CBD Women's Caucus https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/ Official women's major group for the UN Biodiversity Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:10:17 +0000 es hourly 1 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-LOGO-icon-32x32.png CBD Women's Caucus https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/ 32 32 237179116 Women’s Voices at the Forefront of Synthetic Biology: Our Participation at the AHTEG 2026 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/womens-voices-at-the-forefront-of-synthetic-biology-our-participation-at-the-ahteg-2026/ https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/womens-voices-at-the-forefront-of-synthetic-biology-our-participation-at-the-ahteg-2026/#respond Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:51:50 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=5007 By  Ms. Daphné Esquivel-Sada, CBD Women’s Caucus member Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus Why This Matters to Us The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Synthetic Biology brings together experts from Parties, civil […]

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By  Ms. Daphné Esquivel-Sada, CBD Women’s Caucus member
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus

Why This Matters to Us

The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Synthetic Biology brings together experts from Parties, civil society, and other stakeholders to provide technical and scientific advice on synthetic biology and its potential implications for biodiversity conservation.

For the CBD Women’s Caucus, the work of the AHTEG is not a peripheral technical debate it is deeply strategic. Synthetic biology discussions span fundamental questions about equity, participation, and the distribution of risks and benefits, where the inclusion of gender perspectives still requires sustained advocacy. More precisely, these discussions directly engage with gender-responsive biodiversity governance, inclusive participation in decision-making, and the recognition of diverse forms of knowledge and expertise — all at the heart of our mission.

The final meeting report provides recommendations that will inform future discussions, negotiations, and decision-making processes under the CBD on the broader implications of synthetic biology. Ensuring that the CBD Women’s Caucus is represented at the AHTEG is therefore crucial to guarantee that social justice concerns and the perspectives of women are meaningfully reflected in technical discussions that may shape the future of biodiversity governance, risk assessment, capacity-building, and benefit-sharing.

About the Meeting

The 5th AHTEG on Synthetic Biology took place from 19 to 22 May 2026 at the CBD Secretariat in Montreal, Canada.

The expert group brought together experts from 16 Parties, 1 representative from the non-Party USA, 1 from Indigenous Peoples, 1 from the CBD Women’s Caucus, 1 from the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, and 8 from observer organisations — including 3 from USA-aligned organisations and 1 from the biotechnology industry.

The meeting was mandated by CBD Decision 16/21, which tasked the 2026 AHTEG with four major objectives in relation to the three objectives of the Convention and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:

  1. Identifying the current and potential benefits of synthetic biology
  2. Identifying the potential positive impacts of the most recent technological developments
  3. Identifying the potential negative impacts of the most recent technological developments
  4. Providing advice on how capacity-building, technology transfer, and knowledge-sharing in synthetic biology can be taken into account

The meeting focused primarily on the benefits and potential positive impacts of synthetic biology —covering biotechnological proposals for conservation tools, sustainable agriculture and consumption, and climate adaptation measures  as well as how these benefits and their risks are assessed, and how benefit-sharing and capacity-building may be implemented.

The CBD Women’s Caucus was represented by Ms. Daphné Esquivel-Sada from Brazil, who has consistently emphasised that assessments of technological benefits must incorporate social and gender-responsive analyses of impacts, rather than focusing exclusively on technical performance. It is paramount to account for how synthetic biology developments can specifically affect women, given their central roles in natural resource management, food production, traditional livelihoods, and the health of women and children.

The CBD Women’s Caucus interventions at this meeting were grounded in the Caucus’s agreed positioning and priorities on synthetic biology our main goal was to contribute to balancing the CBD’s current positioning on synthetic biology based on the Caucus’s priorities, which insist on the importance of developing a responsible and multidisciplinary analysis of synthetic biology benefits and impacts, and of promoting gender-responsive analysis and socio-economic and cultural analytical frameworks as necessary approaches to inform policy and governance.

Key Highlights

The meeting’s major topics included:

  • The Independent Scientific Study on Synthetic Biology
  • Current and potential benefits of synthetic biology and its most recent technological developments — with special attention to artificial intelligence and computational biology, applications for conservation, artificial cells, synthetic genomics, microbiome engineering, and bioremediation and waste reduction
  • Gender and inclusive decision-making — a particularly significant outcome of the meeting, with the conclusions of the report stating that the assessment of potential positive and negative impacts should be part of a multidisciplinary approach, in accordance with the precautionary principle and in consultation with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, and youth

This is a meaningful step forward — and one the CBD Women’s Caucus will continue to build on.

What Comes Next

The final meeting report will be made available shortly by the CBD Secretariat. It will then inform negotiations at the upcoming SBSTTA meeting in Nairobi, starting 27 July.

Given the high stakes involved in synthetic biology discussions under the CBD, we encourage all of you to stay attuned to the Caucus’s engagement on this issue — and to get involved in supporting the Convention’s related activities. Whether you are at the forefront or in the background, your expertise, talent, and energy are decisive towards a more just and gender-responsive future for all. 

