


Botswana, on behalf of the African Group, said technology transfer must address: water provision and purification; energy development, particularly renewable alternative energies; and agricultural technologies for improved husbandry and food security. Niger stated that agricultural production and processing should be developed simultaneously. Norway and ICRISAT stressed the need to strengthen the extension services. Mexico suggested the establishment of pilot projects for the transfer of technology.

Many agreed that the adaptation and utilization of any technology must be culturally, environmentally, socially and economically relevant. Finland explained that technology development should be demand-driven and that its development largely depends on its adaptability and acceptability.

China proposed five aspects that should be addressed: provision for the transfer of patented technology to developing countries; development of mechanisms that facilitate the utilization of traditional experiences; integration of these with modern technologies to improve them; stipulation of the role of IGOs and NGOs in technology cooperation; provision of a financial mechanism; and capacity building.

Belgium, on behalf of the EC, stressed the need to cover patent issues and to involve the private and government sectors in technology transfer. Austria suggested that countries with unpatented know-how that is considered common knowledge should be made available for South-South cooperation. Canada warned that many unpatented technologies exist, and that this issue should be addressed.

The US, Norway and the EC supported the use of existing institutions in the process. Niger highlighted the need to identify the weaknesses of these institutions so they can be improved. Burundi preferred the creation of new institutions.

Benin, supported by Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Australia, emphasized the need for training and Burundi underscored the need to train peasants and women. Sudan stressed the need to prevent dumping of technologies.

The Africans supported the need to develop alternative renewable energies, but Saudi Arabia stated that the issue of energy security should be deleted since it is being addressed by other institutions. Malaysia suggested deleting reference to the utilization of biodiversity, since it is covered under the Biodiversity Convention. Tanzania suggested an amendment that stresses biodiversity in "dryland areas." Tanzania also said there is need to promote technologies that improve traditional ones, such as water harvesting and agroforestry techniques as well as remote sensing facilities that supplement traditional monitoring mechanisms.

Belgium re-emphasized the need for demand-driven technology transfer. Zimbabwe concurred, but emphasized that demand is also influenced by the awareness of existing technologies. She said that technology transfer should include the know-how necessary to build local capacity.

Bolivia suggested that direct exchanges between countries with similar characteristics would be useful. Gambia charged that government policies were not always conducive to technology transfer and needed to be re-assessed. UNESCO mentioned the need to encourage the private sector to invest in these marginal areas, while providing patented and subsidized technology.



Belgium (EC), the US and Sweden agreed that aid agencies must increase their knowledge of affected populations. Not only should capacity be developed among local populations, but local populations should contribute their special knowledge to decision-making. It was noted by a number of countries that decision making should be decentralized and include the full participation of women, youth, children, NGOs, and local populations. Niger pointed out that strengthening the capacity of local populations includes, in part, combatting illiteracy and sharing knowledge, assets and power.


Japan urged that capacity building measures should be regionally and nationally relevant. Zimbabwe stated that capacity building should be locally driven, not donor driven. This point was echoed by China and Benin who said that local communities must take over their resources on a democratic basis.


Norway asked UNDP, within its Capacity 21 initiative, to prepare a comprehensive review of national level capacity and to identify where capacity will be needed to implement the Convention. Armenia referred to the Climate Change and Biodiversity Conventions as useful models for capacity-building regimes.
