Participation of end-users
To ensure the development of a useful tool, directed towards national needs, the involvement of end-users in TEMATEA has been a priority from the start.
The Issue-Based Modules are therefore developed and applied in close cooperation with a Steering Committee composed of representatives from UNEP, IUCN, UNEP-WCMC, IUCN-ELC, the MEA secretariats, pilot countries and other relevant United Nations bodies, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Steering Committee provides guidance to the further development and implementation of TEMATEA and meets on a yearly basis.
Since national measures are key to improving the coherent implementation of conventions, pilot countries from different regions are closely involved in both the development and implementation of these modules. Currently there are 12 TEMATEA pilot countries, namely Belgium, Cuba, Georgia, Hungary, Morocco, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Seychelles and Uganda. Depending on new funding, other countries will be included as pilot countries.
UNEP and IUCN
At the request of the Steering Committee, UNEP and IUCN joined forces in 2006 to ensure the sustainability and quality of both new as well as existing modules in order to provide national experts with a broad set of tools to give direct support for national commitments under different biodiversity-related MEAs. The overall objective of the UNEP/IUCN partnership for TEMATEA is to further develop and maintain the issue-based modules; to extend the modules to all regions and countries as well as to other key biodiversity issues; and to support national use of the modules through, among others, national workshops, case studies, etc., within the framework of the Countdown 2010 initiative.