<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Dear colleague,</span><br>
</div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>The Secretariat of the<b> Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services</b> (<a href="http://www.ipbes.net" target="_blank">IPBES</a>) has now issued a <b>second call for experts</b> to help scope, advise on and deliver the 2014-2018 work programme. Governments and relevant stakeholders can put forward nominations, from which the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel of IPBES will select a maximum of 20% of experts from the stakeholder nominations, and the rest from the government nominations. IPBES will make use of the best scientists and experts from all relevant disciplines (natural science, social science, economics, traditional knowledge), and will aim at a geographical and gender balance among those experts in the delivery of the IPBES work programme. <br>
<br>Herewith, we are seeking <b>expert nominations for the Belgian government</b> to submit to the IPBES Secretariat. Details on the Call and Nomination process are provided below. </font><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">For more information, please contact Dr. Hilde Eggermont (</span><a href="mailto:h.eggermont@biodiversity.be" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" target="_blank">h.eggermont@biodiversity.be</a><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">) or Dr. Hans Keune (</span><a href="mailto:hans.keune@inbo.be" style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif" target="_blank">hans.keune@inbo.be</a><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">), Belgian Biodiversity Platform.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> </span></div>
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<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br><b><u><font color="#0b5394">2nd Call for Experts:</font></u></b></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><font color="#0b5394"><b><u><br></u></b></font>As agreed during IPBES-2, the Plenary has established a number of task forces and expert groups to take forward the elements of the 2014-2018 work programme (see attached: Decisions IPBES 2 and Annexes). In line with the agreed procedures, Governments and other relevant stakeholders are invited to nominate and present names of experts to participate in the following expert groups:<br>
<br>(1 ) Expert groups to <b>scope a set of regional and sub-regional assessments</b>, implementing work <b>programme deliverable 2b</b>, for consideration by the Plenary at its 3rd Session, including the following:<br>- Expert group for Africa<br>
- Expert group for Asia and Pacific<br>- Expert group for the Americas and the Caribbean<br>- Expert group for Europe and Central Asia<br>- Expert group for Antarctica (Nb: Arctic regions will be integrated in relevant regional scoping meetings)<br>
To promote integration across regions, it is anticipated that a joint meeting of all these regional experts would take place at a single location (tentatively set in Nairobi) on 17-23 August 2014, including 2 days dedicated to capacity building.<br>
<br>(2) Expert group to<b> scope a thematic assessment of land degradation and restoration</b> for consideration by the Plenary at its 3rd session, implementing work programme <b>deliverable 3bi</b>. A scoping meeting is anticipated in the week commencing 8 September 2014.<br>
<br><br><b><u><font color="#0b5394">Applicant information/Nomination procedure:</font><br></u></b><br>(1) Nominees are invited to fill out an <b>Application form</b> and attach their Curricula Vitae through the dedicated webportal (<a href="http://www.ipbes.net/applicationform.html" target="_blank">http://www.ipbes.net/applicationform.html</a>); a sampe of the applicant form is attached. Please use the following details on your application form for Section B (Details of Government supporting your nomination):</font><div>
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Type: Government</i></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Position of contact person: Belgian IPBES National Focal Point (Belgian Biodiversity Platform)</i></font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Full Name (Nominator) Dr. Hilde Eggermont</i></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Email (Nominator): <a href="mailto:h.eggermont@biodiversity.be" target="_blank">h.eggermont@biodiversity.be</a></i></font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i>Phone nr: +32-238-3495</i></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">(2) The <b>Application form</b> will automatically be sent to the Nominating Government or Organisation, for approval. </font><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Nominees will receive an acknowledgement message once the </span><b style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Nomination Form</b><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> is submitted by the National Focal Point to the IPBES Secretariat (deadline 8th June)</span></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br>Belgian applicants are requested to submit their application</b> <b>by 26 May 2014 at the latest</b>, to allow enough time for government endorsement. Earlier applications are encouraged. All nominated individuals should be requested to ensure that they are available on the above indicated dates to participate in the relevant meetings.<br>
<br>Please note that a <b>subsequent call for nominations of experts</b> to contribute to other work programme deliverables (Invasive alien species, and Sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity; work programme deliverables 3bii and 3biii) will be circulated later this year. The <b>outcome of the first call for experts</b> (launched January 2014) will soon be available online for your information. Selected experts will be informed shortly.<br>
<b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">In the same context,<b> a Belgian information session on IPBES</b> will be organized on <b>16th May 2014</b> in the Belgian Science Policy Office, Brussels (9 am to 1 pm). This session will help the Belgian scientific community to better evaluate their potential contribution to the implementation of the 2014-2018 IPBES Work Programme. For more information and registration, check: <a href="http://www.biodiversity.be/ipbes" target="_blank">http://www.biodiversity.be/ipbes</a></font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <br>We look forward to receiving your applications, and kindly request you to circulate this invitation amongst your networks. <br>
<br>With very best regards,<br><br>Dr. Hilde Eggermont,</font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">IPBES National Focal Point - Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BelSPO)<br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.biodiversity.be" target="_blank">www.biodiversity.be</a></font></div>
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</font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Attachment 1: Sample Form_Application for the Work Programme deliverables</font></div></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Attachment 2: Decisions IPBES-2 and Annexes</font></div>
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