Bonn,
28 March 2013 - The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat has extended
the deadline for nominations of National Focal Points for
Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) until
30 April 2013. Contracting Parties are invited to nominate
a suitable candidate, either from the governmental or non-governmental
sector, by filling out the designation
form and returning it together with a short
curriculum vitae (CV) and a portrait photo of the person
nominated.

So far, the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat has received
13 nominations; most of these are from AEWA Contracting
Parties in Africa. As soon as a critical mass of CEPA Focal
Points has been received, the Secretariat will begin to
mobilize and use this exciting new network as well as actively
seek funds to support CEPA activities identified in the
AEWA Strategic Plan and Plan of Action for Africa. The current
list of AEWA CEPA National Focal Points can be found
here.

CEPA-related activities are one of the
measures specified in the AEWA Action Plan under the section
“Education and Information” and should be undertaken
by Contracting Parties to warrant the conservation of migratory
waterbirds within their national boundaries.

To support these efforts, the 5th Meeting
of the Parties to AEWA (MOP5) recently adopted Resolution
5.5 Implementation and Revision of the Communication Strategy,
which “invites all Contracting Parties to nominate,
by 31 December 2012, a suitable National Focal Point for
Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA), either
from the governmental or non-governmental sector”.

National CEPA Focal Points act as the main
national contact on issues relating to Communication, Education
and Public Awareness in connection with AEWA. They are the
main contact point for the Secretariat on CEPA issues and
play an active role in supporting communication and outreach
activities such as World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD),
as well as a wide range of other CEPA activities which promote
the objectives of the Agreement and its Action Plan on the
national and regional level.

Further information on the CEPA National
Focal Point nomination procedure and other CEPA-related
information and resources will be made available on the
AEWA
CEPA Focal Point’s Page.