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]]> https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/womens-voices-at-the-forefront-of-synthetic-biology-our-participation-at-the-ahteg-2026/feed/ 0 5007 Strengthening Policy Coherence Across the Rio Conventions: Advancing Gender Justice, Inclusive Science, and Capacity-Building https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/strengthening-policy-coherence-across-the-rio-conventions-advancing-gender-justice-inclusive-science-and-capacity-building/ https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/strengthening-policy-coherence-across-the-rio-conventions-advancing-gender-justice-inclusive-science-and-capacity-building/#respond Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:50:23 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4979 By  Ms.Marie Salvatrice Musabyeyezu, Managing Director/ Go Green&Rstore Africa Action (GGRAA) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus The interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation continue to challenge governments and communities […]

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By  Ms.Marie Salvatrice Musabyeyezu, Managing Director/ Go Green&Rstore Africa Action (GGRAA)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus

The interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation continue to challenge governments and communities worldwide. For the CBD Women’s Caucus, these crises also highlight a deeper governance imperative: policy coherence across the Rio Conventions must be grounded in gender justice, the full implementation and alignment of Gender Action Plans, and the meaningful participation of women in all scientific, technical, and policy processes.

Within this context, stakeholders convened on 6 May 2026 for the second Technical Information Exchange on Enhancing Policy Coherence and Cooperation between the Rio Conventions. The exchange forms part of an ongoing process under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to strengthen collaboration, align knowledge systems, and prepare inputs for the upcoming June technical meeting.

Building on discussions held on 22 April 2026, the May exchange focused on two key areas: the role of scientific assessments and evidence-based policy, and knowledge management and capacity-building for integrated implementation across the Rio Conventions.

From a gender justice perspective, a central message emerged: alignment of Gender Action Plans across the Rio Conventions must be integrated into scientific assessments, data systems, and knowledge governance frameworks, not treated as a parallel or optional consideration. Without this alignment, gender justice and women’s participation risks remaining disconnected from the evidence base that shapes environmental decision-making.

The discussions reinforced that policy coherence is not only about institutional coordination among the three conventions, but also about ensuring that knowledge systems, participation structures, and capacity-building processes are inclusive, equitable, and transformative.

Scientific Assessments, Evidence-Based Policy, and Gender-Responsive Knowledge

Participants emphasized the essential role of scientific assessments in informing environmental decision-making across biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation agendas. Scientific evidence supports governments in understanding complex ecological trends, identifying solutions, and tracking progress toward global environmental goals.

However, participants strongly noted that evidence-based policy must go beyond conventional scientific systems. A key concern raised was the insufficient integration of Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ (IPLCs) knowledge systems into scientific assessments and policy frameworks.

From a gender justice standpoint, participants stressed that women’s knowledge, experiences, and leadership must also be systematically integrated into environmental data and scientific processes. Gender-responsive science requires more than sex-disaggregated data; it requires women’s meaningful participation in defining research priorities, indicators, methodologies, interpretation of findings, and policy application of evidence.

A critical issue identified was that those designing and collecting data often shape assumptions about what “gender justice” means, without sufficient participation of women themselves. This creates gaps where lived realities,, especially for women from the grassroots, remain invisible in environmental assessments.

Women participants highlighted that their direct engagement is essential to identifying these gaps, particularly in relation to capacity needs, access to resources, and structural barriers. They emphasized that when women participate meaningfully in knowledge generation, they help ensure that scientific systems reflect real-world inequalities rather than assumptions.

Representation Gaps, Civic Space, and Structural Barriers

A recurring concern throughout the exchange was the persistent challenge of representation and meaningful participation in Rio Convention processes.

Participants highlighted several interconnected barriers:

  • Limited representation of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and women in scientific and policy spaces
  • Shrinking civic space for civil society organizations in environmental governance
  • Language barriers that restrict access to technical discussions and documentation
  • Digital divides are limiting participation in virtual and hybrid processes
  • Cultural and gender norms that continue to restrict women’s leadership and engagement
  • Limited integration of traditional knowledge into formal scientific systems
  • Financial and logistical constraints that limit sustained participation

The discussions emphasized that participation must go beyond presence in meetings. Meaningful participation means influence over agenda-setting, decision-making, knowledge production, and implementation processes.

From a gender justice perspective, this also requires ensuring that women are not only represented but are able to shape outcomes and contribute to all stages of scientific and policy development.

Capacity-Building as a Foundation for Gender Justice and Inclusion

A preliminary report was presented on the contributions submitted by Parties and other non-governmental actors, including those of the CBD Women’s Caucus. In this context, emphasis was placed on the importance of disaggregating results by region, rights-holders, and Parties, in order to better understand the different ways in which the Long-Term Strategic Framework has been used and applied across diverse contexts.

Overall, these findings show that the framework is primarily being used as a planning tool to support capacity‑building at the systemic and institutional levels, consistent with the framework’s intended purpose and objectives 

The 62%  of survey respondents, reported not having used the guidance provided in the strategic framework cited a lack of practical guidance on how to apply the framework. 

During the online forum discussions, comments were submitted directly on the document emphasizing the importance of reporting the findings of non-government actors — either in a dedicated section or consistently throughout each point of the analysis. It was also highlighted that future discussions should focus on translating findings into concrete next steps, ensuring that the results of the survey lead to actionable recommendations rather than remaining as descriptive observations.

Aligning Gender Action Plans, Data Systems, and the Rio Conventions

A key outcome of the discussions was the need to strengthen alignment between Gender Action Plans and scientific data systems across the Rio Conventions.

Participants noted that while biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation are deeply interconnected, data systems and reporting frameworks often remain fragmented. This fragmentation limits the ability to understand differentiated impacts and responses, particularly from a gender perspective.

