Programme Cooperation Agreement 2012 – 2013

• GRID-Arendal participated in the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Abidjan Convention (COP10) in November 2012. The theme of the COP10 meeting was ‘Financing Marine and Coastal Environ- mental Management projects in Africa’. GRID-Arendal presented its Sustainable Seas Programme and organ- ized a side event focussed on Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction . • During 2013, GRID-Arendal produced a package of communication and outreach products and services for the AbuDhabi Blue CarbonDemonstration Project. 145 These included: an AGEDI brochure, an infographic factsheet, a project flyer (in English and Arabic), an in- fographic edible postcard, a project description video, a newsletter, editorials and a series of presentation mate- rials. GRID-Arendal also facilitated the updating of the Blue Carbon website 146 with social media integration and the setting up of the Blue Carbon Vimeo channel. • In October 2013 GRID-Arendal was invited by UNEP to present lessons learned in developing the Blue Forests Project FSP and in implementing the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project at the 7 th Biennial GEF International Waters Conference (IWC7). 147 GRID-Aren- dal also facilitated the Targeted Workshop on Economic Valuation for GEF IW Project Managers and Agencies at IWC7. • The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project also featured in the May 2013 edition of the Etihad Air- ways in-flight magazine in an article titled ‘A pioneering project’. 148 In addition, GRID-Arendal and AGEDI staff engaged with the Royal Norwegian Embassy 149 in Abu Dhabi and a story on the project was featured on the Embassy’s web site. • GRID-Arendal led a Green Economy and Blue Carbon session at the July 2013 AIMS regional preparatory 145. http://bluecarbonportal.org/?page_id=8489 146. http:bluecarbonportal.org 147. http://iwlearn.net/abt_iwlearn/events/conferences/iwc7-2013/ index_html 148. C:\Users\skaalvik\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\26XA8XZC\bluecarbonportal. org\?download=10026 149. http://norway.ae/

meeting leading up to the 2014 SIDS Summit, and was invited to co-implement a Nairobi Convention Green Economy workshop in Seychelles in December 2013. • In February 2013, a well-visited side event on the Arctic was held during UNEP’s Governing Council meeting. Anders Oskal, from the International Centre for Rein- deer Husbandry, represented the Nomadic Herders GEF project on the panel and made a presentation on ‘Emerging threats to the Arctic environment and indig- enous people´s livelihoods’. 150 • From October 2012 to October 2013 UN-related or- ganizations in Norway, including GRID-Arendal, have facilitated 15 thematic consultations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda . GRID-Arendal hosted two of the consultations. The outcome of this process was presented in a summary report entitled The Future We Want For All - Report on the National Post-2015 Consulta- tions in Norway , that was presented to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a seminar held on 24 October 2013 in Oslo. • GRID-Arendal participated with an exhibition stand at the Sustainable Destinations conference of Innovasjon Norge in January 2013. The message of the Minister of Commerce that Norway is aiming to become the most sustainable tourist destination in the world may give GRID-Arendal opportunities for closer cooperation with Innovasjon Norge (which handles most of the tourism budget of the Ministry). • GRID-Arendal takes part in the annual celebration of International Week in Arendal, Norway. The week long event, which features seminars and workshops, exhibi- tions, a film-series, and other activities targeting differ- ent audiences, is jointly organized by GRID-Arendal and other regional and local organizations, to create aware- ness on the chosen theme of the celebration, to pro- mote action at all levels and to facilitate dialogue across all stakeholders. The focus of the 2012 celebration was on sustainable energy in support of the 2012 UN Year of Sustainable Energy for All. The focus of the 2013 celebra- tion was on water cooperation in support of the 2013.

150. http://www.grida.no/polar/news/5404.aspx?p=2

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