Nomination of Experts to the Anglophone African Laboratory Training Workshop on Detection and Identification of Living Modified Organisms, Abuja, Nigeria, 16-20 September 2019

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The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is organizing a workshop on detection and identification of living modified organisms, to be held in Abuja, Nigeria from 16 to 20 September 2019, with the objectives of providing theoretical and hands-on training for participants from Anglophone countries in the Africa region on: 

• Overview of biosafety, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and relevant activities;
• Sharing experiences and assessing national needs and gaps for the effective implementation of the relevant outcomes under the Cartagena Protocol; and
• Laboratory methodologies used for the analysis and detection of living modified organisms.

The workshop will be supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea Biosafety Capacity-Building Initiative and responds to the decisions BS-VII/10, CP-VIII/16 and CP-9/11 of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which requested the Executive Secretary to continue convening, in cooperation with relevant organizations, subject to the availability of resources, capacity-building activities, such as online training and face-to-face workshops in the fields of sampling, detection and identification of living modified organisms.

Accordingly, I am pleased to invite your Government to nominate a representative to take part in the workshop. The official nomination letter, addressed to the Executive Secretary, must be submitted by the Cartagena Protocol Focal Point and be accompanied by the completed attached nomination form indicating the activities in which the nominee has been involved that are relevant to detection and identification of living modified organisms as well as the anticipated benefits of the workshop. Participants will be selected on the basis of their relevant expertise as well as geographic and gender balance. Incomplete forms will not be considered.

Due to the limited availability of funds for the workshop, only nominees from eligible Parties to the Cartagena Protocol will receive financial assistance to cover the cost of travel and a daily subsistence allowance. The workshop will be conducted in English.

The heads of relevant organizations with activities in Anglophone countries in the Africa region are also welcome to nominate representatives with practical experience in the subject matter of the workshop, by completing the attached nomination form. Please note that due to laboratory space restrictions, nominations by Parties will have priority.

Nominations should be sent to the Secretariat via e-mail at secretariat@cbd.int or by fax at +1-514-288-6588. In order to finalize arrangements for the workshop in a timely manner, it would be appreciated if nominations are sent as soon as possible but no later than
26 July 2019.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support towards the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

          Cristiana Paşca Palmer, PhD

           Executive Secretary