The Secretariat has worked with CCMs over many years to assist in the completion of AR Pt2 and CMRs. The following observations are applied in familiarisation sessions and in the design of online reporting tools:
i. CCMs should have the Audit Point alongside where they are formulating and entering their response.
Ideally, use the system to enter the response – it is secure to the individual CCM until finalized. Using a CSV reduces the visual link between the obligation and the Audit Point.
ii. Review the Secretariat explanation of the reporting gap alongside the Audit Point and as you are formulating the additional information to be provided.
The Audit Point indicates the expected standard for the response. If additional information is requested, it ONLY needs to address the missing information.
iii. Where there is no independent data available to verify responses, all available sources of self-reported data are reviewed, including previous years responses and relevant other required reports, to ensure relativity across all reporting.
Inconsistency in responses across various forms of reporting can indicate issues and so further clarification may be required to either clear or confirm a compliance issue.
iv. Where multiple paragraphs are included as one obligation for reporting purposes, the response must clearly demonstrate the CCM has fully implemented and/or reported on all elements.
Each paragraph is typically a related but distinct obligation. Experience has shown that responses that do not give a clear sense that all elements have been recognised and addressed or that only refer to one or two elements of the obligation, can indicate a lack of implementation.
v. Where an Audit Point requires the Secretariat to simply confirm the receipt of the required information, the quality of the response is not reviewed unless other information indicates a possible issue.
vi. Information required to be included in ARPt1 that is missing or incomplete in ARPt1, or where ARPt1 has not been supplied will be taken as an issue for the dCMR even if the information has been supplied in the response to the AR Pt2
The response in ARPt1 is required to satisfy CMM reporting and dCMR reviews based on Audit Points include confirmation of reporting in the required way.
vii. CCMs can identify an obligation as “Capacity Assistance Needed” in their CMR responses and must supply a completed Capacity Development Plan template.
SIDS, Participating Territory, or Indonesia or the Philippines have different issues that may affect their ability to implement or fully respond to obligations e.g. the need for additional skills, resources, systems development, more time. Where this is the case, CCMs are encouraged to clearly identify they are seeking capacity assistance and outline the support needed. To be considered as Capacity Assistance Needed through the Compliance Monitoring Scheme process, the “Capacity Assistance Needed” template must be submitted.