Strengthening alignment requires:

  • Mainstreaming Gender Action Plans into scientific assessments and monitoring systems
  • Ensuring systematic collection and use of gender-responsive and sex-disaggregated data
  • Harmonizing indicators and reporting frameworks across the three conventions
  • Integrating women’s knowledge and experiences into official environmental data systems
  • Strengthening accountability for gender equality commitments within scientific processes

Participants emphasized that no single convention should dominate the others, and that climate change must not overshadow biodiversity conservation and land degradation neutrality. Instead, all three Rio Conventions must be treated as equally important, interdependent pillars of sustainable development.

From a gender justice lens, this also means ensuring that women’s contributions, leadership, and knowledge systems are visible and valued across all three conventions equally.

Toward a Gender-Just and Inclusive Rio Conventions Framework

The 6 May Technical Information Exchange, building on the 22 April discussions and informing the upcoming June meeting, reinforced a clear and consistent message: policy coherence across the Rio Conventions cannot be achieved without gender justice, and gender justice cannot be achieved without transforming how knowledge, participation, and capacity-building systems function.

For the CBD Women’s Caucus, the pathway forward requires a shift from consultation to co-production of knowledge, data, and policy.

A truly coherent and just Rio Conventions framework must:

  • Fully integrate Gender Action Plans into scientific and policy systems
  • Ensure meaningful participation and leadership of women, IPLCs, and civil society
  • Recognize and elevate Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems alongside science
  • Address structural barriers, including language, digital access, and financial constraints
  • Strengthen capacity-building as a long-term foundation for equity and inclusion
  • Treat biodiversity, climate, and land degradation as equally important and interconnected

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]]> https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/strengthening-policy-coherence-across-the-rio-conventions-advancing-gender-justice-inclusive-science-and-capacity-building/feed/ 0 4979 International Day for Biodiversity 2026 : Women Acting for Global Impact https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/nternational-day-for-biodiversity-2026-women-acting-for-global-impact/ https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/nternational-day-for-biodiversity-2026-women-acting-for-global-impact/#respond Fri, 22 May 2026 08:50:00 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4884 A Global Digital Activation organised by the CBD Women’s Caucus Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on Earth, yet it is being lost at an unprecedented rate. While the official theme of the International Day for Biodiversity 2026 is “Acting locally for global impact,” the CBD Women’s Caucus wants to shine a light on […]

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A Global Digital Activation organised by the

CBD Women’s Caucus

Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on Earth, yet it is being lost at an unprecedented rate. While the official theme of the International Day for Biodiversity 2026 is “Acting locally for global impact,” the CBD Women’s Caucus wants to shine a light on a reality too often overlooked: women and girls are already acting every day for global impact.

Across territories, ecosystems, and communities, women and girls from Indigenous Peoples, local and Afro-descendant communities, youth networks, civil society, and many other sectors are leading transformative actions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). 

From restoring ecosystems and defending territories, to generating knowledge, influencing policy, protecting seeds, mobilising communities, and advancing gender justice — these actions matter locally, nationally, and globally.

On 22 May, the CBD Women’s Caucus is launching a global digital activation to celebrate, document, and amplify these contributions. Through this collective mobilisation, we aim to bring women’s biodiversity leadership into a shared global narrative of implementation, resistance, care, and transformation.

The Core Question to be collectively answered is:

How are women in your community or organisation acting for global biodiversity impact?

👉Ways to Participate

You can contribute in two ways. Choose the format that best fits your capacity and publish it from your personal or institutional account:

  • Short Video: A 30–60 second clip (vertical/9:16 format) sharing who you are, what action you are leading or supporting, and why it matters for biodiversity and communities. Whenever possible, include footage of the landscapes, ecosystems, territories, or community work connected to your action.
  • Photo & Reflection: Share one or more high-quality photos of your work, accompanied by a few sentences describing your impact and why this work matters. Please ensure all shared content respects consent and safety

👉Guidelines for creating

To ensure a cohesive look across LinkedIn and Instagram, please follow these simple steps:

  1. Focus on action: Highlight a concrete initiative, process, or contribution connected to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
  2. Keep it clear and personal: Speak from your own experience. Simple, authentic, and grounded messages often resonate most strongly. 
  3. Language: Participants are encouraged to speak and share in their own languages. Where possible, please include subtitles or captions in videos to improve accessibility and broader engagement. 

Here are some options — which style do you like?

▶ Play button

  • Outlined circle with triangle inside
  • Solid filled circle with triangle
  • Rounded square (YouTube style)

Here are some options — which style do you like?

▶ Play button

  • Outlined circle with triangle inside
  • Solid filled circle with triangle
  • Rounded square (YouTube style)

🎥Ways to Participate

You can contribute in two ways. Choose the format that best fits your capacity and publish it from your personal or institutional account:

  • Short Video: A 30–60 second clip (vertical/9:16 format) sharing who you are, what action you are leading or supporting, and why it matters for biodiversity and communities. Whenever possible, include footage of the landscapes, ecosystems, territories, or community work connected to your action.
  • Photo & Reflection: Share one or more high-quality photos of your work, accompanied by a few sentences describing your impact and why this work matters. Please ensure all shared content respects consent and safety.

👉Guidelines for creating

To ensure a cohesive look across LinkedIn and Instagram, please follow these simple steps:

  1. Focus on action: Highlight a concrete initiative, process, or contribution connected to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
  2. Keep it clear and personal: Speak from your own experience. Simple, authentic, and grounded messages often resonate most strongly. 
  3. Language: Participants are encouraged to speak and share in their own languages. Where possible, please include subtitles or captions in videos to improve accessibility and broader engagement. 

