Seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7) - AM session

Good morning, colleagues. Please take your seats. I'm beginning promptly. I'm beginning promptly. Good morning, colleagues. Please take your seats. Thank you very much. If you could begin in 1 minute. Thank you. Good morning to you all. I hope you had a good rest so that you are able to take on another very full day. This morning we will take up items 4B, 10, 12, and hopefully 6. Please note that there has been a change on the scenario note. We are putting forward capacity building and mainstreaming so that we can get ahead with our agenda. So this morning we will take up items 4B, 10, 12, and 6. Before this, I would like to ask for a report from the contact group that met last night on item 3, planning, monitoring, reporting, and review. I would like now to give the floor to Fiji, Ms. Sivendra Michael from Fiji.

Thank you, If you—

yes, you have the floor. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My co-chair, Sané of the Netherlands, and I are pleased to report back to you on the progress made in the first meeting of the Contact Group on Agenda Item 3, Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review, held last night from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM. We introduced this Contact Group meeting by recalling its mandate and the rules to apply during our meetings. We recalled in particular that we will not reopen the discussions held last week during SAPSTA. Based on the early statements and the statements made during the first plenary meeting yesterday morning, we asked for 4 questions— we asked 4 questions to delegates. These guiding questions aimed at giving us some general directions and at helping us drafting a non-paper for the next Contact Group on PMRR. Delegates have shared their views on whether the global review should encourage new or increased commitment, on how to address the need for increased means of implementation in the decision, on the level of detail that the global review should have, and finally on how lessons learned from the first reporting cycle should inform the enhancement of the reporting mechanism for the next national reports and the second global review. We were able to have a very fruitful discussion with very clear guidance from parties as well as an open spirit to other positions and views. Parties have again shown that this Global Review is of primary importance and that our work during the next following days must be up to the task. I thank all the delegates for their inputs and good spirit. As I said yesterday at the end of our meeting, The distance between us was smaller at the end of our discussion than we would have assumed at the beginning, and non-paper will be prepared by the end of today, which will be forming the basis of our next meeting of our next Contact Group to be scheduled. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Ms. Michael, and of course, thanks also to your co-chair, Ms. Kruth. I think that we are in a very good beginning for a Contact Group. Colleagues, we will now turn our attention to the second sub-item under Agenda Item 4, Item 4B, on the financial mechanism. As you may recall, the subsidiary body discussed implementation of the provisions of Article 21 at its 6th meeting and advanced a set of pertinent recommendations. The current meeting is designed to focus on the relationship between the Conference of the Parties and the Council of the Global Environmental Facility at a critical stage of the KMGBF. I would like now to invite the Secretariat to introduce item 4B, but first I see that the DRC is asking for the floor. Is it on a point of order? Yes. Point of order, dear C. You have the floor.

Merci, Madame.

Thank you, Chair, and good morning, dear distinguished colleagues. We are very happy to be here this morning and ready to work in good faith on interesting discussions. Concerning all these agenda items. However, we are currently testing a system which is currently being followed. Going on yesterday's experience in the plenary, we found that the interpreters were not able to work under good conditions.

Thank you.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to follow the interpretations of statements. We find that there are some improvements when it comes to time management and the fact that the microphone is cut off. We would suggest that we come back to 5 minutes for regional groups and 3 minutes for countries, then we can speak at a speed which enables everyone to follow properly and enables the interpreters to do their job properly. This will enable us to remain focused and not just speed up our statements without it really being effective. Thank you.

Thank you very much, DRC. Of course, This kind of proposal is to be presented by your group to the Bureau and not here at plenary. So I would be more than happy to take on a formal suggestion from the African Group at the Bureau about this. Thank you very much. For the time being, we continue with the work as planned. So I would like now to invite the Secretariat to introduce item 4B, Secretariat, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, under Agenda Item 4B, the Subsidiary Body will consider matters related to financial mechanism of our Convention. As recorded in the annotated Convention agenda, the Conference of Parties in this session 12:30, invited the GF to provide a preliminary draft of its report to the Conference of Parties in advance of COP meetings, with a view to facilitating timely and effective consideration by parties. For this agenda item, the subsidiary body has before it the Secretary's Note on the Financial Mechanism, CBD/SBI/7/2015. Under the preliminary report of the Chief Counsel, CPT/SBI/7/4-1, the Chief Counsel report includes information on development relevant to the financial mechanism, including results of the 9th replenishment of the TF Trust Fund. The consideration of this item provides opportunity for parties to review the performance and responsiveness of the financial mechanism in supporting implementation of the Convention and its protocols, as well as the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. Discussions will inform guidance to the financial mechanism and contribute to decision-making by the 17th meeting of the Conference of Parties. The subsidiary body is expected to prepare recommendations for consideration by COP17 and, as appropriate, by the meetings of parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols regarding the report of the Chief Counsel and other relevant matters pertaining to the financial mechanism.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you very much, Secretariat. I would like now to invite the representative of the Global Environment Facility to introduce the preliminary report of the Council of the GEF, Mr. Giorgis Sapik-Jankas. You have the floor. GEF, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, the Global Environment Facility is pleased to introduce its preliminary report to the 17th Conference of the Parties. The report covers the period from July 2022 to March 2026, which corresponds to all but the final 3 months of the GEF 8 replenishment period. Across its entire family of funds, the GEF approved for $4.2 billion for projects and programs contributing to the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, following the OECD-DAC biomarker methodology. This GEF financing leveraged an additional $26.8 billion in cofinancing, including $2.1 billion from the private sector. 142 countries are benefiting from GEF support for the Framework in the reporting period, with Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries together receiving a share of 39.5%. As requested by SBI 6, the report provides detailed information country by country on the status of GEF support to the development of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, national reports, and biodiversity finance plans. Section 2 of the report provides updates on the innovative governance arrangements, policies, and programming of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, the GBFF. The GBFF programmed $362.1 million across 87 countries, meeting or exceeding all 3 of its portfolio-level targets, with notably 31.8% allocated to support actions by Indigenous peoples and local communities. Madam Chair, Section 4 details GEF responses to the guidance parties provided to the GEF at COP16. 21 countries pledged $3.9 billion to the GEF Trust Fund for the GEF 9 period from July 2026 to June 2030. 35% of that is allocated to the biodiversity focal area, will remain the largest focal area in GEF IX. It was further decided that 70% of the entire GEF IX programming should contribute to CBD objectives. The GEF IX programming directions and the GEF IX policy recommendations have been designed to fully respond to CBD COP guidance, including through a comprehensive package of 29 reforms.

