PROJECT SUMMARY 1. Despite the high value of biological resources to Madagascar’s rapidly growing human population, the threat of biodiversity loss remains a concern. This requires effective enforcement of management and control systems as well as coherent and fair benefit-sharing protocols along the value chains. This is however hampered by the lack of complete policy and legal frameworks for access and benefit sharing (ABS). The existing frameworks, policies, and laws do not adequately address ABS issues, their coordination and enforcement. Existing institutional and personnel capacity and inter-institutional and cross-sectoral coordination to effectively implement the Nagoya Protocol are weak for ABS implementation at national and local levels. The current measures are based on a provisional law (Decree n°066-2017) and a duly designated Competent National Authority (CNA). 2. This project has therefore been designed to strengthen the political, institutional and legal framework for the effective implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing from the Use of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in Madagascar through a participatory approach reflected in the following 4 components: • Component 1 will take stock and assess gaps of ABS provisions in existing policies, laws and regulations, and build on those that are already in place to ensure that the CNA has the necessary tools and mechanisms for effective implementation of ABS. In addition, the project will further refine and put in place the necessary institutional frameworks to strengthen the implementation of the ABS mechanism in Madagascar. • For a country to be able to utilize its biological diversity in perpetuity, face to high level of threat, there is a need for awareness programs and appropriate education of all stakeholders. Component 2 is designed to address these needs through awareness raising and capacity building. Project activities will include rigorous lobbying and development of relevant genderresponsive protocols with communities using best practices and lessons learned during project implementation. • Component 3 will establish a system of inter-sectoral coordination and monitoring of ABS in Madagascar through the establishment of a Monitoring Unit. This Unit will provide technical and professional advice to the CAN and provide act as clearing house for ABS applications. A centralised monitoring unit is essential to lead ABS compliance and oversight to ensure that support mechanisms (data collection and management, monitoring, etc.) are adopted at the central, regional and community levels. • Component 4 will establish knowledge management and gender equality as operating principles for ABS in Madagascar. It is now recognised that knowledge management and gender equality are critical to guide future developments of the ABS under the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This component will promote gender mainstreaming in all ABS processes, including during implementation of this project. The best practices and lessons learned from implementation of this project will be carefully documented, shared among stakeholders and applied during the project activities and for other ABS processes elsewhere.