Recognizing this problem and the importance of safeguarding genetic resources, the country Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed to adopt, in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010, a Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from them (PN/APA).

In accordance with article 15 of the CBD, this protocol clarifies all the outlines of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The objective of the Protocol is therefore the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources so that those who access genetic resources (firms, researchers, etc.) share the monetary and non-monetary benefits (art.4.4) they derive from the use of such resources with countries of origin and local communities in these countries. Burundi has adhered to the Nagoya Protocol according to law No. 1/21 of 23 June 2014. With this accession, the Government of Burundi, through the Ministry of Water, Environment, Land Use and Urban Development, is taking all the useful and necessary measures to guarantee the implementation of the Protocol in Burundi. It is for this purpose that this National Strategic Framework should be included in order to improve the understanding of target groups on the challenges of the Nagoya Protocol. This strategic framework aims to establish a basic strategic approach for the implementation of the ABS process by highlighting the level of understanding of the challenges of the Nagoya Protocol.

This work is part of the project “Towards effective awareness-raising for awareness for the conservation of biodiversity” set up under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Burundian Office for Environmental Protection (OBPE) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (IRSCnb).

It is based on the following six points:

- First, the Nagoya Protocol and its implications were reported;

- In a second step, an inventory of access and sharing in Burundi was developed;

- Thirdly, the level of understanding of the target groups on the challenges of the Nagoya
Protocol was analyzed;

- Fourth, a strategic framework to improve the level of understanding of the Nagoya Protocol has been developed;

- Finally, a mechanism for implementing this strategic framework has been established.