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INFORMAL NEGOTIATIONS ON FINANCE

Wednesday evening's negotiations on financial resources and mechanisms (Articles 20 and 21) went until 5:00 am Thursday morning, at the end of which emerged two draft negotiating texts. Article 20 states that developed country Parties, while giving preference to Africa without neglecting other affected developing country Parties, would "undertake" to, among other activities: mobilize substantial financial resources including grants and concessional loans; promote the mobilization of adequate, timely and predictable financial resources; and facilitate the transfer of knowledge, know-how and technologies. Likewise, developing country Parties would undertake to mobilize adequate financial resources. The mechanisms to be utilized would involve national, bilateral and multilateral funding mechanisms and resources, as well as private sector sources, utilizing the operational mechanisms developed pursuant to Article 14. Among other proposals, Article 21 establishes a Global Mechanism to promote actions leading to the mobilization and channeling of substantial financial resources and national desertification funds; and strengthens existing funds and financial mechanisms.

Some delegates said that although substantive progress was made on Wednesday and there was a tendency towards a consensus on several issues, Thursday's negotiations were less productive. The main issues discussed on Thursday focused on the possibility for new and additional funding; the deletion of the reference to 0.7% of GNP for ODA in the preamble; Article 6 on the obligations of the developed country Parties; and the reference to the Global Environment Facility as one of the funding avenues. There is almost consensus that the title of Article 6 should be "Obligations of developed country Parties." By 11:00 pm, the informal group was still negotiating these issues.

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