National targets

All Belgium’s development cooperation projects will be more systematically assessed prior to the decision to allocate funds so that potential negative impacts on the biodiversity of recipient countries can be identified at an early stage and be avoided or mitigated. A screening procedure should be systematically applied and, when it proves necessary, a full Environmental Impact Assessment* (EIA) carried out.

Broader strategic approaches, such as “Indicative Cooperation Programmes, “Country Strategic Papers” or “Sector-Wide Approaches” (SWAP), etc., should be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment* (SEA) that includes biodiversity considerations.

Both EIAs and SEAs should be performed by using the existing assessment systems of the recipient country as much as possible. Joint EIAs or SEAs by several donors will be encouraged whenever possible.

Furthermore, ex post evaluations of development cooperation programmes or projects should also integrate biodiversity considerations, even in projects/programmes that are not related to natural resources.

All Belgium’s development cooperation projects will be more systematically assessed prior to the decision to allocate funds so that potential negative impacts on the biodiversity of recipient countries can be identified at an early stage and be avoided or mitigated. A screening procedure should be systematically applied and, when it proves necessary, a full Environmental Impact Assessment* (EIA) carried out.

Broader strategic approaches, such as “Indicative Cooperation Programmes, “Country Strategic Papers” or “Sector-Wide Approaches” (SWAP), etc., should be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment* (SEA) that includes biodiversity considerations.

Both EIAs and SEAs should be performed by using the existing assessment systems of the recipient country as much as possible. Joint EIAs or SEAs by several donors will be encouraged whenever possible.

Furthermore, ex post evaluations of development cooperation programmes or projects should also integrate biodiversity considerations, even in projects/programmes that are not related to natural resources.

All Belgium’s development cooperation projects will be more systematically assessed prior to the decision to allocate funds so that potential negative impacts on the biodiversity of recipient countries can be identified at an early stage and be avoided or mitigated. A screening procedure should be systematically applied and, when it proves necessary, a full Environmental Impact Assessment* (EIA) carried out.

Broader strategic approaches, such as “Indicative Cooperation Programmes, “Country Strategic Papers” or “Sector-Wide Approaches” (SWAP), etc., should be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment* (SEA) that includes biodiversity considerations.

Both EIAs and SEAs should be performed by using the existing assessment systems of the recipient country as much as possible. Joint EIAs or SEAs by several donors will be encouraged whenever possible.

Furthermore, ex post evaluations of development cooperation programmes or projects should also integrate biodiversity considerations, even in projects/programmes that are not related to natural resources.

A stronger commitment of developing countries to the Convention will not only contribute to a more successful sustainable development at the global level, but will also allow them to meet the ultimate challenge posed by the 2020 Aichi targets.

Through its multilateral and bilateral activities with developing countries, Belgium will offer its expertise to support institutional and individual capacity-building for the development of effective policies towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including for the identification and monitoring of biodiversity and the development of appropriate science-based policy tools. Scientific and technical cooperation will be promoted, including by facilitating access to biodiversity data stored in Belgian repositories, by transferring relevant technologies, by promoting the further development and use of the CBD Clearing House Mechanism at national level and by supporting the development of ABS relevant legislation. Belgian actors are further encouraged to support this objective through adequate educational and public awareness programmes both in Belgium and in the developing country.

Enhancing and streamlining capacity-building for biodiversity management is a prerequisite for developing countries to improve their scientific capacity in key areas of the Convention, and thus to achieve a better implementation of the obligations imposed by the Convention. Belgium should make full use of its scientific expertise, in universities, institutes and NGOs, to assist developing countries, which are often rich in biodiversity but poor in resources, to make further progress in their implementation of the objectives of the Convention.

A stronger commitment of developing countries to the Convention will not only contribute to a more successful sustainable development at the global level, but will also allow them to meet the ultimate challenge posed by the 2020 Aichi targets.

Through its multilateral and bilateral activities with developing countries, Belgium will offer its expertise to support institutional and individual capacity-building for the development of effective policies towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including for the identification and monitoring of biodiversity and the development of appropriate science-based policy tools. Scientific and technical cooperation will be promoted, including by facilitating access to biodiversity data stored in Belgian repositories, by transferring relevant technologies, by promoting the further development and use of the CBD Clearing House Mechanism at national level and by supporting the development of ABS relevant legislation. Belgian actors are further encouraged to support this objective through adequate educational and public awareness programmes both in Belgium and in the developing country.

Enhancing and streamlining capacity-building for biodiversity management is a prerequisite for developing countries to improve their scientific capacity in key areas of the Convention, and thus to achieve a better implementation of the obligations imposed by the Convention. Belgium should make full use of its scientific expertise, in universities, institutes and NGOs, to assist developing countries, which are often rich in biodiversity but poor in resources, to make further progress in their implementation of the objectives of the Convention.

A stronger commitment of developing countries to the Convention will not only contribute to a more successful sustainable development at the global level, but will also allow them to meet the ultimate challenge posed by the 2020 Aichi targets.

