The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Resolution IX.24 on improving management of the Convention

Resolution IX.24

Improving management of the Ramsar Convention

1. RECALLING that the Contracting Parties have established decision-making mechanisms and procedures for guiding the operation of the Convention;

2. NOTING that the Standing Committee, the Subgroup on Finance, the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, and the Secretariat have well served the Convention in this regard;

3. RECOGNIZING the importance of the close working relationship and collaboration between the Contracting Parties and the Secretariat;

4. EMPHASIZING the need for the Secretariat to conduct its work in a manner that meets the needs of the Contracting Parties in the most transparent, professional and efficient manner possible, as well as for Contracting Parties to contribute to the implementation of the Convention in the most efficient and effective manner;

5. ALSO RECOGNIZING the ever-increasing complexity of the issues and activities undertaken by the Convention; and

6. AFFIRMING the desire of the Contracting Parties to continuously improve the functioning of the management structures of the Convention and their linkages with the Secretariat;

THE CONFERENCE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES

7. ESTABLISHES an ad hoc Management Working Group to examine and review the various management structures and systems in place within the Convention and to report back to the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2008 with their recommendations on:

a) improving the existing terms of reference and/or operating procedures of the Standing Committee, the Subgroup on Finance, the Scientific and Technical Review Panel, Regional Meetings, and the Secretariat;

b) establishing any new management structures the Working Group concludes may be needed; and

c) strengthening linkages between the Contracting Parties and the International Organization Partners;

8. DETERMINES that the Management Working Group comprises:

a) the Chair and Vice Chair of the Standing Committee established at COP8;

b) the Chair and Vice Chair of the Standing Committee established at COP9;

c) the COP8 and COP9 Chairs of the Subgroup on Finance;

d) the COP8 and COP9 Chairs of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel;

e) any other interested Contracting Parties, keeping in mind the desirability of equitable regional participation, or International Organization Partners;

f) the Secretary General ex officio; and

g) an appropriate expert on organizational review, to be determined by the Working Group, subject to there being no implications for the Convention's budget; and

9. INSTRUCTS the Working Group to report regularly to the Standing Committee on progress made and to report its findings to COP10 in 2008.