Section 5 of the report presents the results of the portfolio under implementation and of GEF 8 reforms.

These past reforms led to a decrease by 30% in the average processing time for full-size projects from first concept submission to disbursement. Among achieved results across KMGBF targets in the reporting period, GEF projects contributed to the restoration of 25 million hectares of ecosystems and the creation of more than 170 million hectares of protected areas. In summary, the GEF has demonstrated high programming efficiency, portfolio performance, progress with reforms, and responsiveness to COP guidance. In closing, please let me— allow me to thank the CBD Secretariat for their close cooperation and reaffirm that the GEF remains committed to supporting parties in in their final sprint to 2030.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Dziurgis. I would like now to proceed with early statements consideration. Colleagues, as noted by the Secretariat, the scenario note contained in document CBD/SPI/7/1 refers to modalities for the early submission of statements for SBI 7 in Annex 2. These modalities were developed for— to facilitate early preparations for meetings, including the early submission of statements. They were applied on a trial basis at Substa 27 and SBI 6 and subsequently approved by Substa Bureau and the COP Bureau for application to all substantive agenda items at Substa 28 and at the present meeting. The Secretariat issued Notification 2026/55 on the 26th of June, 2026, inviting and encouraging parties and observers registered for SBI 7 to participate on a voluntary and informal basis submitting to the Secretariat written statements for agenda items 3 through 14. The deadline was set at 8:00 PM local time in Nairobi on the 3rd of August. The statements submitted early under this agenda item in accordance with modalities have been published online. In addition, the Secretariat has prepared an information document number 21, the early submission of This document lists the 20— I'm sorry, the 18 submissions received from parties and the 6 statements from observers on Item 4 by the deadline. For ease of reference, the list of parties and observers indicated in the Information Document is also displayed on these slides. Note that the list of observers only includes those that have registered on site, so it may differ slightly from the list on the webpage and in the information document. Given that this modality was intended to be a time-saving measure, the listed parties and observers may wish to refrain from delivering an oral statement except where necessary to make clarifications to their own statements where necessary. Parties and observers that did not submit written statements during the informal process may wish to request the floor and submit their written statements as per established procedures. Colleagues, as mentioned earlier, statements submitted during the early submission process were made on a voluntary and informal basis. Therefore, I must ask you whether there are any objections from any parties or any observers listed in the information document to your statements on item 4B being formally entered on record as statement officially submitted for this agenda item in this meeting. Please raise your hands if you have any objection.

Okay.

Thank you very much, colleagues. Your statements will formally be entered on record and considered as officially submitted under this agenda item. Colleagues, the screen is showing the early statements submitted by observers. I will go through the list one by one. Representatives of observer organizations are requested to raise their hands so that we can confirm that you are in the room. I would then ask parties to press their microphone button if they support the statement made by that observer. I will read out 3 of the supporting parties from the speaker lists. Observer 1, Eko Maksakeretaro, are you in the room? Yes, you are in the room. Thank you very much. Do I see any support for the statement?

Yes.

