Dear Bill, Sameer and Mark:

Thanks for moving this forward. This is really close.

For BMS. Remember that at PIF stage is only "indicative co-financing&q= uot;. That means the best estimate once can come up at this stage. If not s= ure, better to give a low figure at PIF stage and then come back with a hig= her figure in the Letter of Co-financing when presenting the complete project.

LoE. Excellent if Bill can get the letter within a week. Hope Sameer can se= nd the new template soon.

Santiago and Sammer: once the PIF is complete, including the LoE, how long = does it take UNDP to clear the PIF before submitting it to the GEF?

Saludos,

Jaime

From: William Aalbersberg [william.aalbersberg@usp.ac.fj]
Sent: 09/14/2012 03:33 AM GMT
To: Sameer Karki <sameer.karki@undp.org>; Jaime Cavelier; "Santiago Carrizosa (<= a href="mailto:santiago.carrizosa@undp.org">santiago.carrizosa@undp.org)" <santiago.carri= zosa@undp.org>; "Hay, Mark (mark.hay@b= iology.gatech.edu)" <mark.hay@biology.gatech.edu>
Subject: RE: Updated PIF

OK,

<= /p>

1 is fine.

2 Mark will handle.<= /o:p>

For 4 do you want to send= a revised draft; not sure if the old one will allow me to edit it to chang= e the amount. I will do my best to get a signature within a week.

<= /p>

Bill

<= /p>

From: Sameer K= arki [mailto:sameer.karki@undp.org]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 3:30 PM
To: William Aalbersberg; jca= velier@thegef.org; Santiago Carrizosa (santiago.carrizosa@undp.org); Hay, Mark (mark.hay@biology.gatech.edu)
Subject: Updated PIF

Dear All,

Thank you for sharing the chain of email discussions b= elow. Based on the exchanges, I have made some changes in the PIF.

1. I have made some changes in the results fr= amework in Component 2 and it now has some reference to possible commercial= development through a private company. Please confirm that = this is fine.

2. I have also added BMS in the co-funding ta= ble =96 Bill/ Mark pl= ease let us know how much should be included from them. Once you confirm th= is, I will update the entire cofinance figures that are currently highlight= ed in green.

3. I have updated the reference to ABS policy= as suggested.

4. I understand that we will obtain a new OFP= endorsement letter for revised 30,000 dollar PPG.

Please let me know if I have missed anything or misund= erstood anything.

Regards,

Sameer

<image001.png>

Sameer Karki (Mr.)

Regional Technical Advisor (Biodiversity and Sustainable La= nd Management)

UNDP =96 Global Environment Facility

United Nations Development Programme, Asia-Pacific Regional= Centre
4th Floor, UN Service Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel.: +66 (2) 304 9100 Ext. 2729
Fax: +66 (2) 208 2700
URL: http://asia-pacific.undp.org

www.undp.org Follow us: <image002.png> <image003.jpg> <= span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-seri= f";color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><image004.png><= /b>

P Please consider the environment befor= e printing this e-mail

From: William = Aalbersberg [mailto:william.a= albersberg@usp.ac.fj]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2012 6:22 AM
To: Sameer Karki
Subject: FW: Status of ABS-Fiji

<= /p>

From: William = Aalbersberg
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 12:59 PM
To: jcavelier@thegef.org= ; Hay, Mark
Subject: RE: Status of ABS-Fiji

Hello,<= /p>

<= /p>

I am trying to catch up w= ith the email trail; my assumption is these items are how part of the $90,0= 00 might be used that is not needed for the proposal development; this is fine by me. The downside again is that activities could be c= ompleted in a short time-frame if going through govt channels.

<= /p>

Re other email in theory = a new endorsement letter for less than $90,000 should not take more than a = week if Jope is in =96country; just last time he was away on a couple of trips including Rio + 20.

<= /p>

Mark and I recently met a= nd will be talking to a couple of other commercial firms that do anti-micro= bial and perhaps other testing but it may take some time to develop these relationships.

<= /p>

Other points are fine.

<= /p>

Bill

<= /p>

From: jcavelier@thegef.org [mailto:jcavelier@thegef.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 2:45 AM
To: Hay, Mark; William Aalbersberg
Subject: Re: Status of ABS-Fiji

Dear Mark and Bill:

Of the outputs in the latest draft of the PIF, there are three t= hat could be funded (at least in part) using PPG funds.

