Notification 2020-040

Dear Madam/Sir, At its fourteenth meeting, the Conference of the Parties adopted decision 14/18 (https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-18-en.pdf), which requests the Executive Secretary to undertake a review of the implementation of the 2015-2020 Gender Plan of Action, in parallel to the development of the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and the second edition of the Local Biodiversity Outlooks, in order to identify gaps, best practices and lessons learned. In response to this decision, the Secretariat has prepared a report on the review of implementation of the Gender Plan of Action to be made available for consideration at the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3). The review of implementation is intended to contribute to the thinking and planning for the next steps for gender equality and woman’s empowerment, in light of the development of a new global biodiversity framework of the Convention, to be adopted at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties. In line with this review, and to strengthen the evidence base for stronger action on gender equality under the new framework, the Secretariat is preparing a publication on best practices to provide guidance on addressing gender in the post-2020 period. The publication is intended to be a comprehensive and regionally balanced guide of best practices, focusing on actions that are innovative, transformative and that demonstrate action at scale and are based on positive examples from 2015 to the present. Criteria for best practices include those that demonstrate one or more of the following: • Impacts on biodiversity as well as on gender equality and women’s empowerment; • Financing from new/non-standard partners (private sector, public-private partnerships, Green Climate Fund, etc.); • Innovative approaches, including application of traditional and new technologies; • Initiatives undertaken at larger scales (beyond community level); • Initiatives intended to transform gender relations, through addressing biodiversity concerns; • Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; and • Synergies with gender actions under the Rio Conventions. In this regard, the Secretariat would like to invite Parties, indigenous peoples and local communities, international and civil society organizations and other groups to submit information, including case studies, on recent or ongoing initiatives that respond to the above criteria, for consideration in the development of the best practices publication. Submissions may be in the form of short write-ups (from one to five pages) and can include already prepared or published case studies. Information on initiatives operating at international, regional, national, sub-national or local levels are all welcome. Project pictures, as well as website and video links may also be submitted. Kindly send your submission by e-mail to secretariat@cbd.int no later than 17 July 2020. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Acting Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, UN Organizations and Specialized Agencies, IGOs, NGOs, and indigenous people and local communities, and other stakeholders