👉Guidelines for posting

  • On LinkedIn: Look for the anchor post from The CBD Women’s Caucus on the morning of 22 May. Comment on that post with your contribution, or create your own post. 

Please use: #WomenActingForGlobalImpact #Target23 and tag:  CBD Women’s Caucus LinkedIn

  • On Instagram: Make post on your feed, create a story or a reel and remember to use #WomenActingForGlobalImpact #Target23 and tag:  @cbd_wc You can also add us as a collaborator on your post so it appears on the CBD Women’s Caucus Instagram profile! 

⌛Timing

To create a strong collective wave of visibility, all content should go live on 22 May 2026.

Every local action contributes to global transformation.
Every story helps demonstrate that women are not only affected by biodiversity loss — they are leading solutions.

Let’s make those actions visible together.

📩For questions, contact us at communications@cbdwomenscaucus.org

La entrada International Day for Biodiversity 2026 : Women Acting for Global Impact se publicó primero en CBD Women's Caucus.

]]> https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/nternational-day-for-biodiversity-2026-women-acting-for-global-impact/feed/ 0 4884 CBD Women’s Caucus commitments towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/cbd-womens-caucus-commitments-towards-the-kunming-montreal-global-biodiversity-framework/ Thu, 21 May 2026 13:43:57 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4849 In response to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s open call for commitments from actors other than national Governments towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), the CBD Women’s Caucus submitted a series of three formal commitments grounded in gender equality, human rights and environmental justice. These commitments reflect the collective work, advocacy […]

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In response to the Convention on Biological Diversity’s open call for commitments from actors other than national Governments towards the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), the CBD Women’s Caucus submitted a series of three formal commitments grounded in gender equality, human rights and environmental justice.

These commitments reflect the collective work, advocacy and long-standing engagement of women and girls in all their diversity — including from Indigenous Peoples, local and Afro-descendant communities — in advancing gender-responsive biodiversity governance, implementation, monitoring and accountability under the Framework.

Through these submissions, the CBD Women’s Caucus seeks to contribute concrete actions and collaborative efforts that support the effective implementation of the KM-GBF and the CBD Gender Plan of Action (2023–2030), while strengthening the recognition of the essential role played by women-led organisations, feminist movements, grassroots actors and rights holders in achieving the goals and targets of the Framework.

What's inside:

✔ Commitment 1: Strengthening Women’s Leadership & Negotiation Capacity

✔ Commitment 2: Advancing Gender-Responsive Biodiversity Monitoring, Sex-Disaggregated Data and Accountability Mechanisms for the Global Review of the KM-GBF

✔ Commitment 3: Strengthening Coordinated Implementation of Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action through the Gender & Biodiversity Focal Points Network

Download here

Year: 2026
Type:  Technical Submission
Authors: CBD Women’s Caucus
Themes: KM-GBF implementation · Target 23 · Gender Plan of Action ·  KM-GBF Monitoring & Reporting · Sex-Disaggregated Data ·Women’s leadership· Gender-Responsive Indicators · Focal Points Network · NBSAPs· Non-state actors

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]]> 4849 GEF Women and Gender Caucus’ Priorities for GEF-9 and all GEF Funds https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/gef-women-and-gender-caucus-priorities-for-gef-9-and-all-gef-funds/ Wed, 20 May 2026 13:40:47 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4793 GEF Women and Gender Caucus priorities for GEF-9 advancing equitable finance, direct access, accountability, governance, and transformative implementation

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Download PDF

This publication presents the collective priorities of the GEF Women and Gender Caucus for GEF-9 and all GEF-related Funds, calling for environmental finance systems that are equitable, rights-based, transparent, and transformative. It argues that environmental effectiveness cannot be separated from justice, governance, and meaningful access to resources.

The publication advances five key priority areas:

1) Transforming structural inequalities through environmental finance

  • Scaling predictable and grant-based public funding
  • Addressing inequalities linked to land tenure, governance, and resource access
  • Strengthening women’s land and resource rights

2) Ensuring direct and equitable access to finance

  • Creating simplified and dedicated financing windows for women-led and community-led organisations
  • Supporting readiness, proposal development, and compliance processes
  • Monitoring whether funding effectively reaches grassroots actors and local communities

3) Democratising environmental finance governance

  • Strengthening transparency, representation, and accountability within GEF governance systems
  • Recognising the Women and Gender Caucus within GEF processes
  • Promoting more inclusive decision-making and consultation mechanisms

4) Embedding gender justice across GEF policy and programming

  • Aligning GEF policies with recent CBD and UNFCCC gender commitments
  • Supporting dedicated programming and budget lines for gender-responsive implementation
  • Strengthening gender expertise, budgeting, monitoring, and indicators across GEF systems

5) Strengthening transparency, accountability, and long-term evaluation

  • Improving public reporting on financial flows and impacts
  • Applying gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation frameworks
  • Measuring long-term environmental, institutional, and community-level transformation beyond short project cycles

The publication ultimately calls for a shift toward environmental finance systems that redistribute power, strengthen locally led action, and support lasting social and environmental transformation.

Share these recommendations with policymakers, funders, civil society organisations, and advocates shaping the future of GEF-9 and global environmental governance.