1.1 Administrative systems / Procedures for ABS agreement negoti= ations between the government and relevant institutions strengthened= = including clear roles and responsibilities and business standards for screening and approval processes.
1.2. Electronic database on biodiversity, natural products= , ABS agreements, and projects installed in relevant national institu= tions , including data handling system among national and internation= al institutions for harmonized sharing of information on samples = collected and scientific results
1.3. Awareness programme for national stakeholders on Nago= ya Protocol obligations.

Since these are all outputs related to the Government's $100K, I= am sure they will be happy to hear they can jump-start the project by carr= ying some of the activities leading to the preparation and implementation of the project.

Let me know what you think.

Saludos,

Jaime

<image005.jpg>Jaime Cavelier | Senior Biodiversity Spe= cialist, Natural Resources
T +1(202) 473-4886 F +1(202) 522-3240 | jcavelier@thegef.org=
Mail stop: P 4-400 | 1818 H Street NW - Washington DC 20433 USA
______________________________________________________________________

Global Environment Facility
Follow us on Facebook&nb= sp;| Twitter | YouTube

<image006.gif>Jaime Cavelier---09/11/2012 09= :23:29 AM---Dear Mark: Thanks for your quick response.

From: Jaime Cavelier/Person/World Bank
To: "Hay, Mark" <mark.hay@biology.gatech.edu>
Cc: "William Aalbersberg" <william.aalbersberg@usp.ac.fj>
Date: 09/11/2012 09:23 AM
Subject: Re: Status of ABS-Fiji

Dear Mark:

Thanks for your quick response.
It looks like the only issue is the LoE. I will check the draft project and= see if there are activities we can move up to the PPG in case you opt for = using the existing LoE.
Will revert promptly.

Saludos,

Jaime

From: "Hay, Mark" [mark.hay@biology.gatech.edu]
Sent: 09/11/2012 09:04 AM AST
To: Jaime Cavelier
Cc: William Aalbersberg <william.aalbersberg@usp.ac.fj>
Subject: Re: Status of ABS-Fiji

jaime,

on point #1 - i defer to bill. he is "on the ground" in fij= i and can better assess the costs, benefits, timing delays, etc. i'll= support his decision.

on point #2 - if bill is OK with this, I am. it seems a reasonable an= d documented approach.

on point #3 (Actually labeled as a second point #2) -

testing - i think we can get a letter from BMS

commercial development - yes BMS should be listed and the relationship made= clear. they do testing in cancer, but not other areas. they ha= ve rights of first refusal on developments, but if we don't like the terms,= we can shop elsewhere. their primary interest is cancer. other developments seem of less interest to them.

point #4 (numbered as #3) - agreed.

mark

Fro= m: jcavelier@thegef.org=
To: "William Aalbersberg" <william.aalbersberg@usp.ac.fj>, "Mark Hay&quo= t; <mark.hay@biology.gate= ch.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 8:12:29 AM
Subject: Re: Status of ABS-Fiji

Dear Bill and Mark:

I hope you are doing fine.

What do you think about the issues I put forward? I sincerely believe this = PIF is ripe and could be submitted shortly. It is a matter to resolve these= issues, particularly the LoE.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do from this end to help expe= dite the process.

Saludos,

Jaime

From: Sameer Karki [samee= r.karki@undp.org]
Sent: 09/08/2012 09:12 AM ZE7
To: Jaime Cavelier; William Aalbersberg <william.aalbersberg@usp.ac.fj>; "Ha= y, Mark" <mark.hay@b= iology.gatech.edu>
Cc: "santiago= .carrizosa@undp.org" <santiago.carrizosa@undp.org>
Subject: RE: Status of ABS-Fiji

De= ar Jaime,
Th= ank you very much for your comments and suggestions on some of the outstand= ing issues. Bill, I look forward to hearing from you on these.
&n= bsp;
Re= gards,
Sa= meer
&n= bsp;

<image007.png>

Sameer Karki (Mr.)
Regional Technical Advisor (Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Man= agement)
UNDP =96 Global Environment Facility
United Nations Development Programme, Asia-Pacific Regional Centr= e
4th Floor, UN Service Building
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel.: +66 (2) 304 9100 Ext. 2729
Fax: +66 (2) 208 2700
URL: http://asia-pacific.undp.org
www.undp.org Follow us:

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

&n= bsp;
From: jcavelier@thegef.org [mailto:jcavelier@thegef.org]
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2012 10:23 PM
To: Sameer Karki; William Aalbersberg; Hay, Mark
Cc: santiago.carriz= osa@undp.org
Subject: Status of ABS-Fiji
Importance: High
=
Dear Sameer, Bill & Mark:

I hope you are all doing well.

