Following discussion of the desirability of holding a technical workshop on concessional lending hosted by Japan, and after listening to concerns regarding the event’s timing and the need to ensure effective participation by representatives of Article 5 countries, the Executive Committee decided:
(a) To take note with appreciation of the information paper provided by the World Bank on innovative financing for effective ODS phase out;
(b) To approve the convening of a technical workshop, in the context of a project to be implemented by the Government of Japan with the assistance of the implementing agencies, to:
(i) promote exchange of views on the objectives and modalities of concessional lending including pros and cons, among Article 5 countries members of the Executive Committee;
(ii) deepen the understanding of operations of any practical and workable concessional lending schemes available within the United Nations system;
(iii) review relevant experience of the Fund and the implementing agencies, as well as Article 5 countries, in innovative financing in this field;
(c) To request the Government of Japan, in cooperation with the Secretariat and interested implementing agencies, to make the substantive and relevant logistical arrangements for the convening of the workshop in the most cost effective manner at a time deemed appropriate by the Japanese Government, preferably back-to-back with the meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, to be held at the end of July 2002, on the understanding that the agencies would make substantive contributions based on their experience in this area;
(d) Also to request the Secretariat and, as appropriate, the agencies to report on the findings of the workshop to the next appropriate meeting of the Executive Committee;
(e) To approve US $75,000 plus 13% on support cost, on an exceptional basis, to support the substantive and relevant logistical arrangements, including the participation of Executive Committee members from Article 5 countries and the relevant experts and resource persons from Article 5 countries. This amount should be offset against the Government of Japan’s 2001 contribution to the Multilateral Fund.