Through its multilateral and bilateral activities with developing countries, Belgium will offer its expertise to support institutional and individual capacity-building for the development of effective policies towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including for the identification and monitoring of biodiversity and the development of appropriate science-based policy tools. Scientific and technical cooperation will be promoted, including by facilitating access to biodiversity data stored in Belgian repositories, by transferring relevant technologies, by promoting the further development and use of the CBD Clearing House Mechanism at national level and by supporting the development of ABS relevant legislation. Belgian actors are further encouraged to support this objective through adequate educational and public awareness programmes both in Belgium and in the developing country.

Enhancing and streamlining capacity-building for biodiversity management is a prerequisite for developing countries to improve their scientific capacity in key areas of the Convention, and thus to achieve a better implementation of the obligations imposed by the Convention. Belgium should make full use of its scientific expertise, in universities, institutes and NGOs, to assist developing countries, which are often rich in biodiversity but poor in resources, to make further progress in their implementation of the objectives of the Convention.

A stronger commitment of developing countries to the Convention will not only contribute to a more successful sustainable development at the global level, but will also allow them to meet the ultimate challenge posed by the 2020 Aichi targets.

Through its multilateral and bilateral activities with developing countries, Belgium will offer its expertise to support institutional and individual capacity-building for the development of effective policies towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including for the identification and monitoring of biodiversity and the development of appropriate science-based policy tools. Scientific and technical cooperation will be promoted, including by facilitating access to biodiversity data stored in Belgian repositories, by transferring relevant technologies, by promoting the further development and use of the CBD Clearing House Mechanism at national level and by supporting the development of ABS relevant legislation. Belgian actors are further encouraged to support this objective through adequate educational and public awareness programmes both in Belgium and in the developing country.

Enhancing and streamlining capacity-building for biodiversity management is a prerequisite for developing countries to improve their scientific capacity in key areas of the Convention, and thus to achieve a better implementation of the obligations imposed by the Convention. Belgium should make full use of its scientific expertise, in universities, institutes and NGOs, to assist developing countries, which are often rich in biodiversity but poor in resources, to make further progress in their implementation of the objectives of the Convention.

The loss of biodiversity threatens the livelihood of the poorest people in the world, as they depend the most on biodiversity for their subsistence. It has previously been the case that there has been little interest in the integration of biodiversity screening mechanisms into partner countries’ own development plans. Such plans tend to set out broad goals and include projects and activities to improve the direct economic development of the country. However, in order to achieve lasting poverty reduction and sustainable development, the environmental dimension and biodiversity in particular should be fully taken into account in these plans. Therefore, Belgium (for example, through the EU or other multi-donor partnerships) will encourage partner countries to integrate biodiversity and biosafety into their Poverty Reduction Strategies and/or National Strategies for Sustainable Development, as well as in their Health programmes and any other of their development initiatives they undertake.

Direct budget support, whether general or sectoral, is an emerging trend in development cooperation. Attention will be focused on this new form of aid, so that policy dialogues leading to budget support decisions are used as opportunities to promote such integration.

Awareness of the concept of the ecological footprint should also be raised.

The loss of biodiversity threatens the livelihood of the poorest people in the world, as they depend the most on biodiversity for their subsistence. It has previously been the case that there has been little interest in the integration of biodiversity screening mechanisms into partner countries’ own development plans. Such plans tend to set out broad goals and include projects and activities to improve the direct economic development of the country. However, in order to achieve lasting poverty reduction and sustainable development, the environmental dimension and biodiversity in particular should be fully taken into account in these plans. Therefore, Belgium (for example, through the EU or other multi-donor partnerships) will encourage partner countries to integrate biodiversity and biosafety into their Poverty Reduction Strategies and/or National Strategies for Sustainable Development, as well as in their Health programmes and any other of their development initiatives they undertake.

Direct budget support, whether general or sectoral, is an emerging trend in development cooperation. Attention will be focused on this new form of aid, so that policy dialogues leading to budget support decisions are used as opportunities to promote such integration.

Awareness of the concept of the ecological footprint should also be raised.

The loss of biodiversity threatens the livelihood of the poorest people in the world, as they depend the most on biodiversity for their subsistence. It has previously been the case that there has been little interest in the integration of biodiversity screening mechanisms into partner countries’ own development plans. Such plans tend to set out broad goals and include projects and activities to improve the direct economic development of the country. However, in order to achieve lasting poverty reduction and sustainable development, the environmental dimension and biodiversity in particular should be fully taken into account in these plans. Therefore, Belgium (for example, through the EU or other multi-donor partnerships) will encourage partner countries to integrate biodiversity and biosafety into their Poverty Reduction Strategies and/or National Strategies for Sustainable Development, as well as in their Health programmes and any other of their development initiatives they undertake.

Direct budget support, whether general or sectoral, is an emerging trend in development cooperation. Attention will be focused on this new form of aid, so that policy dialogues leading to budget support decisions are used as opportunities to promote such integration.

Awareness of the concept of the ecological footprint should also be raised.