Convention on Biological Diversity

A Gender-Responsive Process

SBI - 3

As per decision XIV/18, a review of implementation of the 2015-2020 Gender Plan of Action has been undertaken, the results of which are now available in the document CBD/SBI/3/2/Add.3.

Based on this review and consultations on gender in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (including the expert workshop discussed on this page), a draft outline of a new gender plan of action for the post-2020 period has been prepared for consultation, available at https://www.cbd.int/sbi/review.shtml.

The recording of the Information briefing that was held on August 12 2020 to announce the launch of the consultation is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJBQsSGbHhc

Presentations from the webinar are available below:

Parties and partners are invited to reflect on the draft outline and propose priority areas for action and related objectives.

Submissions received will be posted here.

Inputs received on this draft outline will support the preparation of a revised draft outline for consideration at the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, with the intention that a new gender plan of action can be prepared for the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2021.

Information Note – Towards a Gender-responsive Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Considerations for Gender Mainstreaming

An Information Note was prepared for the first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework on mainstreaming gender in the framework: CBD/GB/OM/2019/1/2 – Towards a Gender-responsive Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Considerations for Gender Mainstreaming.

Expert Workshop – Towards a gender-responsive post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

UN-Women, in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, organized an expert workshop to develop recommendations on possible ways to integrate a gender perspective in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, held on 11 to 12 April 2019 in New York, USA. Thirty-eight participants representing Parties and experts from international organizations, think tanks, civil society and indigenous people’s organizations with expertise on gender and biodiversity-related issues took part in the discussions.

Proposals for a vision for a gender-responsive post-2020 global biodiversity framework emphasized that it:

Ensure equitable access to resources and benefits from biodiversity
Maintain the benefits of ecosystem services in an equitable and just manner for the next generations
Empower women and girls, rural and indigenous communities, and ensure gender equality, to achieve biodiversity goals

General principles for the post-2020 framework included that it be:

Rights-based, gender-responsive, inclusive and participatory

Key recommendations emerging from discussions included the need for:

Increasing women’s leadership, participation and access to decision-making fora, including through quotas to ensure women’s equitable representation;
Strengthening women's collective action;
Promoting and protecting women’s rights and access, control and ownership of resources, including land;
Enabling actions to enhance and ensure equitable benefits and human well-being, taking into account targeted, adequate and reliable means of implementation

A full Report of the Expert Workshop can be found here

Information on the proceedings of the workshop include the following:

Workshop programme
Towards a Gender responsive Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework - CBD Secretariat Presentation
SDGs Context, Overview of Targets and Indicators Relevant to Gender and Biodiversity – UNEP-WCMC Presentation
REDD+ and Ecosystem Restoration: Status and Challenges in regards to Forestry and Gender Perspectives – CIFOR Presentation
Gender and Ecosystem Restoration: Unlocking Resilience for a Post-2020 World – IUCN Presentation
Gender Equity in Governance and Management of Protected Areas – IIED Presentation
Community-based Conservation: Gender Equality and Women Empowerment – WWF Presentation
Agrobiodiversity and Gender Equality – FAO Presentation
Gender Perspectives in Fisheries and Aquaculture – WorldFish Presentation
Gender and Biodiversity – Humboldt Institute Presentation
Gender Perspectives related to Indigenous, Local Community and Rural Women – Naga Women Union Presentation

Additional outputs from the workshop include:

A submission to the CBD Secretariat prepared by UN-Women based on discussions from the workshop, which elaborates on the proposals and recommendations above
A two-page brief “Towards a gender-responsive global biodiversity framework post-2020”, prepared by representatives from a number of organizations who participated in the workshop

Advice and accompanying guidance material to enable a gender-responsive post-2020 process

An advice note and accompanying guidance material to enable a gender-responsive post-2020 process was welcomed by the Conference of the Parties, in decision 14/34, which urged Parties, the Secretariat and other relevant organizations to consider this advice in their processes on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

The advice note contains key messages on gender equality and biodiversity linkages, guiding principles to inform and provide a foundation for a gender-responsive approach, and recommended actions to address three key areas:

ensuring an inclusive and representative process;
promoting outreach and awareness-raising; and
generating and disseminating reliable evidence on gender equality and biodiversity linkages.

Additional background on the key messages and guiding principles, along with examples of tools to support implementation of recommended actions is contained in document CBD/COP/14/INF/15.

Free Open Online Course Module on Gender and Biodiversity

To learn more about why promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment can help deliver better environmental outcomes, you can register for a new free online course module on gender and biodiversity, part of a massive open online course on gender and environment developed by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, Global Environment Facility, UNDP and over 40 other international organizations.

Take the opportunity to build your understanding of gender and biodiversity linkages!