Yes, I see Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Panama. Thank you. Thank you very much. Organization number 2, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. Are you in the room? Yes, they are in the room. Thank you. Do I see any support for this statement? Yes, the DRC, Zimbabwe, and Fiji.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Organization number 3, the IIFB, are you in the room? Yes, thank you, thank you very much. Is there support? Yes, there is support from the DRC, Guatemala— no, I'm sorry, Guatemala, Panama, and Fiji. Thank you very much. Organization number 4, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Yes, they are in the room, they are present. And yes, there is support from Chile and Panama. Thank you very much. Organization number 5, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP. UNDP, yes, they are present. Thank you. I see support from Mexico, Cuba, and the United Republic of Tanzania, and several others. The list of supporters will be published so that we know everybody. Organization number 6, Women for Biodiversity. Yes, they are present. Thank you. Thank you very much. I see support from Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and the United Republic of Tanzania, among several others, and the final list of supporters will be published. Thank you very much, colleagues. So we have completed the list of early submissions of the observers. All the submissions have been supported. I would like now to open the floor for interventions on Item B. Beginning with parties on behalf of regional groups, I would remind you that I will be limiting interventions to 4 minutes for parties speaking on behalf of regions, 2 minutes for individual parties, 3 minutes for IPLC and major stakeholders groups, and 1 minute for non-parties to the Convention and other observers, time permitting. Microphones will turn off automatically when the speaking limit has been reached. I may close the list of speaker— speakers as needed, but I will give fair warning before I do so. Please read out your key points, especially those that you would like to have reflected in the draft recommendations, and be sure to upload your written comments no later than 1 hour after the close of this session. As I have said before, it would be preferable if you could upload your statements beforehand, you taking the floor, so that interpreters can benefit of this information. We will begin now with parties speaking on behalf of original group. Please only request the floor now if you are speaking on behalf of original group. Okay, I give the floor to Bahamas, followed by Zimbabwe, and then Fiji. Bahamas, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This statement is delivered on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States. In Cali, parties adopted the roadmap for the implementation of the financial mechanism established in Article 21 of the Convention. that will be under the authority and guidance and accountable to the Conference of the Parties. At the same time, we set the criteria for the institutional infrastructure of the financial mechanism, and this week during the SBI, we hope to update the criteria and recommend their approval at COP17. Krulak highlights that the financial mechanism must be funded by the contributions developed country parties and parties that assume voluntary— voluntarily the obligations of developed parties, with new and additional financial resources to enable developing country parties to meet the costs of implementing measures which fulfill the obligations of the Convention outlined in Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention. It's extremely important that investment costs of developing countries are estimated as accurately as possible to facilitate developing countries achieving their MBISAP targets, effectively supporting the global biodiversity conservation process. Madam Chair, the estimation of the amount of the needed financial flows is not the only required commitment. Developing countries need funds to be accessible on a grant or concessional basis in a fair, timely, predictable, adequate, simplified, equitable, and inclusive manner. In this regard, GRULAC recognizes the role of the GEF, what they've been playing as the entity operating the financial mechanism on an interim and ongoing basis in support of the implementation of the Convention and the KMGBF. At the same time, although biodiversity remains the focal area with the largest relative allocation of resources under GEF 9, the reduction in the facility's overall financial envelope has led to a decrease in absolute terms in the resources allocated to biodiversity from approximately US$1.9 billion under GEF 8 to around US$1.4 billion under GEF 9, demonstrating that the relative prioritization of biodiversity has not translated into an increase in the financial capacity of the mechanism. In short, the forthcoming stocktake should therefore assess not only implementation but also the Fund's scale, accessibility, contribution to measurable biodiversity outcomes, and responsiveness to the priorities of developing countries. The outcomes of this stocktake should also inform future GEF programming, ensuring that programming priorities effectively address identified implementation gaps and support the achievement of goals and targets of the KMGBF. Its findings should contribute to the broader discussions on the permanent institutional arrangement under Article 21, helping to inform the decisions to be undertaken, the roadmap established by Decision 16/34. Madam President, you can be assured that GULAG countries are committed to supporting and advancing the implementation of the financial mechanism and will support and facilitate negotiations related thereto. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Bahamas, speaking on behalf of GRULUC. I will now give the floor to Zimbabwe, followed by Fiji. Zimbabwe, you have 4 minutes.

