United Nations Development Programme

Terms of Reference for the recruitment of a National Consultant for the volorisation Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in Seychelles

The Republic of Seychelles is a Party to the Nagoya Protocol since its entry into force (ratification) on October 12, 2014. Seychelles does not have a comprehensive legislative/regulatory ABS framework in place.

The Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS), through its parent Ministry, the Ministry of Industries and International Business, has a facilitator role as a hub where all the stakeholders and research partners can bring their documents and or seek additional information. Other line ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC), the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture and now the National Institute of Science Technology and Innovation (NISTI) have more of the decision-making roles. The Department of the Environment of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change is the designated institution where the Nagoya Protocol on ABS focal point is hosted.

With the support of the UNDP-GEF Global ABS project, the ABS policy and the guidelines to preserve and valorise Seychelles’ traditional knowledge were. National consultations and awareness raising activities were undertaken with key stakeholders and the political profile of ABS.  Capacity building interventions are also being planned.  Country delegation has already attended knowledge sharing workshops such as the Pan-African ABS workshop alongside ABS experts and practitioners to share experiences and key innovations in implementing the Nagoya protocol in Africa and, present good practices while strengthening critical ABS capacities and disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge. On the side of the TK, a consultant was hired and a technical report on specific guidelines to access knowledge, innovation and practices related to genetic resources.

Against this background, and continuing the ABS project’s activities a national consultant is being sought for the scoping of existing and emerging partnerships.

The Deadline for submission of offers is 31st May 2019 at 00.00 (Midnight, New York, USA).