Goals
*To support the establishment of the regulatory and administrative
biosafety management system in order to enable the safe research,
development, use (including contained use), handling, transboundary
movement, including transit, of genetically modified organisms that
have an adverse effect on human/animal life, biodiversity and the
environment in Cameroon and meet the obligations foreseen under the
Cartagena Protocol.
*To build and, where appropriate, strengthen capacity at the
scientific, legal and administrative levels of key government
Ministries and other main stakeholders on how to implement
biosafety regulations and therefore enable the safe research (on),
use, commercialization and transfer of LMOs, identification and
handling of LMOs.
*To expand or provide facilities for improving research and
monitoring activities aimed at improving the assessment, management
and monitoring of the risk associated to Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs) as well as guaranteeing continuity of indigenous
species.
*To set up a Regional Center of Excellence for biosafety.
*To strengthen information sharing with relevant stakeholders,
civil society, and community based organizations through
networking, the Biosafety National Clearing House Portal and the
involvement of NGOs.
*To enhance public awareness on biosafety issues, measures and
procedures, disseminate information to the public, also using the
traditional systems of communication.
Objectives
The goal of the Project is to develop and strengthen the capacity
of the Government of Cameroon in order to implement the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety by: supporting the entry into force and
implementation of national legislation, strengthening national
biosafety facilities, training main stakeholders, establishing a
good National Information System to be linked to the National
Biosafety Clearing House and promoting public awareness.
Main outcomes
The following are the expected outcomes of the project:
1) Support provided to start the implementation of the
regulatory/administrative biosafety management system according to
the Bill on "Regulating Safety in Modern Biotechnology in
Cameroon".
2) Three national workshops carried out on biosafety
legislation and procedures.
3) Training manual for policy makers, regulators and
decision-makers on basic requirements for risk assessment and AIA
procedure developed and disseminated.
4) NABA technical staff trained on procedures for implementing the
National Biosafety Framework
5) Around 200 people (including representatives of NGOs, Community
Based Organizations and Civil Society) trained in: legislative and
administrative aspects related to national biosafety legislation,
scientific experimentation, risk assessment and monitoring.
6) Staff of the Regional Center of Excellence for
Biotechnology/Biosafety, once established, to be trained.
7) Three information management experts trained on-the-job in
evaluation and dissemination of the BCH in order to facilitate the
AIA process development.
8) Training programme on biosafety integrated into
schools/university curricula.
9) Technical guidelines on risk assessment/monitoring developed and
approved
10) Research facilities provided to IRAD, the Biotechnology Center
and other University Centers to serve as centers for risk
assessment, management and monitoring.
11) Equip laboratories, quarantine facilities and national gene
banks to monitor/ensure the continuity of indigenous species of the
nation's biological diversity.
12) A Regional Center of Excellence for Biotechnology/Biosafety
established by strengthening the actual Biotechnology Center with
laboratory equipment and other infrastructure needed for risk
assessment/management/monitoring.
13) National Biosafety database system established and linked to
the BCH.
14) Biosafety portal for Cameroon opened.
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