Thank you, Chair. Zimbabwe is taking the floor to present a statement on behalf of Africa. Africa acknowledges with appreciation the efforts made by our Secretariat and the Global Environment Facility in preparing the documents for consideration under this agenda item. We raised some of the points, Chair, on this item already in the statement that we presented yesterday under item 4A, as this item is interlinked with resource mobilization as well. We continuously refer to Articles 20 and Articles 21 They are very clear and give direction of what we need as Africa. Africa remains committed to innovative finance mechanisms that we can explore at national and regional levels, and we welcome the progress being made in this regard. It is our considered view, Chair, that such efforts only complement and not necessarily replace the primary obligations under the Convention. Decision 16/34 should be effectively implemented in its entirety if we are to see the transformative progress on implementation of the GBF at all levels, and that needs sustainable financing which supports long-term and not short-term initiatives for all targets. Africa welcomes the progress made in developing the criteria for the permanent institutional arrangement And we want that arrangement to operate under the authority and guidance of and accountable to the Conference of the Parties, providing new additional resources on grant and concessional terms, ensuring fair representative governance, facilitating simplified and direct access for developing country parties to facilitate effective implementation. Regarding the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. We appreciate the fast operationalization of this facility and immediate resourcing, though it remains insufficient. The GBFF still needs more capitalization to match the level of our collective ambition. Africa looks forward to engaging constructively in the negotiations of this agenda item and will present specific textual proposals regarding consideration of the draft recommendations in the Contact Group. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Zimbabwe, speaking on behalf of Africa. Fiji, Fiji, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Co-Chair. Fiji delivers this statement on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States and its 14 member countries. We judge the financial mechanism against one question: can Small Island Developing States and least developed countries obtain in finance simply, directly, and in time. Article 21 of the Convention requires the mechanism to operate under the authority and the guidance of, and accountable to, parties. Accountability requires figures. Much of what follows is a request for figures. What concerns us, Madam Chair, is the size of what is being divided. The 9th replenishment is a smaller envelope than the 8th, assembled by 21 countries, where the 8th had 29. A larger share of the smaller fund may still be less money. We asked the facility to tell us plainly what the biodiversity focal area comes to be in dollars at the final replenishment level and how that compares with the $1.92 billion of the 8th cycle. On the GBFF, $362.1 million has been programmed across 87 countries, including 47 Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. But programming is not disbursement. The trustees' report records cumulative cash transfers to agencies of $32.18 million as at 30 September last year. That is under 10% of the contributions received more than 2 years after the Fund opened, and it's money reaching agencies rather than countries. There are 2 structural points to consider, Madam Chair. First, there is no small island figure anywhere in this report. The 36% covers small island developing states and least developed countries together, and one evaluation does not separate them but puts that around 12%, which does not reconcile while the combined share being reported. We therefore put the question to the facility directly: what is the small island developing state share of program resources, and how much of this has actually been disbursed. We note further that the regional breakdown in the report contains no Pacific or Oceania line at all. We are folded into the Asia grouping. Decision 16/33 requires reporting to this conference sufficient enough to allow it to guide the mechanism, and a report that cannot answer where the money went cannot support that function. Secondly, on allocation flaws. The minimum aggregate allocation for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries has been held at the level of the previous cycle in nominal terms across 4 years. In real terms, there is a reduction and should be described in the report as one. On the 7th review, 3 textual points: the reference to SIDS in the criteria on timely, adequate, predictable funding sits squarely in brackets. We ask those brackets to be removed. Where the criterion measures time to disbursement, we ask the meeting to select the option that measures when the recipient country receives resources because that is the only moment that matters to the recipient countries. And third, what direct access should be and what it looks like for communities in small island developing states and least developing countries. Finally, Madam Chair, in terms of the terms of reference for the 2030-2034 4-year program of program priorities. They currently make no reference to SIDS, of access, or of capacity. This cannot be acceptable to us. We ask that the terms of reference be amended to require the framework to address the access modalities and the capacity constraints for SIDS and LDCs consistent with Article 20, paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Convention. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Fiji. I see no more parties speaking on behalf of regional group requests. I will now open the floor for parties. I will take the first intervention from the DRC, followed by Morocco and Egypt. DRC, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair, for giving me the the floor. The DRC wishes to fully associate itself with the statement made by Zimbabwe on behalf of the Africa Group. Now, the— Jeff's replenishment figures are alarming. The budget of $3.9 billion allocated to the GBFF faced with the $700 billion annual deficit, the money needed to reverse the trend by 2030. Yesterday, GEF 9 showed a decrease compared to the previous cycle. Even though biodiversity theoretically captures 70% of its resources, the genuine finances find it difficult to flow to the most critical ecosystems. We therefore welcome the objective of 35% for least developed states. However, access to these funds remains blocked by constraining bureaucracy. While indigenous peoples and local communities protect the largest carbon sinks of the planet and the major biodiversity stocks, they often have to wait for years before they get approval for projects because of very cumbersome accreditation procedures. So under 4B, the DRC would like to see a radical simplification of the procedures for access to funds to short-circuit the bureaucracy involved. Transparent capitalization of the fund for the Global Biodiversity Framework, GBFF, could honor the promise of mobilizing $20 billion annually by 2035 and $25 billion by 2035. This failure shows the need to create a new mechanism.

Thank you very much, DRC. I will now give the floor to Morocco, followed by Egypt and India. Morocco, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. The Kingdom of Morocco wishes to convey its gratitude to the Secretariat for the preparation of the documents and take note with satisfaction of the progress achieved by the GEF in its support for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Morocco also especially welcomes the support brought to the parties for the elaboration of SPAN-B and the financing plans for biodiversity, as well as national reports under the Convention and its protocols. However, Morocco backs the statement made by Morocco— by Zimbabwe on behalf of the GEF to ensure predictable, adequate, and sustainable financing for the implementation of the KMGBF. Morocco fully supports reforms aimed at simplifying the procedures of the GEF to reduce approval delays and to ensure that funding is provided. Results achieved within the framework of GEF 8 clearly show that it is possible to significantly reduce the time needed to process projects. The Kingdom of Morocco believes that financial mechanism must be— must continue to be steered by states and national communities and should back national strategies and plans of action. Morocco attaches great importance to a strengthening of national capacities for mobilizing innovative financing, including private investment. The Kingdom therefore reiterates its support for more effective financing, one that is more accessible, more responsive, and better tailored to the needs of developing states. Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Morocco. I'll now give the floor to Egypt, followed by India and Saudi Arabia. Egypt, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Egypt aligns itself with the statement delivered by the African Group. The financial mechanism established under Article 21 of the Convention is essential for implementing the Convention and the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As parties advance the process established under the Decision 16/34, our objective should be to ensure that the financial mechanism remains effective, accountable, and fully responsive to the guidance of the COP and the need of developing country parties. In this regard, Egypt wishes to highlight the following points. First, we welcome the progress achieved during the current replenishment period, including improvement in programming and implementation, notwithstanding the reduction in the level of resource available under the current replenishment. Second, we support undertaking the stocktaking review of the GBF alongside with the 7th Quadrennial Review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism. However, the GBF Fund should be considered as one input to the broader review and shouldn't predate the Conference of the Parties' consideration for future institutional structure of the financial mechanism under Article 21. Third, the Finance Quadrennial Review should assess not only the financial performance but also responsiveness to COP guidance, accessibility, predictability, effectiveness, and efficiency, country ownership, implementation outcome, and responsiveness to nationally identified priorities and needs of developing country parties. Finally, the process established under Decision 16/34 must remain country-driven and under the authority and guidance of the COP. The review of the institutional arrangements should be conducted objectively against the agreed criteria, allowing the COP to determine the most appropriate institutional structure under Article 21, including where justified, the establishment of a new entity. Whatever structure is adopted, it must provide timely, predictable, and accessible financial resource while remaining fully accountable to the Conference of the Parties. Chair, Egypt remains committed to working constructively with all parties toward an effective and transparent financial—

