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Chair's training Nov 2026_Invite.pdf

BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS

Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

United Nations Environment Programme

Office Address: International Environment House 1

11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland

Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 8271 ¦ Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 8098 ¦ E-mail: [email protected]

Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy

Tel.: +39 06 5705 2061 ¦ Fax: +39 06 5705 3224 ¦ E-mail: [email protected]

10 August 2026

Subject: Invitation to nominate candidates for the training of potential chairs for meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and

Stockholm conventions, Geneva, Switzerland, 25-27 November 2026

Dear Madam/Sir,

We are pleased to invite you to nominate one or more candidates to participate in the training of potential chairs for

meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. The training will be composed of two sequential components: the

chairs’ online training course, followed by a three-day face-to-face workshop. The face-to-face workshop will be held from 25

to 27 November 2026 at the International Environment House II, Chemin de Balexert 7-9, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland,

back to back with the joint meeting of the bureaux of the conferences of the Parties (Geneva, 23-24 November 2026).

The training aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of representatives of Parties to effectively chair various types of

meetings across the three conventions. It addresses practical and procedural issues encountered by chairs of international

meetings, including preparations, effective conduct of meetings, rules of procedure, administrative matters related to the

operation of various meetings under the three conventions, as well as gender equality considerations and awareness of cultural

differences.

The training will include presentations, case studies and simulation exercises. Senior negotiators who have previously

served as chairs will share their experiences, lessons learned, and best practices. Further information about the training is

contained in the attached outline. The Secretariat gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support of the European Union

and the Government of Germany for organizing this training.

In light of the above, you are invited to nominate one or more candidates to participate in the training and, in so doing, to

nominate candidates who fulfil the criteria below:

• A leading role in the negotiations under the Basel, Rotterdam and/or Stockholm conventions at the international level,

including participation in at least one meeting of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm

conventions and/or in their subsidiary bodies in recent years;

• Expected to participate in the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm

conventions and/or in the meetings of their subsidiary bodies in forthcoming years;

• Fluent in English (level C1/C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference or equivalent);

• Desire to participate in upcoming meetings under the three conventions in the role of chair.

Parties are invited to consider nominating candidates that exercise functions as officers of the meetings of the conferences

of the Parties or members of subsidiary bodies to the three conventions. Involvement of the candidates in the Minamata

Convention on Mercury, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the intergovernmental negotiating

committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment and

the Global Framework on Chemicals at the international level would be an advantage.

To: Basel Convention Focal Points

Rotterdam Convention Official Contact Points

Stockholm Convention Official Contact Points

cc: Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva

Basel Convention Competent Authorities

Rotterdam Convention Designated National Authorities

Stockholm Convention National Focal Points

Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Page | 2

The nominated candidates are kindly requested to submit their curriculum vitae and the attached completed application

form by email as soon as possible, and no later than 10 September 2026 to [email protected]. Applications need to be

accompanied by an official letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a note verbale from the Permanent Mission to

the United Nations Office at Geneva confirming the nomination for the participation in the training. Please note that

applications will only be processed by the Secretariat if they are accompanied by an official letter from the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs or a note verbale from the Permanent Mission of your country in Geneva.

Participants will be selected following a review of the nominations by the Secretariat, taking into account the quality and

strength of their application materials based on the above-mentioned criteria, as well as geographical and gender considerations.

The selected participants will be informed of their selection in early October 2026. Please note that limited places are available

for this training, thus nominations received after the deadline will not be considered.

Subject to the availability of resources and in accordance with applicable United Nations (UN) rules, financial assistance

will be provided to support the participation of selected participants from developing-country Parties and Parties with economies

in transition in the above-mentioned workshop. This would include a return economy class air ticket at the most economical rate

via the most direct route and daily subsistence allowance (DSA) at the applicable UN rate for Geneva. Requests for financial

assistance must be processed by the Secretariat with sufficient time in advance of the training workshop to ensure the timely

issuance of air tickets and to allow time for candidates to apply for visas. For this reason, it will not be possible for the Secretariat

to consider requests for financial assistance after the 10 September 2026 deadline.

Please note that pursuant to decisions BC-17/28, RC-12/15, and SC-12/29 on programmes of work and budgets for the

biennium 2026-2027, in particular concerning arrears, the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm

conventions respectively decided that no representative of any Party whose contributions are in arrears for 4 (four) years or more,

and that has not agreed on or is not respecting a schedule of payments, shall be eligible to receive financial support to attend

“intersessional workshops or other informal meetings”.

Thus, we take this opportunity to invite you to check the status of the Party that you represent and find some guidance on

how to settle arrears under the relevant Convention, by clicking on the following link(s):

https://www.basel.int/tabid/10484/ (BC);

https://www.pic.int/tabid/10486/ (RC);

https://www.pops.int/tabid/10485/ (SC).

If in arrears, we encourage all relevant national authorities to settle all outstanding arrears or to agree on a payment plan

before the deadline for nomination of candidates.

