CRIC 9 Chair Chencho Norbu, Bhutan, opened the ninth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Committee (CRIC 9) on Monday, 21 February, highlighting the new reporting system, PRAIS, based on performance indicators. Friedrich Kitschelt, Director General, Africa and Global and Sectoral Affairs, BMZ, on behalf of German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel, welcomed delegates to Bonn. He said the work of the CRIC is an opportunity to increase transparency and democratic governance for affected people and the public at large to see whether resources are used in the most effective way.

Following additional opening statements, delegates discussed the assessment of implementation of the Convention against the performance indicators and the preliminary analysis of information contained in reports from parties and other United Nations agencies and intergovernmental organizations on operational objectives 1, 2 and 3 of the UNCCD Strategy, namely: advocacy, awareness raising and education; policy framework; and science, technology and knowledge. During the afternoon, delegates discussed reports on operational objective 4, capacity building, and 5, financing and technology transfer.

Two contacts groups were established, on the assessment of implementation and review of financial flows, chaired by Naser Moghaddasi (Iran), and on improving the quality and format of the reports and other matters, chaired by Jorge Luis Garcia (Mexico). The contact group on financial flows met on Monday evening.

Meetings for the national focal points within their Regional Implementation Annexes, of regional groups and a number of side events were scheduled throughout the day. CRIC 9 participants also attended an evening reception hosted by the City of Bonn.