Thank you very much, Egypt. I will now give the floor to India followed by Saudi Arabia. India, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. India appreciates the efforts of the Secretariat in preparing the document and acknowledges the importance role played by the GEF as the operating entity of the financial mechanism. India calls for predictable and direct funding through the establishment of a dedicated large-scale global biodiversity fund and emphasizes that GEF disbursements should be directly accessible to developing countries without burdensome procedural requirements. With respect to paragraph 5, India proposes that the explicit inclusion of megadiverse countries alongside least developed countries and small island developing states. For paragraph 4 of the Annex 3, India recalls paragraph 19A of Decision 16/34, which establishes a process towards a permanent arrangement for the financial mechanism under Article 21 of the convention to address the biodiversity financial gap beyond 2030. With regard to paragraph 8B of Annex 3, India seeks clarification on existing institutional arrangement for cooperation among the Rio Conventions and biodiversity If there are establishing a reporting or coordination mechanism, these should be appropriately reflected in the methodology to avoid duplication and ensure coherence. India remains fully committed to constructive engagement in these negotiations. We believe that the financial mechanism must remain country-driven, transparent, and equitable. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, India. Dear colleagues, I will soon close the list for parties, so I will now give the floor to Saudi Arabia, followed by Indonesia and Cameroon. Saudi Arabia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We thank the Secretariat for preparing the documents on the financial mechanism. We would like to underscore the importance of the financial mechanism contributing to the effective and balanced implementation through practical and clear arrangements that meet the needs of parties and their national priorities. In our opinion, the financial mechanism must be further developed with a focus on increasing efficiency and facilitating the administrative procedures while facilitating access to available resources. In addition, transparency in dispersing funds must be improved in such a way that links support to clear outcomes. We believe that any future arrangements must be grounded in the principles of the Convention, mainly Article 21. The agreed-upon frameworks must be respected in full respect of national circumstances and capacities. We reject any additional financial and administrative undue burden. In conclusion, we underscore the importance of respecting the national nature in identifying priorities. All financing and co-financing arrangements must remain flexible and non-binding. They must not become a condition that affects the States Parties meeting their obligations. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Saudi Arabia. I will now give the floor to Indonesia, followed by Cameroon and the Russian Federation. Indonesia, you have the

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Indonesia welcomes the progress made by the GEF in supporting implementation of the KMGBF and appreciates the proposed emphasis on integrated programming, country ownership, and alignment with the national development priorities. We encourage the GEF to maintain a balanced and equitable allocation of resources across the full range of the framework goals and targets, ensuring comprehensive support for implementations. And at the same time, the financial mechanisms must remain country-driven, responding to nationally identified priorities, national circumstances, and the implementation needs reflected in, in BSAPs. Indonesia further emphasizes that biodiversity finance should be timely, predictable, Adequate, accessible, and responsive to the country needs. We therefore support continued efforts to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of resource allocation while improving equitable access for eligible developing countries. Finally, strengthening national capacities remains a priority for effective implementations. Continued support for project preparations, implementation, monitoring, reporting, knowledge management and also institutional coordination will reinforce country ownership and maximize the impact of the GEF investment. Capacity building should also enable countries to mobilize complementary sources of finance, including private sector investment, while recognizing that such financing should complement and doesn't substitute for public international financial support. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Indonesia. I'll now give the floor to Cameroon, followed by the Russian Federation, and then Burundi. Cameroon, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. At the outset, Cameroon wishes to fully support the statement made by Zimbabwe on behalf of the African Group. Our statement addresses the possible criteria for establishing a biodiversity financing instrument in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of the Convention, which pertains to the financing mechanism. It is based on Annex 2 of Decision 16/34 on resource mobilization of resources. This annex reflects the conclusions of the work of the Advisory Committee on Resource Mobilization and the Contact Group on the same topic. In this annex, it is specified that the possible criteria for establishing a biodiversity financing instrument have not been negotiated. Now, the deadline for finalizing these criteria has been set for COP17, and for this reason, Cameroon reiterates the request it made at SBI 6 in Rome, that the negotiations during this session lead to the formal and consensual adoption of these criteria. To this end, we believe it would be worthwhile to consider establishing a contact group on this issue either during this session or at COP17 before a final decision is made. Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor.