Year: 2026
Type: Position paper
Authors: GEF Women and Gender Caucus 
Themes: GEF, GBFF, Environmental Finance, Gender Plans, Gender focal points, Climate and Biodiversity Finance

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]]> 4793 TSC-IAG Sixth Meeting: How Far Have We Come on Progress and Effectiveness? https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/tsc-iag-sixth-meeting-how-far-have-we-come-on-progress-and-effectiveness/ https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/tsc-iag-sixth-meeting-how-far-have-we-come-on-progress-and-effectiveness/#respond Tue, 12 May 2026 05:04:46 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4721 From 27 to 29 April 2026, Pamela Tapia Díaz represented the CBD Women's Caucus at the sixth meeting of the Informal Advisory Group on Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC-IAG), held online. The Group reviewed progress on the implementation of the Clearing-House Mechanism and the Knowledge Management Strategy, the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism, and the preliminary findings of the survey on the use of the long-term strategic framework for capacity-building and development.

These discussions are of vital importance for monitoring progress and effectiveness in terms of capacity-building and technology transfer.

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By Pamela Tapia Díaz, CBD Women’s Caucus Project Officer
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus

How are we going to measure the effectiviness of technical and scientific cooperation support centres? How and who is using the Long term strategic framework  tfor capacity-building and development? These questions were at the centre of discussions during the sixth meeting of the Informal Advisory Group on Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC-IAG), held online from 27 to 29 April 2026, which brought together 29 of the Group’s 31 members, including government representatives, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society actors, to advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

About the event

The IAG members met for three days online to address the following agenda items:

Items 3 and 4 — Clearing-House Mechanism: progress in the implementation of the programme of work for the clearing-house mechanism for the period 2024–2030 and the knowledge management strategy.

Item 5 — Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism, which included: (a) Draft criteria for measuring the performance of the regional and subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centres and the global coordination entity (b) Programme priorities and workplan of the global coordination entity (c) Options for the mobilization of resources to support the work of the technical and scientific cooperation support centres

Item 6 — Progress in the implementation of the long-term strategic framework for capacity-building and development: preliminary findings of the survey on the use of the strategic framework.

As IAG members, we were specifically requested to pay particular attention to the methodologies for monitoring and tracking progress.

Role of the CHM and the KM

Items 3 and 4-New ways to share the knowledge, the Clearing House Mechanism and the knowledge Management

These two elements are closely interconnected and were therefore presented simultaneously. The Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) provides information services to support data exchange and technical and scientific cooperation, while the Knowledge Management (KM) Strategy offers strategic guidance on objectives and actions to foster knowledge generation, synthesis, discovery, collection, and uptake. Importantly, the role of the KM Strategy is not to create new knowledge, but to facilitate access to existing knowledge — making it available, discoverable, and actionable for those who need it most.

The implementation of both elements was explored through an initial review of the NBSAPs submitted by Parties, where references to the CHM and KM Strategy were only vaguely included, highlighting the need for stronger guidance to ensure their meaningful integration into national biodiversity planning. On the technical side, the Secretariat advanced an enhanced version of the CHM central portal, introducing a common code base and harmonized interface across the CHM, the Biosafety Clearing-House, and the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House, along with updated user documentation to facilitate navigation of the new platform.

Development of the new CBD Website

Item 6 — Progress in the implementation of the LTSF for capacity-building and development: preliminary findings.

A preliminary report was presented on the contributions submitted by Parties and other non-governmental actors, including those of the CBD Women’s Caucus. In this context, emphasis was placed on the importance of disaggregating results by region, rights-holders, and Parties, in order to better understand the different ways in which the Long-Term Strategic Framework has been used and applied across diverse contexts.

Overall, these findings show that the framework is primarily being used as a planning tool to support capacity‑building at the systemic and institutional levels, consistent with the framework’s intended purpose and objectives 

The 62%  of survey respondents, reported not having used the guidance provided in the strategic framework cited a lack of practical guidance on how to apply the framework. 

During the online forum discussions, comments were submitted directly on the document emphasizing the importance of reporting the findings of non-government actors — either in a dedicated section or consistently throughout each point of the analysis. It was also highlighted that future discussions should focus on translating findings into concrete next steps, ensuring that the results of the survey lead to actionable recommendations rather than remaining as descriptive observations.

Preliminary Results of the Long-Term Strategic Framework (LTSF) Survey

Item 5 Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism

a) Draft criteria for measuring the performance of the regional and subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centres and the global coordination entity

During the meetings, the varying capacities of TSCCs were emphasized, highlighting the importance of reflecting these differences when designing a performance assessment framework. It was also noted that while expectations for TSCCs are high, their ability to deliver is closely tied to the availability of adequate and predictable funding. Furthermore, it was acknowledged that TSCCs operate at different scales — with some centres supporting only a few countries while others serve a significantly larger number — underscoring the need for a flexible assessment framework that accounts for this diversity 

IAG members were invited to submit comments through the online discussion forum. Our contributions focused on the importance of keeping sight of the quality, inclusiveness, and alignment of TSCC processes with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We also highlighted the importance of evidence of sustained capacity beyond the completion of TSCC-supported projects — ensuring that the skills, tools, and institutional arrangements developed through TSCC support remain functional and impactful in the long term.

(b) Programme priorities and workplan of the global coordination entity

The Global Coordination Entity (GCE) is mandated to facilitate coordination, synergies, and collaboration among TSCCs; support the sharing of experiences and standardized tools; mobilize resources; operate a global helpdesk; and assist TSCCs in aligning their work with the KMGBF and reporting to COP. Its performance is assessed against four criteria: coordination and coherence across the TSCC network; development of shared tools and support services; knowledge sharing and peer learning; and resource mobilization with equitable access across regions.

