The multilateral assessment (MA) process is part of the international assessment and review (IAR) process for developed country Parties. The IAR process is conducted under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and aims to promote the comparability of efforts among all developed country Parties with regard to their quantified economy-wide emission limitation and reduction targets.

The IAR process comprises two steps: a technical review of the national reports of each developed country, followed by the MA of the progress towards achieving the economy-wide target by developed country Parties.

The MA process entails three stages:

• the preparation for the MA before the SBI working group session - encompassing a three-month "questions and answers" period; more
• the international assessment during the SBI working group session; more
• and the completion of the Party record after the SBI working group session. more

The second round of the IAR started in January 2016, with the submission of the second biennial reports from Annex I Parties and the technical review of these reports by international expert review teams. 24 Annex I Parties have been multilaterally assessed during the MA session in Marrakech, Morocco, SBI45, while 17 Annex I Parties were multilaterally assessed during SBI 46 in Bonn, Germany (May 2017). Although the MA of Belarus was originally planned for SBI46, due to national circumstances, the MA of Belarus will take place during SBI47 and will conclude the second round of the IAR process.

To access the MA portal log-in credentials are required. All national focal points had been invited to submit nominations to the MA portal when the MA process started. Should further nominations be required national focal points are requested to contact the secretariat at MA-portal@unfccc.int.