Thank you very much.

I can do Burundi after Russia.

I close the list for parties. I will give the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by Burundi and Gabon. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. Now, the regular assessment of the GEF is a very important process to ensure enhancing of the effectiveness of its work, the work of our temporary financing mechanism, determining the parameters for its work, including illegal constraints imposed on a number of parties of the Convention who have the right to enjoy allocation of resources, and restructuring work on the whole with an objective to remain in keeping with the requirements of the members of the Convention who have a right to access JEF resources, we consider it important to, in the document, reflect the nature of the financial— the financial nature of the mechanism, which should be entirely under the control of the parties to the Convention. This is why the Conference of the Parties must demand that the JEF fulfill the agreements reached between the stakeholders and not limit itself only by invitations to the GEF. We'd like to especially note the importance of a substantial acceleration and improvement in the work of the various executive agencies of GEF to ensure that there is timely provision of resources to states and organizations of work in preparing national documents and projects. This is of fundamental importance for the timely and qualitative preparation of of the 8th national reports. We believe that GEF bears responsibility for the work of its agencies and should work to improve their work or exclude them from the list of subsidiary bodies. If there is a decision made regarding direct financing of stakeholders who are not national governments, we have to resort to a list of specific requirements for these organizations, including through the use of focal points, we will send—

Thank you very much, Russian Federation. I will now give the floor to Burundi, followed by Gabon and Argentina. Burundi, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Burundi supports the statements made by Zimbabwe on behalf of the African Group. Resource mobilization With harmful effects on biodiversity. Promote private investment and innovative financing. On the financial mechanism set out under Article 21 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, this is the institutional architecture which enables us to allocate financial resources to parties, in particular to developing countries, in order to finance the implementation of the NBSAPs, support conservation projects, strengthen institutional capacities, facilitate technology transfer, support monitoring and reporting. Burundi would like a clear and effective resource mobilization mechanism to enable states to implement revised NBSAPs, achieve national targets, of the KMGVF, improve the management and extension of protected areas, restore degraded ecosystems, strengthen the means of subsistence for local communities. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you very much, Burundi. I will now give the floor to Gabon, followed by Argentina and Namibia. Gabon, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Gabon aligns itself with the statement. Made by the African Group and thanks the Global Environment Fund for the progress made within the context of GEF 9 and the GBFF. Gabon, however, would like to highlight the importance of strengthening the effectiveness, accessibility to, and equity of financial mechanism in order to support the implementation of the the GMBF. We therefore call for a simplification of access procedures to financing and for reduction in delays in approval. We also encourage an allocation of resources which takes greater account of the situation of countries which carry out large-scale biodiversity conservation. in particular with lightened administrative procedures and to also implement zonal conservation measures. We also need to get the coexistence between humans and wildlife with the implementation of Target 4 of the Global Framework. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Gabon. I'll now give the floor to Argentina, followed by Namibia and Maldives. Argentina, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. Argentina aligns itself with statements made previously on behalf of the GRULAC region. In addition, we believe it's essential that the implementation of the financial mechanism continues to be guided by that set out in Article 21 of the Convention and decisions agreed upon in past COPs, always in line with the priorities set circumstances and legal institutional frameworks of receiving countries. In this regard, we welcome progress aiming to strengthen an approach led by parties which improves the participation of competent national authorities. Argentina emphasizes that access to resources needs to be effective and not be conditioned by the capacity to mobilize co-financing. additional contributions and resources mobilized can play a complementary role, but should not become a condition in order to access financing. In this context, we will continue to take part constructively in discussions over these days, and we'll send our text edit proposals in writing. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Argentina. I will now give the floor to Namibia followed by the Maldives and Bahrain. Namibia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Namibia aligns with the African Group statement delivered by Zimbabwe and would like to emphasize 2 elements. First, on direct access, Namibia strongly supports the Group's call for access through national entities. To give effect to this, We ask that the stocktake of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund report how many African states are accredited, the average time from approval to the first disbursement, and the performance against allocation commitments for the least developed countries, small island developing states, and indigenous people and local communities, and highlight What measures we can enforce? Secondly, on funding the roadmap for the groups which the group has endorsed, the roadmap asks the subsidiary body to complete four tasks before COP eighteen, each qualified as subjected to availability of funds. Yet document CBD slash document CBD slash SPI. 7/14 records unspent balance of $11 million in the general trust fund of the convention at the end of 2025, excluding the working capital reserve. Namibia asks that we invite COP17 to consider funding the roadmap from this balance. This is not new money. Textual proposals will be submitted. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Namibia. I will now invite Maldives, followed by Bahrain and China. Maldives, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Maldives thanks the Secretariat and Jeff for the extensive work on the document on this agenda item. We support the call for developed country parties and other parties that voluntarily assume the obligation of developed country parties to enhance their contribution to the 9th replenishment cycle of GEF Trust Fund. We welcome the recognition of the need to strengthen support for least developed countries and small island developing states in Para 5E, whose unique circumstances, limited capacities, and the high biodiversity vulnerability require targeted and accessible financial support. We further call for the increase in the efforts by GEF to promote country-driven programs that ensures that these approaches remain aligned to the national priorities, country ownership, and the specific need of the developing country parties. We wish to draw attention to the Annex 1 on GEF 7 expenditure information as contained in the Information Document 17 does not appear to reflect the information and the figures that we were previously shared. We would like to request the Secretariat and GEF to review and verify the Annex to reflect accurately the information provided. We reiterate that enhanced predictable and accessible financial support will be critical for enabling all parties, particularly LDCs and SIDS, to effectively implement KMGBF targets. We would like to note that this statement does not replace our earlier submission, which contains the textual proposals that we would like to see in the draft recommendation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Maldives. I'll now give the floor to Bahrain, followed by China and Panama. Bahrain, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the outset, please allow me to extend my thanks to the Executive Secretariat for preparing this document. I would like to make the following remarks to ensure that the output of our meeting is aligned with the core principles of the Convention. Firstly, we thank the Secretariat for the international classification review, but macroeconomic indicators may not accurately reflect the challenges and the economic vulnerability of countries. As such, We emphasize the importance of Article 30. The spirit of this article must be respected. Any additional financial burden must be a voluntary decision. The recommendation must stray away from any voluntary or automatic classification that is based on economic indicators that go beyond the free framework of the convention. We must maintain state flexibility in assessing their circumstances and national priorities. I will send my full statement in writing. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Bahrain. I will now give the floor to China, followed by Panama and Uganda. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

