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Establishment of arrangements in regard to effectiveness evaluation

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Table of Contents

  1. Preamble
  2. Paragraph 1.
  3. Paragraph 2.
  4. Annex I to decision MC-1/9

Establishment of arrangements in regard to effectiveness evaluation

The Conference of the Parties,Recognizing the urgent need for a framework for the effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury that includes a strategic, cost-effective approach that provides appropriate and sufficient data,Taking note of the compilation of information made available through the process of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury,Acknowledging the global mercury assessments requested by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Minamata Convention initial assessments as important sources of information contributing to the effectiveness evaluation.
1.Adopts annexes I and II to the present decision;
2.Requests the secretariat to support the work outlined in these two annexes.

Annex I to decision MC-1/9

Draft road map for establishing arrangements for providing the Conference of the Parties with comparable monitoring data, and elements of an effectiveness evaluation framework under article 22 of the Minamata Convention

ActivityTime frame
Nominations for the ad hoc group of experts are provided to the secretariat through the bureau members of the Conference of the Parties.1 November 2017
The ad hoc group of experts will meet face-to-face, drawing on previously submitted information collated by the secretariat, and taking into account work undertaken under other multilateral environmental agreements including the Stockholm Convention.January/February 2018
The ad hoc group of experts prepares the draft report including the outline, plan, and elements of the effectiveness evaluation framework, and the secretariat makes the draft report available for comments.15 May 2018
The ad hoc group of experts revises and finalizes the report including the outline, plan, and elements of the effectiveness evaluation framework, and the secretariat forwards it to the second Conference of the Parties for consideration.20 July 2018
The final report is considered by the Conference of the Parties at its second meeting.November 2018 (tentative date for the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties)

Annex II to decision MC-1/9

Draft terms of reference for an ad hoc group of experts on the arrangements for providing the Conference of the Parties with comparable monitoring data, and elements of an effectiveness evaluation framework under article 22 of the Minamata Convention

I. Mandate

The Conference of the Parties hereby establishes an ad hoc group of experts to:
(a)Develop monitoring arrangements, taking into account the experience of other multilateral environmental agreements, including the Stockholm Convention, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its second meeting, including:
(i)An outline of the types of data that could be comparable on a global basis, as well as their availability;
(ii)A draft plan that integrates comparable results for future monitoring that countries and stakeholders may choose to undertake; and as part of this work:
a.Review information on existing monitoring programmes, including from the information that has been reported to the secretariat by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and others that are available;
b.Assess to what extent the information reviewed under paragraph (a) (ii) a meets the needs for monitoring set out in paragraph 2 of article 22) of the Convention, and on that basis outline options to enhance comparability and completeness of the information reviewed;
c.Take into consideration cost-effectiveness, practicality, feasibility and sustainability, global coverage, and regional capabilities in identifying opportunities for future enhancements to monitoring;
d.Identify available modelling capabilities to assess changes in global mercury levels within and across different media;
e.Identify sources of data that can be used for establishing a baseline;
f.Identify how monitoring activities may contribute to the development of the effectiveness evaluation framework;
(b)Develop elements of an effectiveness evaluation framework, taking into account the experience under other multilateral environmental agreements, including the Stockholm Convention, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its second meeting, inter alia, by:
(i)Identifying the steps required to undertake an effectiveness evaluation;
(ii)Suggesting a process flow (schedule) for the effectiveness evaluation planning;
(iii)Identifying arrangements for conducting the effectiveness evaluation;
(iv)Drafting terms of reference for the committee developing the first effectiveness evaluation;
(v)Assessing potential approaches to the development of performance indicators;
(c)Prepare a report on its work for submission to the Conference of the Parties for consideration at its second meeting, including recommendations on monitoring arrangements and effectiveness evaluation.

II. Membership

The ad hoc group of experts will be composed of 25 Government-designated experts drawn from the regions as follows:Each region should designate at least three representatives with expertise on monitoring arrangements and at least one representative with expertise on effectiveness evaluation.African States: 5Asia-Pacific States: 5Central and Eastern European States: 5Latin American and Caribbean States: 5Western European and other States: 5The group will invite the participation of up to 10 experts from civil society, indigenous communities, intergovernmental organizations, industry and the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership as observers. The participation of observers will be balanced among the above-mentioned groups.The group will invite input from other Governments, intergovernmental organizations, indigenous communities, industry and civil society organizations to assist it in completing its work.

III. Recommended qualifications

Members and observers of the ad hoc group of experts should have:
(a)Experience relevant to the development of a monitoring scheme for the collection and analysis of mercury sampling data for the purposes of assessing trends including expertise in either modelling, biotic and aquatic sampling, atmospheric sampling and/or human exposure, and/or indigenous traditional knowledge;
(b)Expertise relevant to developing and implementing monitoring under multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention; or
(c)Experience relevant to effectiveness evaluation.

IV. Officers

Two co-chairs will be elected by the ad hoc group of experts to facilitate the meeting.

V. Secretariat

The secretariat will provide administrative support to the ad hoc group of experts.

VI. Administrative and procedural matters

The rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the ad hoc group of experts.

VII. Meetings

The ad hoc group of experts will meet face-to-face once, and at other times will meet via teleconference or webinars prior to the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

VIII. Language

English will be the working language of the ad hoc group of experts. The report of the ad hoc group of experts to the Conference of the Parties will be translated into Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.