Fatiha Djehiche, Algeria, supported a budget increase for GM activities

Maria Urquiza Rodriguez, CUBA, and others called for the GM to be given the resources to fully carry out its funding mobilization role. SENEGAL highlighted the GM's role in facilitating partnerships for pilot projects

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The EU said the GM had demonstrated its effectiveness as a brokering institution, helping improve resource allocation for CCD implementation, and stated that it was important to enhance its response capacity. He proposed, however, that the question of enhancing the GM's response capacity should be taken up at COP-6 when more information will be available through the review of its policies and activities. He also said that the GM should prioritize use of existing resources to activities directly contributing to innovative approaches to cooperation and resource mobilization, adding that other activities, such as information dissemination and mainstreaming, should be priorities only where they contribute to such activities

Maria Mbengashe, South Africa, expressed appreciation for the GM's work in its subregion, and its role in mobilizing support for NAPs

Djiri Dakar, Burkina Faso, noted the important work of the GM in assisting developing countries to combat desertification at the local level

Stephen Muwaya, Uganda, noted financial constraints on the GM's work in his country and subregion, and said the GM is the instrument that should move the CCD from planning to implementation

GM Managing Director Per Rydén responded to delegates comments and concerns by noting, inter alia, that the GM: does not intend to duplicate the work of other organizations; is discussing the possibility of capacity-building support in accessing GEF funding; and is continuing its efforts to mobilize new resources for CCD implementation. He also underlined the necessity of increasing the GM's response capacity, particularly human resource capacity, and stressed the importance of voluntary contributions in effectively carrying of the GM's work

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Outstanding Items:
Consideration of Rule 47 of the rules of procedure: Delegates briefly considered Rule 47 of the rules of procedure, recalling that previous COPs had discussed Rule 47, and had not resolved the question of whether failure to reach consensus on a matter should be decided, as a last resort, by a "simple majority" or a "two-thirds majority" vote

Draft decision on collaboration with the GEF: The G-77/CHINA introduced a draft decision on the GEF for consideration by the COW. The proposed text includes decisions to: invite the next GEF Assembly in October 20002 to designate desertification as a GEF focal area; invite the GEF Assembly to identify the GEF as the principal financial mechanisms for CCD implementation; request the CCD's Executive Secretary to explore modalities for anticipating funding needs and defining the focal area with regards to the GEF replenishment; requests the Executive Secretary to liaise with the GM in consultations with the GEF Secretariat to develop a Memorandum of Understanding; and calls on the third replenishment of the GEF to take account of the need for "new adequate and additional financial resources" with regard to the new focal area

Draft decision on the WSSD: The G-77/CHINA then introduced a draft decision on the WSSD, which: welcomes the establishment of a Panel of Eminent Persons to consider the poverty-environment nexus and asks that the Panel's outcomes be submitted to the WSSD; requests the CCD's Executive Secretary to continue to participate actively in WSSD preparations to ensure that CCD goals are reflected in its outcome; invites the WSSD to address new challenges and opportunities relating to desertification and land degradation, with a view to renewing its political commitments; requests the Secretariat to produce comprehensive reports on CCD implementation for the WSSD Preparatory Committee; and invites developed countries to support CCD National Focal Points and NGOs participate in the WSSD process