China thanks the Secretariat and the GEF for their documentation prepared for this meeting. We also don't endorse the statements made by Maldives and the African group. We'd like to make 4 points. First of all, the GEF funding still falls far short of the needs under Target 19. We urge developed country contributors to honor their pledges and provide adequate support for developing countries' implementation. Secondly, under Article 21 of the Convention, the financial mechanism operates under the authority and guidance of the COP. GEF governance, decision-making, and resource allocation should better reflect this mandate and authority. Third, China believes that the GEF funding should respect the recipient country's ownership and priority. Reliance on international implementation agencies increases costs and can weaken alignment with national— China supports simple access procedure, more direct access for LDCs, SEEDs, and LPDCs. We believe simplified fund acquisition procedure to provide LDCs, SEEDs, and IPLCs and fairer, more transparent governance with a stronger representation for developing countries. Fourthly, Finance is a key issue to the implementation of KMGBF. As a developing country, China has voluntarily provided fund support to other developing countries through the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. We will soon launch a new call for project for— to further support KMGBF implementation. Thank you, Chair.

China. I will now give the floor to Panama, followed by Uganda. Panama, you have the floor.

Gracias, señora presidenta.

Thank you, Chair. Panama aligns itself with the statement of GRULAC. I would like to add 3 concrete text proposals on indigenous local communities, youth, women. On paragraph 5, we need clear guidance on the resources for indigenous peoples and local communities, prioritizing projects Panama has ambition of a single unique window for indigenous peoples, women, and youth in order to directly implement projects under the convention. 3, paragraph 5 needs to recognize leadership shown by women and the youth, and paragraph 10 needs to ensure their participation with a gender focus, and the advisory group needs to take part in Annex Thank you very much for taking into account these proposals.

Thank you very much, Panama. I'll now give the floor to Uganda. Uganda, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Uganda aligns itself with the statement that was made by Zimbabwe on behalf of Africa. Chair, our intervention is very short. Adequate and predictable financial resources is critical for the implementation of KMGBF.

Chair, in addition to the process of accessing these funds being country-driven, guidance and approval from the CBD National Focal Point should be integrated into the process to enhance implementation of the KMGBF.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Uganda. I'll now— I don't see any more requests from— for the floor from parties. And then I would ask the observers to please— yes, now I see. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Please, if— I will not be asking for support for your intervention since I understand that we had already support for the early submissions. But if you feel that you are are making any additional comments that need support, please state so. So I now begin with the IPOCs. IIFB, you have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. I take the floor on behalf of the IIFB. We have submitted our detailed proposals, and we thank the parties that supported us. We would like to highlight a few points.

This year's Council—

GEF Council meeting in Samarkand included the largest delegation of Indigenous Peoples and local community representatives in the history of the GEF. The Council made several decisions that support Indigenous Peoples and local communities, which we appreciate and welcome. First, we welcome the aim that at least 20% of all resources for the GEF 9 period is committed for Indigenous Peoples and local Clear guidance on what counts towards this target must be developed, building on the GBFF guidance. Second, we welcome the GEF IX allocation of $100 million for the Indigenous Conservation Initiative, and we call for its implementation to be informed by lessons from the GEF VII Inclusive Conservation Initiative and the GEF VIII Heart of Conservation Initiative.

Thank you.

