Dear Partners and Observers,

We hope that you are keeping well.

2020 has been a strange year for everybody around the globe but the GBEP 2020 work plan has still been going ahead and we would like to provide you with an updated overview of the robust work conducted and some information on the GBEP meetings to be held at the end of October 2020, this year by remote due to the COVID-19 situation.

GBEP chairmanship - New election biennium 2021-2022
As the biennium 2019-2020 comes to a close at the end of the year, it is time to re-elect the co-chairs of GBEP. The Secretariat invites Partners to express their interest to become GBEP Co-Chair for the next biennium 2021-2022. Nominations are most welcome to be submitted via email to the GBEP Secretariat by 27 September 2020.
If no nominations are received, the Secretariat will explore with the current co-chairs - Italy and Brazil - their availability to continue their tenure for the new biennium.

GBEP Annual Meetings 2020 online - 27-28 October 2020
The GBEP Annual Meetings provide an opportunity to exchange information and discuss the direction of GBEP for the new year. Therefore, although an in person event is not possible due to COVID-19, we will be holding sessions of the GBEP Meetings online. The 12th Meeting of the Working Group on Capacity Building, the 18th Meeting of the Task Force on Sustainability and the 23rd Meeting of the Steering Committee will be held over two days on 27 and 28 October 2020, approx. 1200-1400 CET (UTC+1). As much as possible, we have tried to ensure that the times of the meeting are suitable for all time zones. A draft agenda will be circulated shortly for your convenience, but in the meantime you are kindly invited to save the dates in your calendar.

GBEP programme of work  implemented in 2020 - Working Group on Capacity Building

Activity Group/Area of work
Activity description
Relevant links
Inputs requested
AG2
"Raising awareness, and sharing of data and experience on the implementation of the GBEP indicators"
Implementation of the GBEP Sustainability Indicators has been completed in Ethiopia and Kenya under the project "Building Capacity for enhancing bioenergy sustainability through the use of GBEP indicators".
The final project reports are available on the GBEP website here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/programmeofwork/working-group-on-capacity-building-for-sustainable-bioenergy/activity-group-2/iki2-ethiopia-kenya/en/> and more information is available on the UN Environment website<https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/sustainable-bioenergy-use-clear-path-biodiversity-and-sustainable-economic>, along with an interesting video<https://www.dw.com/en/tv/global-3000/s-11487> from Kenya.

AG3
"Study Tour for capacity building and training"
Due to the current global pandemic, this year's Bioenergy Week to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has been postponed to 16-19 March 2021. The event is organized by GBEP in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), African Energy Commission (AFREC) and African Union Commission (AUC).
The draft agenda is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gbep/docs/2020_events/Draft_AGENDA_GBEP_Bioenergy_Week_Addis_updated_21.7.2020.pdf>.


AG4
"Woody biomass for forest landscape restoration (FLR) and sustainable livelihoods"
Under the new workstream, the AG4 published a REPORT in June 2020 entitled "Collection of examples: Positive Relationships between Sustainable Wood Energy and Forest Landscape Restoration".
The report is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gbep/docs/AG4/AG4_Collection_of_examples_links_sust._wood_energy_and_FLR_June2020.pdf>.

A WEBINAR was held on 21 May 2020 to discuss this theme and to showcase some of the case studies from the report.
The presentations and recording of the webinar are available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/programmeofwork/working-group-on-capacity-building-for-sustainable-bioenergy/activity-group-4/webinar-sustainable-wood-energy-and-forest-landscape-restoration/en/>.

A VIDEO has also been developed to provide information on the area of sustainable wood energy and FLR and the links with the SDGs.
The video is available on YouTube<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FniFP-5dYtc&feature=youtu.be>, along with a longer version<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNmN1EskJ3Y&t=61s> that discusses the links with the SDGs.

In the context of the collaboration between FAO/GBEP, GIZ and IEA Bioenergy on FLR and wood energy, GBEP (along with both collaborators and with generous funding from GIZ) has organized and guided a number of international and national dialogues and activities on this topic.
The TECHNICAL REPORT is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gbep/docs/AG4/GIZ_Wood_energy_and_FLR_2020.05.27.pdf> and the FINAL REPORT that summarizes all outputs and outcomes of the project is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gbep/docs/AG4/GIZ_Final_report_on_project_activities.pdf>.

AG7
"Biogas"
The AG7 "STOCKTAKING PAPER - Regional analysis of biogas value chains" was published in April 2020. It is the result of interviews, surveys and discussion sessions during the latest three Bioenergy Weeks (Ghana, Africa 2017; Argentina, Latin America 2018; and The Philippines, Asia 2019).
The report is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gbep/docs/AG7/Stocktaking_AG7_Biogas_06.04.2020.pdf>.

To continue the e-learning series of WEBINARS, the AG7 held two webinars on biochar.
The presentations and recordings of both the first webinar "Biochar systems for sustainable agriculture" and the second webinar "Climate-smart biochar systems: opportunities and challenges" are available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/programmeofwork/working-group-on-capacity-building-for-sustainable-bioenergy/activity-group-7/biochar-webinar-series/en/>.

