The First Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group to Enhance the Functioning of the Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-Sharing took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 14 to 16 May 2014. Arrangements were made to allow delegates and stakeholders to hold regional and inter-regional consultations on 13 May 2014.

The venue of the meeting was the Centre International de Conférence de Genève (CICG): The Centre is located just next to the Place des Nations (UN) and within easy reach of the main hotels, international organizations, and diplomatic representations in Geneva. All costs for the rent of the facilities for holding UN meetings at this Centre were generously covered by the Swiss Confederation. The FAO Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG) also provided financial and logistical support for the hosting of the meeting.

Information Event on 13th May, 12:00 to 13:00, Salle 3 : History and existing work on Innovative approaches to mobilize income to the Benefit-sharing Fund: outcomes of the work undertaken by the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on the Funding Strategy