4th Meeting of the GNP HuB Network (4. GNP HuB Stammtisch)
Simulating an ABS negotiation process
Preparing for and actually holding ABS negotiations with the authorities of a provider country can seem quite daunting. In order to make it more tangible for researchers, the GNP HuB teamed up with the Taxon-Omics Priority Program to provide an interactive simulation of an ABS negotiation process.
This simulation took place on the 15th of September 2021 at the 4th regular meeting or “Stammtisch” of the German Nagoya Protocol HuB network.
Impulse presentations – ABS documentation
Before the simulation, two researchers from Kenya shared their experiences with ABS documentation and negotiations. They emphasized that documents such as the Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) need to be negotiated before applying for a permit with the national authorities and mentioned that tools, such as model clauses, can help in preparing for the negotiations.
ABS process simulation
For the practical part of this Stammtisch, the participants split into smaller groups and met in online breakout rooms. There were 3 different case studies and a fictional ABS contract and ABS Regulation to work with that had been prepared by the GNP HuB and the Taxon-Omics program beforehand.
The groups went through the regulation to find out which rules they needed to follow and which permits they needed to apply for. Then, they used the GNP HuB ABS Strategy Checklist to find out what they needed to consider beforehand, such as defining red lines or the benefits that can be shared. Afterwards, the groups looked at the contract and its conditions to determine their negotiation strategy.
In the simulation, the participants learned that a good and early preparation is key for successful ABS negotiations. It is important to be transparent with the authorities and to explain the research project to them in an understandable way. It is also crucial to think about your own red lines and what you can offer the provider country as benefits from your research.
See you again soon!
Thank you to everyone who attended our 4rd Stammtisch and tried out this new format with us. If you want to read about the event in more detail, you can find the report of the meeting here.
The next Stammtisch will be on the 8th of December 2021 (14:00-16:00 hrs) and we look forward to seeing many of you there!
