- Regulatory and procedural support
- Awareness-raising
- Engagement with indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs)
- ABS value chains
More on national ABS frameworks and other elements needed for successful ABS implementation here.
More on the interlinkage between ABS, BioTrade and sustainable value chains here.
- Assessment of the status of ABS implementation in November 2017; consultation with stakeholders (government, IPLC representatives, private sector, legal experts) through individual meetings and a national workshop in Port Vila
- Translation of the “ABS Simply Explained”-video into Bislama for awareness raising among government stakeholders as well as local communities
- Development and printing of awareness-raising posters in Bislama for distribution in provincial government offices
- Awareness-raising meetings with local communities on Malekula Island during country visit in August 2018 together with representatives of DEPC and the Ministry of Trade; further community visits in April, October and November 2019, including on other islands under the ARC grant for the development of BCPs
- Awareness-raising workshops in provincial offices of DEPC on Malekula Island and Espiritu Santo Island
- Discussions with DEPC in 2018 highlighted the need for clearer local prior informed consent processes and clarity around biotrade activities that may include selling to overseas researchers
- Expert advice and commentary was provided to DEPC and the Ministry of Trade relating to the text of the TK Bill
- Since 2018 facilitation of discussions between DEPC and foreign biotrade companies as well as local producers
- Vanuatu has a functioning Biodiversity Advisory Committee issuing Nagoya Protocol compliant permits, operating under the bioprospecting provisions of the Environmental Management and Conservation Act
- Permits have been issued for a range of academic research activities; the ABS Initiative has commented on several commercial bioprospecting enquiries and contracts
- The TK Act has been passed and the Ministry of Trade is working on regulations for its implementation. A workshop has been suggested involving local producers of biotrade goods, handicrafts, music, cultural expressions and designs, which could involve the ABS Initiative
- Draft community protocols have been developed under the mutually supportive ARC grant in 4 communities