„Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation“ – ABS for short – has been in our focus since 2005. We support relevant bodies and stakeholders at all levels in creating ABS systems and partnerships, developing ABS-compliant research and value chains, and realising global dialogues on Digital Sequence Information (DSI). Examples of our work are:
Long-term consultancy: ABS Capacity Development Initiative
Between 2006 and 2025, the ABS Capacity Development Initiative worked to improve the conditions for cooperation between users and providers of biological and genetic resources.
From the original idea to the closure, GeoMedia was an instrumental partner of this multi-donor Initiative, with Suhel al-Janabi serving as co-manager throughout. Key management tasks included process conceptualisation and planning; identification and acquisition of co-financing opportunities; and institutional co-ordination with national governments, the African Union Commission (AUC), several UN bodies, research institutions, industry associations and private companies.
All GeoMedia staff, as well as several of its external consultants, were also closely involved in supporting partners at different levels – from organising side events at UN CBD conferences, conceptualising and facilitating ABS capacity development workshops, to advising policy makers and legislators on strategically implementing ABS at the national level, to co-ordinating joint activities with the private sector and working with indigenous peoples and local communities (IP&LC) from around the world.
Throughout its 20 years of existence, the ABS Initiative focused on empowering people, communities and organisations to identify and assert their needs and interests, and to negotiate fair agreements and contracts governing access to biological and genetic resources. As a responsive learning institution, its main role was that of a knowledge broker. With time, it developed into a trusted cooperation partner in the global landscape of institutions working on ABS.
Five major phases of the project can be distinguished:
- 2005-2010: Support to the African Group of Negotiators during the international negotiations that ultimately led to the Nagoya Protocol (NP)
- 2010-2014: After adoption of the NP, supporting countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific in the ratification process
- 2014-1018: After entering into force of the NP, operationalisation at national level
- 2018-2022: Capacity development and dialogue to support the negotiations around a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of DSI
- 2022-2025: With the adoption of the GBF, mainstreaming ABS into national policies to achieve the intended increase in benefit-sharing of GBF Target 13, including from the use of DSI
A short article cannot do justice to over two decades work. The video Benefits for People and Biodiversity – 20 years of the ABS Capacity Development Initiative, which was co-produced by GeoMedia, tells the story and shows the outcomes of this extraordinary project. (EN, 13:44 minutes)
In addition, the Initiative was complemented by important spin-off projects, in which GeoMedia was also intensely involved as co-manager, advisor, conceptualist and supporter to implementation:
- From 2018, the ABS Compliant Value Chains in Southern Africa (ABioSA) project provided financial, technical and mentoring support to small businesses. The project facilitated sector development plans for key species and supported the creation of new sector organizations.
- From 2019, the BioInnovation Africa (BIA) project promoted African-European business partnerships, focusing on biodiversity conservation and local development in four countries and helping to build ABS compliant value chains based on the Biotrade principles of the UN trade and development bodies.
- The BioInnovation Academy, officially launched in 2025, was created to support business organizations, NGO’s, the private sector, training institutions and consultancies in further promoting biodiversity-based value chains. More information including links to the free learning programme can be found here.
Pan-African ABS workshops 2006-2025
During its 20 years of existence, and with a changing landscape of donors and contributors, the ABS Initiative organised a total of 13 pan-African workshops. Typically, 35-45 African countries were represented at each event, with participants coming from national governments, the African group of negotiators, research institutions, the private sector, and indigenous peoples and local communities (IP&LC).
GeoMedia was intensely involved in the conceptualisation, co-ordination and facilitation of all 13 workshops, including the recruitment of co-financing and co-ordination of varying donors.
Up to 2010, the events focused on supporting African stakeholders to understand the intricacies of ABS, find common ground and identify shared positions to put forth in the international negotiations. The fact that Africa „spoke with one voice“ when the Nagoya Protocol was negotiated – as many delegates of COP 10 said – might be at least partly attributed to these efforts.
From 2011, after adoption of the Nagoya Protocol by CBD COP 10, the focus shifted to implementation at national level and to fostering partnerships with non-African research institutions and the private sector. From that time, stakeholders from Europe and other regions were also represented at these event.
From 2019, the focus of international ABS-related discussions and negotiations shifted again, now to ‚Digital Sequence Information‘ (DSI). The ABS Initiative – and with it, GeoMedia – took account of this by integrating the topic into the agendas of subsequent pan-African ABS workshops and, in particular, by additional activities and events (webinars, workshops, dialogues) focusing specifically on DSI. Information about the latter can be found here.
The workshops took place in all regions of Africa, each time in a different country: 2006 Cape Town, South Africa | 2007 Nairobi, Kenya | 2008 Antsiranana, Madagascar | 2009 Cairo, Egypt | 2011 Marrakech, Morocco | 2012 Limbe, Cameroon | 2013 Phalaborwa, South Africa | 2014 Cotonou, Benin | 2015 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 2017 Dakar, Senegal | 2018 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 2019 Cape Town, South Africa | 2025 Saly, Senegal.
Below are some impressions from various pan-African ABS workshops. More detailed information about the last ABS pan-African workshop, 2025 in Saly, Senegal, including the full report can be found here.
