Within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) is envisioned to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation among Parties, other Governments and stakeholders; develop a global mechanism for exchanging and integrating information on biodiversity; and develop the necessary human and technological network.  Signatories to the Convention are to comply with this provision and should establish their national CHMs. Likewise, relevant partners are encouraged to contribute to the establishment of regional, sub-regional or thematic clearing-house mechanisms, with a view to provide support to national clearing-house mechanisms, to share knowledge and to facilitate cooperation on science and innovation as well as the transfer of technology.

The Convention has also noted that capacities on information management and technology vary from country to country.  The national CHM is basically composed of a National Focal Point (NFP), a website, and a network of stakeholders.  A large number of Parties have identified their NFPs, but very few have established their CHM websites. These two are mutually supportive of each other; hence, countries are encouraged to have both.

In the ASEAN region, seven (7) out of ten (10) countries have NFPs; only four (4) of which have a CHM website (i.e., Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand).  There definitely is a need to assist countries to establish their CHMs (e.g., websites).

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) as the regional centre of excellence to facilitate regional and global cooperation on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity may help fill this gap.  While ACB, through the Biodiversity Information Management (BIM) Unit serves as the regional CHM for Southeast Asia, it also aims to assist the ASEAN Member States (AMS) who do not yet have their own CHM website and network to build their own national CHMs.  Likewise, ACB will also lend support to AMS who are in the early stage of CHM development, improve their CHM websites.

The ACB had earlier organized a series of workshops (i.e., in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Hanoi, and Chiang Mai) on mechanisms for biodiversity information-sharing and data harmonization (e.g., Introduction to GIS Applications, Content Management System Applications), and biodiversity indicators and database uses and their applications (i.e., digital knowledge management tools) designed to revisit previous initiatives as well as forge new commitments for cooperation among the AMS towards CHM development as a platform for information exchange and sharing on biodiversity data.

It is in this context that the ACB continues to provide technical assistance of up to FIVE THOUSAND United States Dollar (USD 5,000.00) to AMS to supplement their own initiatives in further establishing or improving national CHMs in compliance to the Convention.

I. Objectives of the TA

Supplemental funding to a maximum of USD5,000.00 to the AMS can be used in support of activities for the establishment and/or improvement of national CHMs (e.g., website design and development, content management, CHM stakeholders consultation meetings, supplies and communication costs only). The TA is for the implementation of activities within six (6) months in identified AMS.

II. Target Beneficiaries

Participants to the technical workshop in Chiang Mai (November 2008) defined the status of their national CHMs and presented their next steps forward (aka action plans) for the establishment, improvement, and/or maintenance of national CHMs:

1. Indonesia – needs to translate website contents from Bahasa Indonesia to the English language
2. Thailand – needs to strengthen the existing Stakeholders Network by expanding to universities and other local stakeholders
3. Philippines – needs to enhance the Beta version of the CHM website
4. Viet Nam – needs to develop/establish the national CHM for biodiversity
5. Lao PDR – needs to establish the national CHM
6. Cambodia – needs to establish the national CHM

See the Procedures to Request for the TA