Preparation of a Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity Development to Support Implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

The Conference of the Parties, in decisions XIII/23 and 14/24, requested the Executive Secretary to:

• Initiate a process for preparing a long-term strategic framework for capacity-building beyond 2020, ensuring its alignment with the draft post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the capacity-building work of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing
• Commission a study to provide the knowledge base for the preparation of the long-term strategic framework
• Organize consultative workshops and online discussion forums to discuss the draft elements
• Submit a draft long-term strategic framework for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its third meeting (SBI 3) and subsequently by the Conference of Parties at its fifteenth meeting (COP 15)

Pursuant to the above decisions, the Secretariat, in consultation with the Co-Chairs of the Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, organized a Thematic Consultation on Capacity-Building and Technical and Scientific Cooperation from 1 to 2 March 2020 in Rome, Italy. Participants considered, among other things, preliminary elements of the long-term strategic framework.

Following the thematic consultation, draft elements of the strategic framework were prepared by the Secretariat with the support of a consultant. The draft elements take into account:

• Findings of the study conducted by UNEP-WCMC;
• Findings of a survey on capacity-building for coherent implementation of the biodiversity-related conventions conducted by IUCN;
• Views on capacity-building expressed during the regional consultations on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework held in 2019;
• Submissions from Parties, other governments and relevant organizations;
• Capacity-building work of other biodiversity-related Conventions (CITES, CMS, IPPC, ITPGRFA, RAMSAR and WHC) and processes, including IPBES;
• Experiences and lessons learned from capacity development initiatives under relevant processes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
  

The draft elements were made available for peer review during an online discussion forum held from 25 May to 5 June 2020.

Parties, other governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth and organizations actively involved in capacity development efforts were also invited, through notification 2020-037, to provide comments on the draft elements. A total of 27 written submissions were received from 9 governments, including sub-national governments, and 15 organizations.

Subsequently, a draft long-term strategic framework for capacity development will be prepared and submitted for consideration by SBI 3 and COP 15.