ABSTRACT
The project ‘Development of National Biosafety Frameworks’, to be implemented through United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) forms the first element of Global Environment Facility's (GEF) initial strategy. The projects will involve countries that have identified a framework and put it in place through a legal or other regulatory regime. The nascent Southern African Regional Biosafety programme supported by US Agency for International Development provides a promising example of a country-driven regional effort. The GEF has several options for how it provides assistance to countries, including coverage through the approved UNEP project on the development of national biosafety frameworks. The Intergovernmental Committee of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has called upon governments to submit their priority needs regarding capacity-building as part of their participation in developing pilot phase of Biosafety Clearing-House.
