Paris Committee on Capacity-building

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 76, requesting the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to develop the terms of reference for the Paris Committee on Capacity-building in the context of the third comprehensive review of the implementation of the framework for capacity-building in developing countries, with a view to recommending a draft decision on this matter for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-second session,

1. Adopts the terms of reference for the Paris Committee on Capacity-building established under decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 71, as contained in the annex;
2. Reaffirms that the objective of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building is to address gaps and needs, both current and emerging, in implementing capacity-building in developing country Parties and further enhance capacity-building efforts, including with regard to coherence and coordination in capacity-building activities under the Convention;
3. Recalls that the Conference of the Parties, at its twenty-fifth session (November 2019), will review the progress, need for extension, the effectiveness and enhancement of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building;
4. Also recalls that the Paris Committee on Capacity-building will manage and oversee the workplan for the period 2016–2020 outlined in decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 73;
5. Requests the Paris Committee on Capacity-building to further develop and adopt its working modalities and procedures at its first meeting;
6. Also requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to organize the first meeting of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building in conjunction with the forty-sixth sessions of the subsidiary bodies (May 2017);
7. Takes note of the budgetary implications of the activities to be undertaken by the secretariat pursuant to the provisions contained in the annex;
8. Requests that the actions of the secretariat called for in the annex be undertaken subject to the availability of financial resources.

Annex

Terms of reference for the Paris Committee on Capacity-building

1. In accordance with decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 71, the objective of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) is to address gaps and needs, both current and emerging, in implementing capacity-building in developing country Parties and further enhancing capacity-building efforts, including with regard to coherence and coordination in capacity-building activities under the Convention.
2. The Committee shall be composed of the following twelve members nominated by Parties, who shall serve in their personal capacity:

1. Two members from each of the five United Nations regional groups;
2. One member from the least developed countries;
3. One member from the small island developing States.

3. Six representatives from bodies established under the Convention and from the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism will be invited to participate in all the meetings of the Committee in line with the annual theme of the Committee.
4. Members identified in paragraph 2 above shall be nominated by their respective groups or constituencies and elected by the Conference of the Parties. Groups or constituencies are encouraged to nominate members identified in paragraph 2 above to the Committee with a view to achieving an appropriate balance of experts relevant to the aims of the Committee, taking into account the goal to achieve gender balance in accordance with decisions 36/CP.7 and 23/CP.18.
5. Members identified in paragraph 2 above shall serve a term of two years and shall be eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in office. The following rules shall apply:

1. Half of the members shall be elected initially for a term of three years, and half shall be elected for a term of two years;
2. Thereafter, the Conference of the Parties shall elect half of the members every year for a term of two years.

6. Representatives identified in paragraph 3 above shall be invited for a term of one year.
7. If a member of the Committee identified in paragraph 2 resigns or is otherwise unable to complete the assigned term of office or to perform the functions of that office, the Committee may decide, bearing in mind the proximity of the next session of the Conference of the Parties, to appoint another member from the same group or constituency to replace said member for the remainder of that member’s mandate, in which case the appointment shall count as one term.
8. The Committee shall elect annually two co-chairs from among its members identified in paragraph 2 above to serve for a term of one year each.
9. If a co-chair is temporarily unable to fulfil the obligations of the office, any other member identified in paragraph 2 above designated by the Committee shall serve as co-chair.
10. If a co-chair is unable to complete the term of office, the Committee shall elect a replacement from among the members identified in paragraph 2 above to complete that term of office.
11. The Committee will meet during annual in-session meetings to be organized by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation.
12. The Committee shall decide on its annual focus area or theme, recalling decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 74, related to enhanced technical exchange on capacity-building, with the purpose of maintaining up-to-date knowledge on the successes and challenges in building capacity effectively in a particular area, and will report on this work in its annual technical progress report.
13. The Committee shall further develop and adopt its working modalities and procedures at its first meeting, and revise them as necessary.
14. The Committee may invite other bodies established under the Convention and the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention to identify representatives to collaborate, as appropriate, on specific activities related to its work.
15. The Committee may engage with and draw upon the expertise from relevant institutions, organizations, frameworks, networks and centres outside the Convention, including at the intergovernmental, regional, national and subnational levels, where appropriate.
16. The meetings will be open to attendance by Parties and admitted observer organizations, except where otherwise decided by the Committee, with a view to encouraging a balanced regional representation of observers
17. The Committee will prepare annual technical progress reports on its work for submission to the Conference of the Parties through the Subsidiary Body of Implementation, and will make these reports available at the sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation coinciding with the sessions of the Conference of the Parties.
18. The proceedings and outputs of the Committee shall be made publicly available on the UNFCCC website.
19. The secretariat will support and facilitate the work of the Committee subject to the availability of resources.
20. The working language of the Committee will be English.
21. Members of the Committee shall reach their decisions by consensus.