From 23 to 25 April, a workshop to discuss the functioning of national CHMs is being held in Cotonou, Benin. The objectives of this workshop are:

1. Define the tasks/role of national CHMs in implementing the CHM and NBSAPs work programme
2. Identify actions to be taken to boost national networks and involve “stakeholders” in the use of national CHMs
3. Identify ways to build capacity for national CHMs.

Since 1999, the Belgian CHM (Be CHM) has been working in the framework of capacity building for the implementation of the CHM at the national level with the partner countries of the Belgian Development Cooperation. From the beginning of this partnership, the actions carried out were based on the requests of the partners taking into account the capacities available in the Be CHM team. In recent years, the partnership has evolved significantly following new developments in the IT sector and following requests from partners.

In 2003, the Belgian CHM focal point concluded a framework agreement with the DGCD for the period 2003 — 2008. In 2008, a new agreement was concluded between the IRSCnb and the DGCD for the period 2008 -2012. Both framework agreements include a CHM component and a public awareness component. From 2013, a new agreement should be concluded between the IRSCnb and the DGCD. This should provide the future directions of the program for the next seven years. In order to better establish the future CHM component, it is appropriate to assess the results of the two past framework agreements and to gather the opinion of partners on future areas of work to be developed in the next seven years. With this aim in mind, the Be CHM focal point is organizing a workshop to be held from 23 to 25 April 2012 in Cotonou, Benin. This workshop will be an opportunity to meet and discuss with representatives of active partner countries.

Outline of the workshop

The workshop will take place over three days.

The first day will allow us to take stock of the current situation. It will identify ongoing activities, successes and problems encountered by national CHMs as well as the evolution of the CHM since the Brussels workshop in 2007.

The second day will consist of an exploration of the future. It will be conducted in three stages:

• identification of change factors that lead to the evolution of the CHM

• development of a vision of requests made to CHMs over the period 2012-2020

• identification of actions to be developed to achieve the vision.

The third day will allow us to continue discussing the recommendations of the workshop and, if the schedule allows it, will be an opportunity for a short training session on the new functionalities of the PTK tool.

Finally, for people who leave on the evening of April 26 or on April 27, a visit to the Lama Classified Forest is planned on April 26.

Workshop Program

23/04/2012
9.00 — 9.30	Welcoming participants
9.30 — 9.45	Welcome words, practical information
9.45 — 10.00	Introduction to the workshop
10.00 — 11.00	Presentation by each participant of developments at the national level in relation to the CHM (Round table with 10 min Power Point presentation per participant)
11.00 — 11.15	Coffee break
11.15 — 12.00	Continuation of the presentations Marie-Lucie Susini: Presentation and review of the results of the online questionnaire on the CHM (February 2012)
12.00 — 13.00	Based on the presentations, evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the CHM at the national level. (Oriented discussion allowing the exchange of experiences)
13.00 — 14.00	Lunch break
14.00 — 15.00	Olivier de Munck: Presentation on CHM developments at the international level since 2010, including the CHM work programme (to be discussed during WGRI-4 and COP11)
15.00 — 15.30	Olivier de Munck: Presentation on the implementation of NBSAPs and monitoring of their results through the CHM
15.30 — 15.45	Coffee break
15.45 — 16.30	Han de Koeijer: Presentation on monitoring the implementation of NBSAPs through the CHM, the case of Belgium
16.30 — 17.30	Q&A session on the 3 presentations
24/04/2012
9.00 — 9.40	Olivier de Munck: Presentation on the CBD strategic plan
9.40 — 10.30	Work in sub-groups: Discussions on the CBD Strategic Plan and Aichi Targets and on the evolution of the role of the CHM + identification of new tasks to be carried out
10.30 — 10.45	Coffee break
10.45 — 12.00	Work in sub-groups: Discussions on the CBD Strategic Plan and Aichi Targets and on the evolution of the role of the CHM + identification of new tasks to be carried out
12.00 — 12.30	Presentation of the results of the subgroups
12.30 — 14.00	Lunch break
14.00 — 15.15	Work in sub-groups on the identification of actions to be taken to boost national networks and involve “stakeholders”
15.15 — 15.30	Coffee break
15.30 — 16.15	Continued work in sub-groups based on the results of previous discussions: identification of capacity building needs.
16.15 — 17.00	Presentations of the results of the sub-groups on future activities
17.00 -	Preparation of the report and recommendations resulting from the meeting
25/04/2012
9.00 — 10.30	1. Presentation of the report + workshop recommendations 2. Discussions and adaptation of the report/recommendations
10.30 — 10.45	Coffee break
10.45 — 11.30	Discussion and adaptation of the report and recommendations
11.30 — 13.00	Representatives of Benin, Madagascar and/or Cameroon: Presentation on ongoing awareness-raising projects: “baselines studies” and the CHM
13.00 — 14.00	Lunch break
14.00 -16.30	Han de Koeijer: PTK developments, tool for better collaboration in a national CHM site and training.
16.30	Closing of the workshop

Bases for future activities:

Following recommendations from regional trainings and workshops organized in the past, we are already fully aware of some problems related to the implementation of the CHM in partner countries.

The aim of this workshop is not to highlight already known problems but to find new ways to improve the implementation of the CHM, develop national and regional networks and work to monitor the implementation of national strategies through the CHM.

It is imperative that the representatives of each country discuss at the national level what they plan to do in the next seven years before arriving in Benin. This must of course have a direct link with the various national strategies.

The results of the workshop will be taken into account when establishing our project for 2013 — 2019 which will be submitted to the DGCD for funding.

Proposal of information to be prepared by each country before the meeting:

• A summary of the results since 2008 concerning the strengthening of the CHM, awareness-raising, national strategy and trainings organized within the framework of our project and outside our project (if they exist)

•  A summary of the results since 2008 concerning the strengthening of the CHM, awareness-raising, national strategy and trainings organized within the framework of our project and outside our project (if they exist)

• A list with goals/objectives to be achieved for 2020 with a work plan

• A description of the institutional arrangements to be put in place in order to ensure sustainability.