Greetings and Networking

An opportunity for participants to network and exchange initial thoughts

Opening Session of the last Thematic Day to Celebrate and Drive Cooperation Forward

Setting the scene (5’): 

1. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (5’)

Opening Panel (15’):

1. H.E. Katrin Schneeberger, State Secretary and Director of the Federal Office for the Environment of Switzerland (3’)
2. Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) (3’)
3. Monika Stankiewicz, Executive Secretary of the Minamata Convention on Mercury (3’) 
4. Lucy Mulenkei, Co-chair of the IIFB (3’)
5. Tita Korvenoja, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) (3’)

Guiding Questions for Opening Session:

• Question for Katrin Schneeberger: How have you experienced cooperation during the COP16 so far?
• Question for Amy Fraenkel: From your perspective as an environmental MEA, what is the future of cooperation in implementing the KMGBF? 
• Question for Monika Stankiewicz: From your perspective as a chemicals and waste MEA, what is the future of cooperation in implementing the KMGBF? 
• Question for Lucy Mulenkei: What messages do you have for the Cooperation Day participants to ensure that cooperation becomes sustainable and equitable?
• Question for Tita Korvenoja: What can UNEP do to facilitate cooperation for more effective implementation of the KMGBF?

Interaction with audience on the essence of cooperation as how to move forward in implementing the KMGBF (10’) 

Experiences on Coherent Implementation of MEAs - Stories on how cooperation is contributing to effective action followed by a panel discussion

1. Challenges and opportunities in aligning national priorities with biodiversity-related strategies and objectives
2. Coordination among national agencies for integrated policy development 

Case Study Presentations (30’):

1. Ingrid Coetzee (ICLEI) - Mainstream the whole-of-government approach in reporting and monitoring (5’)
2. Anne Nakafeero (Uganda) - Initiatives taken by Uganda to foster synergies for the implementation of MEAs (5’)
3. Josephine Eloundou (Cameroon) - Tools to support cooperation and reporting to MEAs (5’) [tbc]
4. Anne Teller (European Union) - Aligning work on indicators with global MEA frameworks (5’)
5. Ruth Spencer (MEPA Trust) - Contribution of community-based actions in achieving global targets (5’) 
6. Ludwig Liagre (Rio Impact, UNFCCC) - The Rio Conventions Capacity-building Programme (5’)

Followed by interaction with participants: impressions, questions and comments on coherent MEA implementation (15’)

Panel Discussion (45’): 

1. Ivonne Higuero, Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 
2. H.E. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana or H.E. Dr. Peter Dery, Director, Environment, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ghana
3. Clarisse Kehler Siebert, Co-Chair Bern III, Senior Policy Advisor at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 
4. Camila Zepeda Lizama, Mexico, Co-Chair Bern III, Head of International Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico. 
5. Christian Schwarzer, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN)
6. H.E. Hiba Alshehhi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector, United Arab Emirates 

Guiding Questions for the Panel:

• How do these case studies offer good examples of the sort of cooperation that will be necessary in implementing the KMGBF?
• Why is it so hard to really incorporate cooperation at national, but also at convention level (e.g. in monitoring)?
• How are we all (unconsciously) contributing to silos?
• How can MEAs support countries in their efforts to realise synergies? What needs to change?
• How can stakeholders such as youth, women, IPLCs and the private sector support countries in their efforts?
• At Bern, countries engaged in deep exchange on synergies across MEAs. What role will peer learning play as we move forward with a “whole-of-convention” approach?
• How should MEAs’ and Rio Conventions’ respective COPs and MOPs build on this discussion to cement synergies in their agendas?

Fostering Synergies at all levels to deliver on the KMGBF

Wake-up Call (10’)

1. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands (5’) 
2. Mireia Villar Forner, UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia (5’) 

UN Common Approach to Biodiversity (5’)

1. Hossein Fadaei, Head of the Environmental Management Group (EMG) 

Impulses  (20’)

1. Health and Biodiversity initiative, WHO, Christina Romanelli (3’)
2. UN Food, agriculture and nature (Food Systems Coordination Hub), UN Nutrition, FAO, Frederic Castell (tbc) (3’)
3. Human rights and environment, OHCHR, Ben Schachter, Office of the High Commission (3’)

Conversation on opportunities and challenges for the Common Approach at country and sub-regional/regional level: Stories and expectations from governments in supporting MEAs implementation (20’)

1. H.E. Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Panama
2. Mireia Villar Forner, UN Resident Coordinator
3. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson of Global Environment Facility

Discussion with audience and speakers: What motivates collaboration and how can we overcome barriers to collaboration? (45’)

Interactive Session: Identifying Successes and Challenges of Cooperation and Further Collaboration, summary and next steps - A discussion on challenges and solutions around “whole-of-society and whole-of-government”  approaches and how to strengthen collaboration at all levels, within and across borders, generations, and civil society groups, including South-South and triangular cooperation.

Setting the scene: 

1. Marcos Athias Neto, Assistant Secretary General, Director, Bureau for Policy, UNDP (3’)

Session on contributions from thematic and stakeholder “Days” held in the COP 16 GBF Pavilion and Multistakeholder Auditorium since 21 October 2024

Introduction: 

• Broad overview of the “Days” and how they can be revisited from the angle of cooperation: David Ainsworth, CBD, in charge of the pavilion (3’)
• Introduction by moderator on the objective and format (3’)
• Pitches form the nine thematic and five stakeholder days on most important message on synergies and cooperation from their “Day” in 45’’ each (15’)

Group Session: 

• Participants learn more about how one of the respective “Days” answered the following 3 questions from the representatives: 

• How can cooperation help integrate and connect the dots between environmental plans and strategies, from local to global levels?
• How does cooperation, whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches contribute to your work in relation to [NBSAP, Education, Health, Food, IPLCs, Women, etc]? Provide an example.
• How can we scale up cooperation for implementation to be more effective and efficient? 

• Groups each identify one actionable recommendation for integrated and coherent implementation of the KMGBF at different levels. (25’)
• Each group presents their actionable recommendation (30’’ each) (10’)

Plenary discussion: ‘our’ common messages to take to our respective COPs and MOPs and the Rio Trio and how to use them (30’)

• What are your baby-steps to move forward from where you are currently?
• How should our respective COPs and MOPs be utilising this message of cooperation in the future?

Closing Session

• Feedback on the “Days” concept and the Cooperation Day specifically 
• Bringing Cooperation Day and with it the Thematic Days at the GBF Pavilion to a close Song/Dance/Folklore with closing words– taking to the next Rio COPs (“pass the baton”)