Of particular relevance to the CBD Women’s Caucus is the explicit inclusion among GCE modalities of guidelines for ensuring the active engagement of IPLCs, women, youth, and other relevant stakeholders. 

c)Options for the mobilization of resources to support the work of the technical and scientific cooperation support centres

While the Mechanism’s 18 TSCCs are expected to develop resource mobilization strategie as part of their workplans, they contend with fragmented funding environments, uneven donor access, and differing fundraising capacities.

The approaches identified for securing financing centre on strong linkages with the Convention’s programmes of work and project-based funding aligned with the KMGBF. However, the lack of adequate and predictable financing for TSCCs was made clear throughout the meetings. IAG members were invited to share options and identify potential donors to help address this critical gap. 

Next steps

the Secretariat will update the CHM/KM progress report and continue exploring options for a regional Knowledge Management for Biodiversity workshop for Central and Eastern Europe.

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]]> https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/tsc-iag-sixth-meeting-how-far-have-we-come-on-progress-and-effectiveness/feed/ 0 4721 For Women, For Girls, For Biodiversity: CBD Women’s Caucus at the CEPA-IAC Meeting https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/for-women-for-girls-for-biodiversity-cbd-womens-caucus-at-the-cepa-iac-meeting/ https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/for-women-for-girls-for-biodiversity-cbd-womens-caucus-at-the-cepa-iac-meeting/#respond Mon, 11 May 2026 03:17:39 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4712 On 29 April 2026, the CBD Women's Caucus participated in the first meeting of the Informal Advisory Committee on CEPA (CEPA-IAC), marking a key milestone in implementing Decision 16/10 from COP16. Our representative, Fatima El-aaraby from Morocco, advocated for a gender-responsive Global Plan of Action for Education on Biodiversity (GPA-EB), emphasizing that women and girls must be recognized not as passive beneficiaries, but as knowledge holders and drivers of change.

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By Fatima El-aaraby, Project Officer at the CBD Women’s Caucus.

When we talk about education for biodiversity, we cannot do so without addressing the role of women and girls. Education, whether formal through schools and universities, non-formal through community programmes and training, or informal through cultural practices and intergenerational knowledge, shapes how societies understand and protect biodiversity. Yet access to these forms of education remains deeply unequal. Globally, around 129 million girls are out of school, driven by gender inequality, poverty, and early marriage. Furthermore, according to UNESCO data.

These inequalities extend into environmental sectors despite women being key holders of traditional knowledge, face disproportionate barriers to education, and are significantly more likely to be excluded from formal schooling systems. This persistent gap between the lived realities of women and girls and the policies shaping biodiversity governance highlights the urgent need for frameworks such as the Global Plan of Action for Education on Biodiversity (GPA-EB) to adopt a genuinely gender-responsive and inclusive approach.

Participants at the event

About the meeting

On 29 April 2026, I had the honour of representing the CBD Women’s Caucus at the meeting of the Informal Advisory Committee on Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA-IAC), convened online by the CBD Secretariat. This first gathering marked an important milestone in the implementation of Decision 16/10 from COP16 in Cali, Colombia, which recognizes communication, education, and public awareness (CEPA) as essential tools for halting biodiversity loss and achieving the goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The CBD Women’s Caucus’s participation is critical to align the process with the gender plan of action, and target 23  in this meeting ensures that gender perspectives, women’s and girls’ leadership and participation at all levels, and the voices of those most closely connected to biodiversity at the community level are present from the very outset of this global process

Setting the Scene: Decision 16/10 and the Road to SBI-7

The meeting opened with an overview of Decision 16/10 and the two key deliverables it requests ahead of the Seventh Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7) and COP17:

  • A Global Plan of Action for Education on Biodiversity (GPA-EB), to be developed through a collaborative, participatory process led by UNESCO with CBD Secretariat support.
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  • A Progress Report on CEPA Implementation, reflecting actions by Parties, the Secretariat, and stakeholders in line with Section K of the KMGBF.
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  • The timeline is ambitious. The GPA-EB must be ready for SBI-7 in August 2026, and it must fit along with the progress report, which is a constraint; we quickly learned that shapes every choice about what goes in and what must wait.

Introducing the Global Plan of Action: Logic, Structure, and Scope

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation and walkthrough of the draft GPA-EB by Mr. Sean Southey, the lead consultant. The document is structured around three expected outcomes:

Expected Outcome 1: Strengthening people’s understanding of and connection with biodiversity

Expected Outcome 2: Strengthening educator and system capacity

Expected Outcome 3: Strengthening enabling conditions for implementation

These outcomes are supported by five priority areas for action — spanning human–nature connectedness, pluralistic and equitable education, capacity-building for educators, platforms and coordination, and policy and curriculum integration — and by three cross-cutting enabling conditions: lifelong learning, whole-of-society engagement, and sustainable financing.

Why the GPA-EB Must Centre Women and Girls

The GPA-EB does not exist in isolation. It sits alongside a broader architecture of gender-responsive commitments under the KMGBF, most notably the CBD Gender Plan of Action (2023–2030), adopted at COP15 under Decision 15/11. This landmark framework sets out concrete actions to ensure that all women and girls have equal opportunity and capacity to contribute to the three objectives of the Convention (Expected Outcome 1 of the Gender Plan of Action), that biodiversity policy and planning address equally the perspectives, interests and human rights of all (Expected Outcome 2), and that enabling conditions are created for gender-responsive implementation of the KMGBF (Expected Outcome 3). The GPA-EB, as a key implementation tool of the KMGBF, must be fully coherent with and actively advance  these commitments.

