic
considerations arising from the impact of living modified organisms on the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, especially with
regard to the value of biological diversity to indigenous and local
communities, on the basis of: (a) Existing institutional frameworks,
legislation and policies with provisions on socioeconomic considerations; (b)
Capacity-building activities related to biosafety and socio-economic
considerations; (c) Existing expertise and experience; (d) Other policy
initiatives concerning social and economic impact assessments”.3 5. The
purpose of the compilation and review of information or the research, as
indicated in paragraph 2 of the decision, is to develop a global overview. This
exercise is also required to keep in mind national and regional specificities
and policies along with other commitments. 6. The outcomes from this research
are to feed into an ad hoc technical expert group as one of the bases on which
it is to develop conceptual clarity in the context of paragraph 1 of Article
26.
II.
RESPONSIBILITIES
7. Under the supervision of the Programme Officer,
Biosafety Policy and Law, the consultant will undertake the compilation,
stock-taking and review of information on socio-economic considerations as
requested in paragraph 2 of decision BS-VI/13 and as referred to in paragraph 4
hereinabove.
Biosafety Policy and Law, the consultant will undertake the compilation,
stock-taking and review of information on socio-economic considerations as
requested in paragraph 2 of decision BS-VI/13 and as referred to in paragraph 4
hereinabove.
For more information on the different activities
undertaken as regards socio-economic considerations in the context of the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, please visit the Secretariat’s web page at
this link: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_art26.shtml 3 Paragraph 2, decision
BS-VI/13. The full text of the decision is available on page 93 and 94 of the
report of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Biosafety at this link: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/mop-06/official/mop-06-18-en.pdf
undertaken as regards socio-economic considerations in the context of the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, please visit the Secretariat’s web page at
this link: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_art26.shtml 3 Paragraph 2, decision
BS-VI/13. The full text of the decision is available on page 93 and 94 of the
report of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Biosafety at this link: http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/mop-06/official/mop-06-18-en.pdf
III.
EXPERTISE
8. Academic qualifications in law or social
sciences; excellent English-language writing and editing skills; attention to
detail and respect for timelines; ability to establish and maintain effective
partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic
environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 9. Prior experience on
the subject is an asset.
sciences; excellent English-language writing and editing skills; attention to
detail and respect for timelines; ability to establish and maintain effective
partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic
environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 9. Prior experience on
the subject is an asset.
IV. DURATION 10. The period of consultancy is from
1 March 2013 to 15 May 2013.
1 March 2013 to 15 May 2013.
V. REMUNERATION 11. Applicants may submit, in their
application, the amount of fee they expect to be paid for their consultancy services.
Payments will be paid in installments: 20% upon signature of the contract; 60%
after the submission and approval of the concept document; and 20% upon
satisfactory completion of the consultancy.
application, the amount of fee they expect to be paid for their consultancy services.
Payments will be paid in installments: 20% upon signature of the contract; 60%
after the submission and approval of the concept document; and 20% upon
satisfactory completion of the consultancy.
VI. APPLICATIONS 12. Applications should contain a cover/motivation
letter, a personal history form, CV or company profile, and a 1-2 page initial
outline and schedule for conducting the work including a description of the
general approach proposed for undertaking the research requested by paragraph 2
of decision BS-VI/13, and a cost estimate for the work to be undertaken. Please
send all applications electronically to secretariat@cbd.int before 8 February
2013.
letter, a personal history form, CV or company profile, and a 1-2 page initial
outline and schedule for conducting the work including a description of the
general approach proposed for undertaking the research requested by paragraph 2
of decision BS-VI/13, and a cost estimate for the work to be undertaken. Please
send all applications electronically to secretariat@cbd.int before 8 February
2013.
