ACAP Capacity Building Strategy

FAVERO, M, W PAPWORTH

Mar del Plata

Encuentro; V Meeting of the Advisory Committee; 2010

Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

According to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992) capacity building encompasses the country’s human, scientific, technological, organizational, institutional and resource capabilities. The concept was also addressed by CMS in its strategy recently adopted by the Conference of Parties (Resolution CMS/ 9.12). A question is, why is capacity building needed, and particularly why does the Agreement need a capacity building strategy? To date, work on capacity building has been largely ad‐hoc, matching the Agreement’s short term needs with available opportunities (see appendix A). However, a strategic approach will (1), allow the development of a long term Capacity Building programme to be analyzed, agreed, and endorsed by Parties, and (2) make a rational and more efficient use of ACAP’s limited human and financial resources. The key components of the ACAP Capacity Building strategy should be (a) definition of capacity building, (b) objectives, (c) principles that will define priorities for areas to be covered and actions undertaken, (d) methods, (e) funding, and (f) governance.