AG8
"Advanced Liquid Biofuels"
Under AG8, work has continued to collect examples of experience in advanced liquid biofuels. This has been hindered by the effects of COVID-19 on the biofuel sector. A session that covers these impacts will be held during the GBEP Annual Meetings.
More information to follow.

Youth
At the GBEP meetings in 2019, the Steering Committee agreed that GBEP should increase its efforts to involve youth in its activities. To this end, GBEP launched the GBEP Youth Award to be awarded during  the next Bioenergy Week. The deadline for the call for papers is 31 December 2020.
More information on the Youth Award is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/programmeofwork/working-group-on-capacity-building-for-sustainable-bioenergy/youth-involvement-in-gbep/en/>.

The GBEP Secretariat has also begun work on a Bioenergy Supplement for the YUNGA Energy Challenge Badge. Inputs from Partners and Observers on the Bioenergy Supplement are most welcome. This will allow finalization of the document and publication as a contribution of GBEP to the YUNGA initiative.
More information on YUNGA is available here<http://www.fao.org/yunga/resources/challenge-badges/energy/en/>.
The Bioenergy Supplement can be found in the Dropbox folder<https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0wytdzelc2oxqch/AAAWVowcy5dfXNFoB0IMgLrNa?dl=0>.
Inputs from Partners and Observers on the Bioenergy Supplement are most welcome and could be sent to the GBEP Secretariat by 20 September 2020.
Capacity Development Materials for the general public
The Secretariat has begun to develop some infographics to explain key bioenergy topics to the general public, including youth, with a view to sensitize their knowledge about the key potential role of bioenergy in the context of climate change and development.

The first two INFOGRAPHICS are on GASIFICATION and BIOGAS. Any comments on these infographics could be sent to the GBEP Secretariat, so that a finalized version can be uploaded onto the website and shared in other channels.
The biogas and gasification infographics are attached and can also be found in the Dropbox folder<https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0wytdzelc2oxqch/AAAWVowcy5dfXNFoB0IMgLrNa?dl=0>.
Comments on these two infographics could be sent to the GBEP Secretariat by 20 September 2020.
An INFOGRAPHIC on the Water-Energy-Food-Climate Nexus in the context of COVID-19 is also under preparation.
More information to follow.

In addition to the VIDEO on sustainable wood energy and FLR mentioned under AG4 above, the Secretariat is also working on a promotional video to publicize GBEP's work. This video will be available in English and Spanish.
More information to follow.

Capacity Development events
GBEP held a SIDE EVENT at the 28th e-EUBCE, 9 July 2020. This side event aimed to give the opportunity to shed light on the role of bioenergy in the climate goals (including considering the recent IPCC report on Climate Change and Land) and share the experience of GBEP and other relevant international institutions regarding the joint effort towards sustainable development of bioenergy.
More information about the event, including the presentations given, can be found here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/events1/gbep-events-2020/other-events/ru/>.

In partnership with IRENA, GBEP is organizing a SESSION at the IRENA Innovation Week 2020 on 'Growing the bio-economy: solutions for the sustainable supply of biomass & biofuels'. The session will be held online 1700-2000 CEST on 6 October 2020.
More information on the Innovation Week and the detailed programme can be found here<https://innovationweek.irena.org/>.


GBEP programme of work  implemented in 2020 - Task Force on Sustainability

Activity
Relevant links
The IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE for the GBEP Sustainability Indicators was published online in January 2020.
The Guide is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/programmeofwork/task-force-on-sustainability/implementation-guide-for-the-gbep-sustainability-indicators/en/>.
An accompanying BROCHURE for Policy Makers was published in April 2020, as a kind contribution by the German government.
The Brochure is available here<http://www.globalbioenergy.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gbep/docs/Implementation_Guide/200511_final_WEB_The-GBEP-Sustainability-Indicators-for-Bioenergy-2020.pdf>.
Under the leadership of Takashi Hayashi (Japan), work is under way to prepare DATA ENTRY SHEETS FOR GSI, in order to streamline indicator measurement and ensure data consistency across the set of indicators. A session will be held during the GBEP Meetings to establish a work plan for 2021.
More information to follow.

We look forward to receiving your inputs and to connecting with you all at the end of October.

Kind regards,

GBEP Secretariat



*************************************
GBEP Secretariat
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, OCB
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00153 - Rome, ITALY
Tel.: +39.06.57052834
Fax: +39.06.57053250
GBEP email address: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
GBEP website: www.globalbioenergy.org<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalbioenergy.org%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C3ee26cf9a4a94c53fa5308d7b15b3c21%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C1%7C637172877878622470&sdata=WWEKcUjROUenYdCleU02yz3LCJJYUlt%2FabFa4E3LBvs%3D&reserved=0>
Executive Secretary: Dr. Maria Michela Morese; [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Programme Advisor: Ms Constance Miller; [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Administrative Assistant: Ms Giulia Micheli; [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

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