I had the opportunity to talk with Santiago about the PIF of project = for the NPIF dated August 28th. We had this conversation while reviewing th= e status of potential projects for the NPIF.

The PIF is very good. Congratulations to all of you. My sense is tha= t the PIF could be submitted very soon, assuming you can resolve a few outs= tanding issues. Below are the issues that we discussed with Santiago with s= uggested solutions.

1) Letter of Endorsement (LoE). From what I can see, = the main road block is the LoE from the GEF Operational Focal Point. = Although you already have a LoE dated July 20th, the amount for the PPG may be too high ($90,000). There are two options here:<= span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">

First: To submit the PIF + PPG with the current letter of endorsement. = That means $910K for the project and $90K for the PPG. The $90K would need = to be applied to the preparation of the project rather than actual implemen= tation of activities foreseen for the project once it gets underway You may want to discuss this matter am= ong yourselves and come back to me with the list of activities for the $90K= . We can discuss this matter to try to find a comfortable zone for the GEF,= UNDP, USP and the Government of Fiji.

Second. To get a new LoE with new figures for PIF and PPG. How difficult an= d how time consuming would this be? The PIF is nearly ready and I would hat= e to delay its formal review because of difficulties getting the new LoE. T= houghts?

2) Name of Policy (PIF p.4). In the concept note= that was put together back in February (copy attached), I found the follow= ing two pieces of text: "

ABS AGREMENTS (p.2: There is a legally binding agreement in place among the= collaborating universities (GIT, SIO, USP), the Fiji Ministry of Agricultu= re, Fisheries, and Forests, Department of Fisheries, and the industrial par= tner (BMS).
LEGAL FRAMEWORK (p.3.). Fiji has a draft ABS policy that was developed in 1= 997 which meets CBD requirements but, with government changes, this has not= been formally enacted. It has recently been agreed that this will be= the basis of the formal ABS legislation.

I wonder if we can resolved this matter by simply changing the language in = the PIF and present the case using some of the text above. I suggest = to anchor this matter with the letter send from the Government of Fiji to t= he GEF in support of this initiative (attached copy). All in all, the idea is to clearly state where the projec= t stands on legal matters and the relationships between the project and the= Government. Since Fiji ratified the Nagoya Protocol, you should expect the= Government paying closer attention to the project specially on Component 3.

2) Bristol Myers Squibb (p.11) It is only mentioned o= nce in Table B5. with the following role: This private sector company will also contribute to Component 1 through = advanced anti-cancer testing, possible commercial development (underline = is mine).

Testing: If BMS is going to do testing, they could (s= hould) be listed as co-financiers. Could you get a letter of co-financing t= o be included with the project to be submitted within 12 months? The contribution could appear as in-kind or cash and should ref= lect the estimated cost of the analysis. Considering that the engagem= ent of the Private Sector, this is important .

Commercial development: If BMS is part of the "c= onsortium", reference to these commercial developments should be= made in Component 2 of the Results Framework (not necessarily referring to including BMS). Once more, because BMS is the Private Sector partner we= need to ensure clarity and visibility of its participation. It happened wi= th Eisai and Dow in the Panama project.

3) Sources of Co-financing (Table C p.3) = Make sure that you differentiate the contribution from the Fiji Government = (First Line) from the contribution of the US Government (line where co-financier is Fogarty). Change that manually as I understand the t= emplate only give you the choice of "National Government".
Well, this is all for the moment. I hope you can address these i= ssues promptly so we can see a formal submission of the PIF to the GEF Secr= etariat. We should definitely have the submission by the GEF Council Meeting in November.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do from this end t= o assist you in the process.
Saludos,
Jaime

(See attached file: Fiji ABS PIF_28 August.doc)(See attached file: Fiji NPI= F Concept Note (2-24-12).docx)(See attached file: GEF letter j cavelier.jpg= )

Jaime Cavelier | Senior Biodiversity Specialist, Natural Resources
T +1(202) 473-4886 F +1(202) 522-3240 | jcavelier@the= gef.org
Mail stop: P 4-400 | 1818 H Street NW - Washington DC 20433 USA
______________________________________________________________________

Global Environment Facility
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

--
Mark Hay
Teasley Professor of Environmental Biology
School of Biology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA 30332-0230 USA
voice 404-894-8429
FAX 404-385-4440
<mark.hay@biology.gatech.= edu>
http://www.biol= ogy.gatech.edu/faculty/mark-hay/