Dear colleagues,
It is with both pride and reflection that we close a chapter in the CBD Women’s Caucus and welcome a new one, guided by the statutes and policies we developed together. Serving on the Board has been a profound honor. This CBD WC is more than a network—it is a movement, a space for advocacy, collective action, and belonging.
From the foundational work of leaders like Vandana Shiva and Wangari Maathai to the voices of Indigenous, local, and civil society women across the globe, the CBD Women’s Caucus stands as both a living entity and a record of progress. Over the past few years, our Board helped consolidate the Caucus as a strong constituency, adopting the first Statute in late 2023, and developing seven key policies covering governance, membership, finance, code of conduct, and conflict resolution—living tools that safeguard our collective work.
Our network has grown to over 700 individuals and 350+ organizations across 90 countries, yet the task of expanding into underrepresented regions and communities continues. Amid a challenging global context—including funding pressures and shrinking democratic spaces—our Board worked to secure support, maintain operational continuity, and create opportunities for future growth.
To the incoming Board: we are proud to pass on this inheritance. Your vision, commitment, and capacity will guide the Caucus forward. We thank Ruth for continuing on the Board and congratulate all new members. We also extend our deepest appreciation to Amelia for her coordination support and Fatima for strengthening the Caucus’s visibility through communications.
To all members, past and present: your daily contributions, volunteer efforts, and advocacy are what make this Caucus thrive. The outgoing Board remains active members, continuing to contribute from new roles. Let us keep this Caucus alive through our voices, participation, and organizing. The struggle continues, but we face it with optimism—always.
Thank you.
As part of the membership of the UN CBD women caucus and an outgoing member of the board of the women caucus, I am very proud of the work that has been done by the Caucus as a collective. I can't help but look back with pride and nostalgia, knowing how much the women's caucus is thriving despite the challenges it has experienced throughout its journey. The teamwork demonstrated and support of the CBD WC were central to the success of the board and the collective as a whole. The CBD women's caucus has demonstrated that women can lead, they are team players regardless of where in the world they are located, they are strong and resilient, can influence change, and can engage and participate in a process that allows a smooth transition to new leadership. I am excited about the new board and wish them the best as they continue leading the Caucus, and I am proud that they are all very strong, knowledgeable, committed individuals from different parts of the continent and from different levels of engagement with the CBD processes. I wish them a lot of luck and pledge my continued support whenever it is required.
To the new board members, welcome on board.
As the CBD Women’s Caucus continues to advance the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) goals and targets, we are committed to fostering a truly inclusive and participatory process with full engagement from our global membership. Every voice matters, and through open, transparent practices, we aim to reach all sectors of society. By demonstrating best practices and human rights–based approaches, we strive to build synergies and linkages across multiple convention processes. As we move into new spheres, the Caucus will continue to serve as a bridge of knowledge and capacity-building, inspiring action and meaningful impact in implementing the global biodiversity goals.
As a member of the new Board, I remain fully committed, dedicated, and determined to the mandates, functions, and objectives of the CBD Women’s Caucus.