For the GPA-EB to deliver transformative change, it must recognize women and girls not as passive beneficiaries of education programmes, but as knowledge holders, community educators, and drivers of intergenerational impact. A plan that treats gender justice as an add-on rather than a foundational principle will fall short of the ambition of the KMGBF and its own Gender Plan of Action.

As I emphasized in my introduction to the committee:

«We need to move from text to action — and for that, the plan needs to be actionable and gender-responsive at all levels.»

This means embedding gender-responsive approaches across all five priority areas for action. The GPA-EB’s cross-cutting enabling conditions — lifelong learning, whole-of-society engagement, and sustainable financing — are only meaningful if they reach directly the women and girls who are too often left outside of formal proesses and funding.

Looking Ahead

The CEPA-IAC will meet quarterly, and the coming months offer a series of high-stakes moments:

  • Before SBI-7 (August 2026): Review of the revised GPA-EB draft; possible working sessions in Nairobi.
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  • SBI-7 (August 2026, Nairobi): Formal submission and consideration of the GPA-EB.
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  • UNESCO Side Event on Education for Biodiversity – 5 August 2026, Nairobi.
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  • Education Day at COP17 – 27 October 2026, Yerevan, Armenia.
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  • COP17 – October 2026, Yerevan: Final adoption and next steps.

The CBD Women’s Caucus will remain actively engaged throughout. We will continue to monitor the integration of gender responsive education principles, contribute to the shaping of the GPA-EB’s structure and content, and ensure that the experiences and knowledge of women and girls across the globe are woven into the future of biodiversity communication and education.

For more information on the CBD women’s caucus contribution in the Drafting Committee for the Global Plan of Action (GPA) on Education for Biodiversity, please click here.

La entrada For Women, For Girls, For Biodiversity: CBD Women’s Caucus at the CEPA-IAC Meeting se publicó primero en CBD Women's Caucus.

]]> https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/for-women-for-girls-for-biodiversity-cbd-womens-caucus-at-the-cepa-iac-meeting/feed/ 0 4712 Policy coherence, including a potential joint work programme of the Rio Conventions https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/policy-coherence-including-a-potential-joint-work-programme-of-the-rio-conventions/ Thu, 07 May 2026 09:34:27 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4689 CBD Women’s Caucus submission proposing coherent Rio Convention action on Gender Action Plans, finance, land rights, and environmental defenders.

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This submission by the CBD Women’s Caucus presents four proposals to strengthen coherence across the Rio Conventions and advance more coordinated implementation between biodiversity, climate, and land governance processes. Grounded in human rights and equity, the publication highlights practical pathways for addressing structural inequalities while supporting effective implementation of global environmental commitments.

The publication proposes:

  • Alignment of Gender Action Plans across the Rio Conventions
    • Strengthening coordination between existing gender mandates and implementation frameworks
    • Promoting shared indicators, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms
    • Enhancing collaboration between gender constituencies and focal points across conventions
  • Scaling responsive and accessible finance
    • Increasing direct access to funding for women-led and community-based organisations
    • Integrating social and gender criteria into environmental finance mechanisms
    • Supporting long-term, flexible, and transformative funding approaches
  • Securing women’s land and resources rights
    • Recognising collective and customary tenure systems
    • Strengthening participation in governance and decision-making processes
    • Addressing barriers to equitable access, ownership, and control over natural resources
  • Protection of women environmental human rights defenders
    • Strengthening safeguards, participation rights, and access to justice
    • Recognising the specific risks faced by defenders across environmental sectors
    • Promoting safer and enabling environments for advocacy and leadership

The submission ultimately calls for stronger collaboration across conventions to ensure that implementation efforts are mutually reinforcing, rights-based, and transformative.

Share this publication with colleagues, negotiators, and advocates working to advance equitable and coordinated environmental action.
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Year: 2025
Type: Technical Submission
Authors: CBD Women’s Caucus 
Themes: Rio Conventions, Gender Plans, Gender focal points, Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders, Land Rights, Climate and Biodiversity Finance

La entrada Policy coherence, including a potential joint work programme of the Rio Conventions se publicó primero en CBD Women's Caucus.

]]> 4689 Strengthening Women’s Voices in Biodiversity Governance: The COOP4CBD Paris Training 2026 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/strengthening-womens-voices-in-biodiversity-governance-the-co-op4cbd-paris-training-2026/ https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/strengthening-womens-voices-in-biodiversity-governance-the-co-op4cbd-paris-training-2026/#respond Fri, 01 May 2026 14:19:07 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4670 This report details our engagement at the eighth meeting of the : Eighth meeting of the Ad Hoc Scientific and Technical Advisory Group for the Preparation of the Global Report on Collective Progress in the Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (AHSTAG) for the global report, a critical step in preparing for the first global review of the Framework at COP 17.

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By Cristina Eghenter , Sharon Ruthia , Fatou Ndiaye and Berta Medrano, members of the CBD Women’s Caucus

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the CBD Women’s Caucus

On 22–23 April 2026, the CBD Women’s Caucus was represented by four members — Sharon Ruthia and Cristina Eghenter as trainers, and Fatou Ndiaye and Bertha Medrano as trainees — at the CO-OP4CBD Training Session on Engaging and Strengthening Capacity-Building for Civil Society in preparation for CBD COP17, held at the French Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.

