Project objective: To undertake an analysis of e-commerce supply chains in products of CITES-listed medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) in support of the implementation of decisions adopted by the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES.
Project background: The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between states. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival (www.cites.org). This project will support the CITES Secretariat in the implementation of Decision 19.261 on Trade in medicinal and aromatic plant species adopted by Parties to CITES at the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19, Panama City, 2022).
Project description: The project responds to the decision on medicinal and aromatic plant species adopted by CITES Parties that instructs the Secretariat to undertake an analysis of e-commerce supply chains in products of CITES-listed medicinal and aromatic plant species, including exploring the applicability of using the Medicinal Plant Names Service (MPNS) database in the analysis. The analysis must include:
- stakeholder analysis of the key producers, intermediate traders, manufacturers or distribution platforms to end consumers, and of institutions influencing the demand for CITES-regulated medicinal and aromatic plant products in biomedical, traditional and alternative medical systems, cosmetic and personal care, food industries (as appropriate), and
- an assessment whether existing annotations are adequate with respect to the principles and principles recommended in Resolution Conf. 11.21 (Rev. CoP19) on Use of annotations in Appendices I and II.
Project requirements: The call for proposals is open to technically competent non-profit organizations and research- and academic institutions. Proposals must focus on the implementation of paragraph c) of Decision 19.261 on Trade in medicinal and aromatic plant species. Proposals should be submitted in accordance with the application template provided below. Applying institutions should demonstrate:
i) relevant previous experience,
ii) approach and methodology to be used to implement activities,
iii) databases deemed relevant to undertake the project and confirmation of access to these relevant databases,
iv) analytical competences related to required databases,
v) capacity to undertake required analyses, and
vi) capacity to interpret findings and to transform results into user-friendly narrative reports and supplementary materials.
Applying institutions are invited to outline perceived challenges to implement activities and to deliver the required reports described supra, how they suggest addressing these challenges, and whether they suggest any amendments to the proposed activities and deliverables.
Implementation start date: 2 November 2023
Implementation end date: 29 March 2024
Submission deadline: 30 September, 2024
Detailed call for proposals: Link to the detailed call for proposals document, SEA Declaration
Who can apply: Technically competent non-profit organizations and research - and academic institutions
How to apply: Please send the project proposal using the application template provided to [email protected]