ACCOBAMS Strategy

A special Working Group was organised to prepare a Strategy proposal, based on the analysis of the ACCOBAMS effectiveness for the 2002 – 2010 period. This Working Group included 24 members: ACCOBAMS Bureau, representatives of the Parties, Partners, Consultants and Secretariat of the Bonn Convention. In addition, 20 participants of the regional workshops, representing Parties and relevant regional agreements, actively contributed to preparation of the strategic document.

The Strategy includes seven main elements: Analysis of present state of ACCOBAMS affairs; ACCOBAMS Mission; Vision; Objectives; Action plan; Implementation and financing; Monitoring and revision of the Strategy.

The Analysis of present state encompases results of the evaluation of the ACCOBAMS effectiveness and reflections of the Working Groups’ members about the Agreement’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). According to the effectiveness analysis, ACCOBAMS has not succeed in ensuring good status of cetacean populations, but it managed to improve regional cooperation; both by linking scientists and facilitating that countries with good human and financial capacities help those with no or weak capacities. The willingness to help countries with less resources and high motivation of some members of the ACCOBAMS structure were identified as the main strengths on which the Strategy should be built upon. On the other hand, insufficient support of the sectoral stakeholders has been identified as the most relevant weakness, followed with weak compliance. The constant demand to address emerging issues and the potential for synergies with existing and operating international agreements are the best opportunities to use, while energy crisis, political instability in some regions and financial crisis are challenges that should be considered in the future.

The implementation of the Strategy will be based on the operational work programmes for triennial periods, elaborating Strategy Action plan in more details. The Agreement funds (trust fund, voluntary contributions) will remain as the important source of funding, but more emphasis should be given to use of external funding.

Monitoring of the Strategy implementation progress will include regular monitoring of operational work programmes and resolutions implementation. The overall effectiveness will be evaluated after 5 years of implementation and at the end of the Strategy period, as a basis for the Strategy revision.

 

New ACCOBAMS Strategy adopted by the 7^th Meeting of the Parties (2019)

Overall objective: “to manage effectively the Agreement and to improve the conservation status of cetaceans and of their habitats in the area of competence of the Agreement by 2030”