ABS Project in Seychelles Project Id 00099240

International Consultant for the creation of Biocultural Community Protocols under the ABS Project in Seychelles

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), an agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity, was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya (Japan) and entered into force on 12 October 2014. The Protocol provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of the 3rd objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and to the benefits arising from their utilization. It also covers associated Traditional Knowledge (aTK) associated with Genetic Resources (GR) held by local communities. As a contracting party to the Nagoya Protocol, Seychelles needs to fulfil core obligations to take measures in relation to access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and compliance.

Under Component 3, Output 3.2.1 Biocultural community protocols*, model contractual clauses constitute the basis for clarifying Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT), requirements between users and providers of Traditional Knowledge and biological resources.

*Biocultural Community Protocols(BCPs) are instruments that set out clear terms and conditions to governments and the private, research, and non-profit sectors for engaging with indigenous and local communities (**ILCs) and accessing their local resources and knowledge.**ILCs do not exist in Seychelles.

Objectives of the assignment:
The main objective of the assignment is to develop a Bio-Cultural Community Protocol for the traditional herbalists in collaboration with the Culture Department

• Provide external stakeholders (such as Industries and Researchers) with a means and guidelines to communicate and engage with the community;
• Promote community’s environmental, social and economic development;
• Improve the organizational arrangements within the community in relation to their surrounding biodiversity;
• Establish set processes for ABS related agreements;
• Document the diversity and uses of the flora, fauna and microorganism of the community/chiefdoms;
• Demonstrate the valorization of natural resources found within the community;
• Document the communities Traditional Knowledge associated with the flora, fauna and micro-organisms;
• Set out rules and procedures to assist the communities when interacting with external stakeholders (such as Industries and Researchers)

Duration:
The consultant is expected to work for 20 days over 6 weeks

Deadline for submission of offers -  no later than Monday 7 October at midnight Seychelles time (GMT +4 hrs) to the email address below:

[email protected]

Annexes
Annex A - Letter of confirmation of interest and availability and Submission of financial proposal
Annex B - Model Contact IC
Annex C - UNDP GCC IC
Annex D - P11
Terms of Reference

Protect their customary rights, biocultural heritage and Traditional Knowledge/Indigenous Knowledge.
International