ENB CCD COP-2: Photosand RealAudio for 9 December

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	Delegates adopted the CST draft decision on traditional knowledge and the draft decision on the date and venue of COP-3, which shall be held in Recife, Brazil from 15-26 November 1999.
JAPAN announced that it had become a Party to the CCD Thursday. He called on the US and other non-Parties to conclude the process of accession to Party status .
Second Dialogue with NGOs
	Octavio Perez Pardo (Argentina) Co-Chaired the NGO Dialogue with Venkat Ramnayya (Youth for Action and RIOD-India, shown here). Ramnayya introduced the dialogue on the process of developing NAPs and noted the importance of an enabling environment, including decision-making power and technological access and choice.
On civil society and community participation, Masse Lo (Enda-TM and RIOD) said participation is higher and NAPs are better when civil society is well organized and has a tradition of NGO activities. He recommended information promotion and awareness raising strategies to facilitate local community involvement and linking NAPs with national development plans (French).
	On participation of affected populations, particularly women, in the NAP process, Louabe Sock (Womens Caucus of RIOD) said women have been heavily involved in NAP preparation in the developing world, particularly in Africa. She discussed a Senegalese case study on women's role in this regard and called for more attention to women's voices at all levels (French).
On capacity building for CBOs, NGOs and governments, Naftali Onchere (EcoNews Africa) identified ways to enhance local capacity, including improved local networks, assistance to women and strengthened local-level informal institutions (English).
	On partnership arrangements, Jurgen Gliese (NGO German Working Group on Desertification) discussed a report on institutional issues for partnership. He noted that partner-ships are generally determined by the concerned institutions' legal status, policy mandates, operational levels and financial and human resources.He said partnerships are subject to dynamics that call for continued "product improvement." (English)

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