Last updated: 22/05/2013

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the general questions and answers section. We update the page with questions and answers from users like you. We hope you find them helpful and informative.

  • What type of projects does the Benefit-sharing Fund invest in?

    The Benefit-sharing Fund of the Treaty provides financial support to projects with the following priorities:

    i) information exchange, technology transfer and capacity-building for the implementation of the International Treaty;

    ii) Managing and conserving plant genetic resources for food and agriculture on-farm; and

    iii) The sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

  • Who is eligible for funding under the Benefit-sharing Fund?

    Any governmental or non-governmental organization, including genebanks and research institutions, farmers and farmers’ organizations, regional and international organizations based in a developing country that is a Contracting Party to the Treaty. The Secretariat of the Treaty will provide a list of the Contracting Parties eligible to apply for support under the Benefit-sharing Fund for each round of the project cycle, based on a complete list of developing countries derived from the most recent World Bank’s classification of economies.

  • How should a project proposal be submitted?

    According to the Eligibility Criteria and Operational Procedures approved by the Governing Body, project pre-proposals and proposals should be presented to the Secretary of the Treaty through the Contracting Party or Contracting Parties in question.

  • Will financial support only be given to projects related to Annex I crops?

     

    The Governing Body and its Bureau have decided in the past for each call for proposal whether funds are to be provided to projects related to Annex I crops or to all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. This information may change from one call to another. In every case, plant genetic resources for food and agriculture listed in Annex I of the International Treaty resulting from projects funded by the Benefit-sharing Fund shall be made available according to the terms and conditions of the Multilateral System.

     

  • What are the steps of the project cycle of the Benefit-sharing Fund?

    According to the Operational Procedures approved by the Governing Body, the following are the steps of the process for the selection of projects to be funded under the Benefit-sharing Fund:

    i) opening of the call for proposals;

    ii) submission of pre-proposals;

    iii) screening and response to pre-proposals by the Bureau members;

    iv) submission of project proposals from approved pre-proposals;

    v) appraisal of project proposals, based on recommendations made by a panel of experts;

    vi) approval of projects for funding within the project cycle;

    vii) disbursement;

    viii) reporting and monitoring;

    ix) independent evaluation.

    The Governing Body at its Fourth Session emphasized that quality, relevance according to selection criteria and technical merit will determine, in a transparent manner, the appraisal and approval of full project proposals.
     

  • When is the next Call for Proposals going to be opened?

    The Governing Body decides on the opening of the Call for Proposals under the Benefit-sharing Fund, according to the established procedures. For the opening of the first two calls for proposals the Governing Body delegated the Bureau of the International Treaty, that is composed of seven regional representatives. The Secretariat disseminates the announcement of the call and all the related information is posted on its website: www.planttreaty.org

  • How can I know when the next Call for Proposals under the Benefit-sharing Fund will be opened?

    The announcement of each call for proposals under the Benefit-sharing Fund is posted in the Treaty’s website and a formal notification is sent by e-mail to all the National Focal Points of the Contracting Parties of the International Treaty and through other well established communication channels. Additionally, the Secretariat has widely distributed the announcements by e-mail to all the registered users of the website and the subscribers of the newsletter of the International Treaty. The Secretariat has partnered with other institutions to get the call posted online and disseminated to wider audiences. If you have not done so yet, you can subscribe now to receive our updates.