This event was organized within the framework of the Horizon Europe Cooperation for the Convention on Biological Diversity project (CO-OP4CBD), the French National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) and the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Knowledge (HUN-REN CER

Our voices at the COOP4CBD Training

Over two days, this event brought together stakeholders from Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America — including young people, holders of traditional ecological knowledge, and women’s organizations — to strengthen their participation in CBD processes ahead of COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia. Through training sessions, shared experiences, and hands-on tools such as simulations and workshops, participants explored how to navigate Convention mechanisms, build alliances across the CBD’s diverse actors, and amplify the voices of youth, indigenous knowledge holders, and women, including through presentations by the CBD Women Caucus

On the first day, participants learned about the structure and operation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), how civil society and rights holders can participate in the process, and the importance of a comprehensive society approach to biodiversity governance.

On behalf of the CBD Women’s Caucus, Sharon Ruthia highlighted the work carried out by the Caucus, as well as the different ways in which participants can become involved, with particular emphasis on policy and advocacy engagement.

On the second day, the focus shifted to how to translate the lessons learned on the first day into negotiation and advocacy actions. Concrete tools, approaches, and practical experiences from the Youth and Women’s Caucus highlighted how to participate more effectively in the CBD process

Cristina Eghenter, on behalf of the Women’s Caucus provided a perspective on the road to CBD COP17, she shared information about the mid-term review of the Gender Action Plan as a critical point for the WC at the upcoming COP17. Significant challenges remain for the meaningful, effectiveand safe participation of women, the recognition of their role in the work of the Convention, and their contributions to achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The resulf of the mid-term review of the GPA concluded that women continue to be undervalued in biodiversity policymaking and decision-makingand explained how the WC  is preparing for the event with a detailed roadmap that includes training, side events, dialogues and webinars

 

Cristina Eghenter at her presentation.

A key highlight of the training was the strong emphasis on the “whole-of-society” approach, which seeks to build productive linkages between bottom-up community action and state-led processes. This approach was presented as a critical pathway for transformative change, enabling more inclusive participation in biodiversity governance and creating opportunities for civil society to engage in mechanisms such as the Global Review process.

Discussions also addressed recent developments within CBD processes, including progress on planning, monitoring, reporting, and review (PMRR). Participants noted advancements made at COP15, such as the alignment of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the global framework and the establishment of periodic global reviews, as well as updates from COP16, including increased national submissions and the development of reporting templates.

Sharon Ruthia, Bertha Medrano and Cristina Eghenter.

Outcomes and nexts steps

One of the things highlighted re barriers to full and effective participation was the  language challenges faced by rights holders and stakeholders. While  plenary sessions offer simultaneous interpretation, contact groups and other negotiation  meetings do not.

The event  offered valuable visibility into WC’s mission and an appreciation of the important advocacy role it plays within the CBD. It underscored the shared concerns of civil society and the promise of an inclusive COP17 with strong participation from Armenian civil society organizations.

This space also allowed the WC delegates to carry out advocacy  and identify opportunities,  connect and link with the other participants, including young people, activists  civil society organizations, researchers, academia, and government officials from Armenia and France, primarily.

The four members of the WC delegation were able to get to know each other a little better, strengthen and deepen bonds, unite for advocacy, and confirm that we are strong, passionate and wise women and leaders in our communities and spaces. .

La entrada Strengthening Women’s Voices in Biodiversity Governance: The COOP4CBD Paris Training 2026 se publicó primero en CBD Women's Caucus.

]]> https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/strengthening-womens-voices-in-biodiversity-governance-the-co-op4cbd-paris-training-2026/feed/ 0 4670 UNFCCC Gender Action Plan & CBD Gender Plan of Action: Synergies for Implementation at National Level https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/unfccc-gender-action-plan-cbd-gender-plan-of-action-synergies-for-implementation-at-national-level/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:01:16 +0000 https://cbdwomenscaucus.org/?p=4597 Briefing on synergies between the CBD and UNFCCC Gender Action Plans to support coordinated, gender-responsive implementation across climate and biodiversity at national level.

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This briefing, developed by the CBD Women’s Caucus and the UNFCCC Women and Gender Constituency, explores synergies between the CBD Gender Plan of Action (2023–2030) and the UNFCCC Belem Gender Action Plan (2026-2034) to support more coherent, coordinated, and gender-responsive implementation at national and local levels.

While developed under different Conventions, both Gender Plans provide complementary frameworks to advance gender equality across biodiversity and climate agendas. This publication highlights how aligning their objectives, mechanisms, and implementation pathways can strengthen efficiency, coherence, and impact in practice.

It offers a comparative overview of both frameworks and identifies concrete entry points for coordination across national planning processes, institutional arrangements, data systems, and financing. Drawing on the experience of both constituencies, the briefing also examines shared challenges, including fragmented implementation, limited resourcing, and the persistent under-recognition of women’s organisations as key actors in implementation.

The publication provides practical insights and recommendations to support governments, practitioners, and women’s organisations in advancing gender justice and strengthening implementation across climate and biodiversity agendas.

Use this brief to strengthen gender-responsive biodiversity planning, support advocacy, and advance the implementation of both: Climate and Biodiversity 
Gender Plans.
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Year: 2026
Type: Policy Brief
Authors: Amelia Arreguin Prado (CBD Women’s Caucus), Claudia Rubio (UNFCCC Women and Gender Constituency) and Mwanahamisi Singano (WEDO).
Themes: Gender Plans, Gender focal points, Gender perspective, Implementation

La entrada UNFCCC Gender Action Plan & CBD Gender Plan of Action: Synergies for Implementation at National Level se publicó primero en CBD Women's Caucus.

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