Title: Advancing Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action: National Experiences, Lessons Learned and Collaborative Partnerships

DRAFT CONCEPT NOTE FOR INPUT CBD COP17 Side event proposal (espanol abajo / francais ci-dessous) Title: Advancing Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action: National Experiences, Lessons Learned and Collaborative Partnerships Convened by: Guatemala, Togo, Benin, Comoros, Indonesia (tbc), Tajikistan (tbc), Netherlands (tbc), Canada (tbc), Australia (tbc) as members of the Gender and Biodiversity Focal Points Network, in collaboration with CBD Women's Caucus. Rationale The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) recognizes that achieving its goals and targets requires the full, equitable, inclusive, effective, and gender-responsive participation and leadership of women and girls in all their diversity. Through Target 23, Parties committed to ensuring gender equality and a gender-responsive approach in biodiversity action, while the Gender Plan of Action (2022–2030) provides a roadmap for translating this commitment into concrete actions at national, regional, and global levels. Since the adoption of the KM-GBF and the Gender Plan of Action, a growing number of Parties and stakeholders have begun implementing initiatives to strengthen gender-responsive biodiversity governance. These efforts range from the establishment of Gender and Biodiversity Focal Points and cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms, to the integration of gender considerations into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), capacity-building initiatives, data generation efforts, and collaborative platforms that support knowledge exchange and peer learning. As Parties move from commitments to implementation, there is increasing demand for practical examples, lessons learned, challenges encountered, and emerging good practices. Creating spaces for exchange among governments, civil society organizations, technical partners, and other stakeholders is essential to accelerate progress, foster collaboration, and strengthen collective efforts toward achieving Target 23 and implementing the Gender Plan of Action. The Gender and Biodiversity Focal Points Network, established to facilitate exchange, collaboration and peer learning among national focal points and partners, provides a valuable platform for sharing experiences and accelerating implementation efforts across regions. This side event will showcase experiences from countries and partner initiatives that are actively advancing gender-responsive biodiversity action. Through a combination of national case studies and collaborative initiatives, the event will provide participants with practical insights, tools, and lessons that can support implementation efforts in diverse contexts. Objectives 1. Showcase concrete actions, policies, initiatives, and institutional arrangements being implemented by Parties to advance Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action. 2. Facilitate peer-to-peer learning and exchange among Gender and Biodiversity Focal Points, governments, civil society organizations, and strategic and technical partners on opportunities, challenges, lessons learned and improvement experiences. 3. Highlight collaborative initiatives, tools, and knowledge products that can support Parties and stakeholders in strengthening gender-responsive implementation, monitoring, and reporting under the KM-GBF. Guiding Questions The discussion will explore questions such as: ● What concrete actions are Parties undertaking to implement Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action? ● What institutional arrangements, partnerships, and coordination mechanisms have proven effective in advancing gender-responsive biodiversity action? ● What challenges have Parties encountered in integrating gender considerations into biodiversity policies, programmes, monitoring systems, and reporting processes? ● What lessons can be drawn from national experiences that may be relevant to other countries? ● What tools, resources, and capacity-building initiatives are available to support implementation moving forward? ● How are national actions strengthening women’s empowerment in the management of biodiversity, specifically with regard to their full and effective participation in decision-making and their equitable access to and control over natural resources? Proposed Agenda (90 minutes) 1. Opening Remarks (5 minutes) Representative of the Gender and Biodiversity Focal Points Network and CBD Secretariat. 2. Setting the Stage (10 minutes) Overview of progress, opportunities, and remaining gaps in the implementation of Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action. 3. Panel Discussion (50 minutes) Moderated discussion featuring representatives from Parties and partner initiatives (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and UCL). Each speaker will provide a short intervention highlighting key experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations. 4. Interactive Discussion and Q&A (20 minutes) Questions and reflections from participants. 5. Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways (5 minutes) Summary of key lessons, opportunities for collaboration, and next steps for advancing Target 23 and the Gender Plan of Action. 6. Follow-up Actions and Commitments

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Advancing Gender Biodiversity