Given the cross-cutting nature of the training and its relevance beyond the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions

to the chemicals and waste cluster in general and in line with decisions BC-16/22, RC-11/9 and SC-11/21 on international

cooperation and coordination with other organizations, a limited number of participants involved in the work of the Global

Framework on Chemicals, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone

Layer and the intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic

pollution, including in the marine environment, will also be invited by the relevant organization to participate in the training.

More detailed information on the training programme and relevant training materials as well as travel arrangements will

be communicated to the participants once the review process of the nominations has been completed by the Secretariat.

If you have any further questions, please kindly contact Yunfang Hu (email: [email protected]).

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Encl.

- Outline of the training

- Application form

For: Rolph Payet

Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and

Stockholm Conventions

Yurdi Yasmi

Executive Secretary

of the Rotterdam Convention

Chair's training Nov 2026_Outline of programme.pdf

BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions United Nations Environment Programme Office Address: International Environment House 1 11–13, chemin des Anémones, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland Postal Address: c/o Palais des Nations, 8-14, avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 8271 ¦ Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 8098 ¦ E-mail: [email protected]

Secretariat of the Rotterdam Convention Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy Tel.: +39 06 5705 2061 ¦ Fax: +39 06 5705 3224 ¦ E-mail: [email protected]

Training of potential chairs for meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions,

25-27 November 2026, Geneva

Outline of the programme

Objective

In order to strengthen the implementation of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, there is a need to expand the number and diversity of trained, confident and willing chairs for the various meetings under the conventions. The three- day training workshop, combined with an online training component, will aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of government officials to effectively chair various types of meetings across the three conventions. Target audience

The training targets government representatives from countries that are Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions. Interested participants should have taken a leading role for their Governments in the negotiations under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions in the past, be expected to participate in such negotiations in the future and have an interest in serving as chairs in upcoming meetings under the conventions. Delegates involved in the work of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution and the Global Framework on Chemicals will also be invited to participate. Content

The training will address practical and procedural issues encountered by chairs and negotiators of international meetings, including preparations, effective conduct of meetings, rules of procedure, administrative matters related to the operation of various meetings under the three conventions, as well as chairing techniques and skills, gender equality considerations and awareness of cultural differences.

The training will be composed of two sequential components: the online training course for chairs, followed by the face- to-face workshop, which will include presentations, case studies and simulation exercises. Senior negotiators who have previously served as chairs will share their experiences, lessons learned, and best practices.

More specifically, the training will cover the following topics:

• Key procedures, institutions and actors involved in meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions • Basic principles of meeting operations relevant to chairs and negotiators, including procedural and substantive

aspects • Fundamentals of chairing and negotiating • Management of and participation in contact groups

The Secretariat gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support of the European Union and the Government of Germany for the organization of the workshop.

Chairs training Nov 2026_Application form.doc

APPLICATION FORM

TRAINING OF POTENTIAL CHAIRS FOR MEETINGS
OF THE BASEL, ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOLM CONVENTIONS

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 25-27 NOVEMBER 2026

TO BE COMPLETED BY EACH MEETING PARTICIPANT

Please type or print clearly (do not use abbreviations) and return the completed form by Thursday, 10 September 2026 to [email protected].

COUNTRY

PARTICIPANT DATA:

MR MS

FIRST NAME

LAST NAME

FUNCTIONAL TITLE

SECTION / DEPARTMENT

NAME OF ORGANIZATION /
INSTITUTION

COMPLETE MAILING: ADDRESS, STREET ADDRESS or P.O. BOX, CITY, COUNTRY

TELEPHONE:
(including country and city code)

MOBILE TELEPHONE:
(including country code)

E-MAIL ADDRESS(ES):

Please attach your curriculum vitae.

Please note that application forms will only be processed by the Secretariat if they are accompanied by an official nomination letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a note verbale from the Permanent Mission of your country to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

It is essential that we receive your application form by the deadline indicated above to process travel support, where applicable. We will not be able to process incomplete forms. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Only for representatives from Governments eligible for financial support:
Are you requesting financial support?
Yes No
City of departure (airport):

Please also provide a copy of the first page of your national passport (valid for more than 6 months).

SECTION TO BE FILLED BY ALL PARTICIPANTS

PLEASE INDICATE WHETHER YOU MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
Leading role in the negotiations under the Basel, Rotterdam and/or Stockholm conventions at the international level, including participation in at least one meeting of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions and/or in their subsidiary bodies in recent years.

Yes (if yes, explain) No

Expected to participate in the meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions and/or in the meetings of their subsidiary bodies in forthcoming years.

Yes No Not sure

Fluent in English (level C1/C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference or equivalent).

Yes No

Desire to participate in upcoming meetings under the three conventions in the role of chair.

Yes No

Involvement in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment and the Global Framework on Chemicals at the international level.

Yes (if yes, explain) No

Please explain below reasons why you would be interested in the training (a motivational statement) (max 200 words):

E-kiri.eml

Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.
Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.

Dear Sir / Madam,

Please find attached an invitation to nominate candidates for the upcoming training of potential chairs for meetings of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions, Geneva, Switzerland, 25-27 November 2026.

We look forward to receiving applications, including an official nomination letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a note verbale from the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the completed application form and a curricula vitae of the candidates, by 10 September 2026 to [email protected].

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions