Western and Central Africa Regional Meeting Report Institutions and capacity building: 15. Building strong national programmes Country Actions taken since mid-1995/Sources of founding Constrains/Needs Opportunities Support required from regional & international organizations East & South Mediterranean Algeria   Information not available Cyprus   A draft law has been prepared related to the status of the National Herbarium and the National (CYPARI) Genebank   · National programme should be strengthened by recruiting young scientists. · Trained personnel are not far from retirement   Not mentioned   Strengthening national institutions and capabilities   Egypt   · Establishment of the NPGRU in 1995 · National committee established in 1995 Not mentioned Not mentioned Not mentioned Jordan   Information not available Lebanon   Information not available Libya   Information not available Malta   There is no PGR programme   Not mentioned   Strengthening of collaboration between the Department of Agriculture ,the Malta University and the Department for the Protection of Environment   Not mentioned   Morocco   Building strong programme is underway Not mentioned Not mentioned Financial and technical support Palestine   No national programme   · Financial and technical assistance · Training   Establishment of national committees   · Strengthening national institutions · Financial and technical assistance   Syria   Underway · Lack of facilities · Training A 2 million $US GEF project is under negotiation Financial and technical support Tunisia   · Establishment of National Commission for Genetic Resources · National programme will be reinforced after the establishment of the National GR Centre · Recruitment of new staff every year   · Lack of PGR centre · Training   Implementation of National Biodiversity Plan of Action   Financial and technical support Turkey   Existence of Strong National Plant Genetic Resources Research Programme (NPGRRP)   Not mentioned   Not mentioned   Financial and technical support   West Asia Afghanistan   There is no national programme on PGRFA   Need to start a national programme on PGRFA with collaboration of' PARC/IPGI, IPGRI/CWANA, ICARDA, CIMMYT, IRRI, FAO, CIP   Not mentioned   Financial and technical support   Bahrain   Information not available Iran   Information not available Iraq   Information not available Kuwait   Information not available Oman   · No substantial work has been done due to financial limitations · Some programmes have been prepared and are waiting for financial resource availability   · Establishment of equipped genebanks with accessories · Qualified personnel and training in related disciplines · Promotion of research. · Financial constraints   Not in immediate future Financial support from regional and international organization for any further programmes or continuing existing programmes   Pakistan   National programme on PGR upgraded to Plant Genetic Resources Institute (PGRI)   · Additional funding for optional operation of PGRI · Training and capacity building   Not mentioned   Additional financial and technical support   Qatar   Establishment of scientific groups and committees and issues bylaws aiming towards conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA   Not mentioned   Not mentioned   Not mentioned   Saudi Arabia   Information not available United Arab Emirates   Information not available Yemen   Information not available   Central Asia Armenia   Information not available Azerbaijan   Establishment of State Committee on PGRFA and issues bylaws aiming towards conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA   There is no clear mechanisms for the application of adopted laws   Not mentioned   · Strengthening national institutions and programmes · Financial support   Kazakhstan   Information not available Kyrgyz Republic   Information not available Tajikstan   Information not available Uzbekistan   · Development of new market for local varieties especially for exportation · Building strong programme is underway · Establishment of Coordination Council on PGR and crop working groups · National funding   Not mentioned   Not mentioned   Strengthening national institutions and programmes   TOC