Third, we support the invitation to GEF to deepen inclusive support for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, which should include through direct access and by prioritizing projects designed and implemented by Indigenous Peoples and local communities themselves. Fourth, we are concerned that there is no clear pathway for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to communicate our priorities in the development of the 4-year outcome-oriented framework of program priorities for the GEF. This must be addressed initially through engagement with the GEF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group and moving forward through a more formal pathway. Furthermore, serious actions must be undertaken to remove barriers to direct access by Indigenous Peoples and local communities to biodiversity finance. Finally, as we look toward COP17, we invite parties to provide adequate resources to support the operations and activities of SP8J. The SP8J is an important platform for implementing Article 8J and other provisions of the Convention related to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, which is crucial for achieving the KMGBF vision of living in harmony with nature.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, IIFB. I now acknowledge the CBD Women's Caucus, followed by youth. Women, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the CBD Women's Caucus and its more than 900 members. We thank parties that have already expressed support to our written submissions, and these is not a replace for it. We would like to briefly explain 3 messages behind our textual proposals. First, delivering the KMGBF requires more, not fewer, public resources than those mobilized under GEF 8. This means both fulfilling existing international financial obligations under the Convention and advancing innovative, fair, and progressive approaches to resource mobilization, including international tax justice and the reform of harmful incentives. A reduction in available resources is sending the wrong signal at a time when parties have committed to accelerating implementation of the Framework. Second, the governance innovations introduced through the GBFF should guide the financial mechanism, either a new or a reformed entity. In this sense, GEF, or any other fund, must include measures to ensure the full equitable, effective, and gender-responsive participation of women in governance and decision-making processes. Concretely, women, including those from people of African descent, indigenous peoples, and local communities, must have a dedicated space to contribute to GEF processes not only as beneficiaries but as partners in governance— in governing biodiversity finance. We see the importance of these scenarios in the past GEF Assembly where we, as women, participated in the GEF decisions and conversations. Third and last, the CBD Gender Plan of Action must become a guiding instrument for GEF 9. Its Objective 3.6 explicitly calls for dedicated funding windows for women's organizations, and the findings of its ongoing midterm review provide valuable evidence on barriers, financing needs, and enabling conditions. Without dedicated earmarked resources, however, the GPA will remain an unfunded commitment. Gender equality requires intentional investment, predictable financing, and direct access to resources for women's organizations. With this, we remain available to support parties in any way that may be helpful throughout the negotiations. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, CBD Women's Caucus. I will now give the floor to youth. Youth, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, which serves as the international coordination platform for youth participation in the CBD. We have submitted a specific text proposal for this agenda item, and we thank the parties who have expressed their support. We are taking the floor to briefly outline our general key priorities as youth for this agenda. Dear delegates, previous convention decisions and the Global Report recognize the role of indigenous peoples, local communities, women, and youth for biodiversity and the barriers they face in accessing biodiversity finance. The GEF has not been designed to provide direct, flexible, and predictable finance for locally led biodiversity action, and this gap should be explicitly recognized in this current decision. Existing initiatives, including the Small Grants Program, the Heart of Conservation Initiative, and the Inclusion Conservation Initiative provide useful examples that must be mainstreamed across the GEF family of funds. In addition, GEF governance reform should move beyond engagement and ensure the meaningful participation of right holders in decision-making, enabling them to shape biodiversity finance priorities and resource allocations. Regarding the GBFF, aligned with its resource mobilization strategy approved at the last GBFF Council, we reinforce a dedicated funding window should be established for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth-led groups, with a strong focus on piloting direct access modalities. The establishment of such a window could represent a blueprint for the whole GEF family of funds. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much. I see that there is still a party on my screen, but of course parties do— yes, I will allow for now, but please pay attention when I say that I'm closing the list of speakers. Qatar, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you for giving me the floor. We'd also like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the documents for this item. It's a good foundation for our discussions. We'd like to place an emphasis on the position expressed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which we also support. Within this context, we place emphasis on the importance of respecting What's already been agreed upon.

Yes, if you could resume your intervention. Let's see if it works.

The calculation standard could be GDP, and in the future it could be the Human Development Standard or any other standard when we begin to use different calculation methods. We need a clear foundation which determines the work. This can lead— if we don't have this, it can lead to doubts and could undermine the work of the Convention and could harm the balance between rights and duties in line with Article 21 of the Convention. Therefore, we attach great importance importance to remaining faithful to the principles agreed upon without any other addition. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Qatar. I see no more requests for the floor. With that, we have completed our first reading for item 4B. Thank you very much, delegates, for your useful comments and interesting suggestions. recommendations, we have had a very rich discussion. On many issues, we note major areas of convergence. We have a range of views, however, that require further discussion. I propose to establish a contact group with the following mandate. The contact— the mandate of the contact group is to prepare a draft recommendation pertaining to the financial mechanism for consideration and adoption by the plenary with no brackets, hopefully. In doing so, the group will take into account all viewpoints expressed and submitted by delegates during these negotiations. Please note that the group is not mandated to consider new or additional issues not raised during plenary. Discussions must remain confined to the matters assigned to this meeting. So recommendation 6/2 will not be reopened unless the co-chairs consider it highly pertinent and strictly necessary. I would suggest that the contact group will be co-chaired by Inka Nitti from Germany and Ji Wang from China. Thank you very much. for our co-chairs. And with the support of the Secretariat and in consultation with the co-chairs of the Contact Group, I will produce a non-paper for discussion by the Contact Group. I wish to remind you that Contact Groups are open to participation by all parties, other governments, and observers, unless otherwise decided by the co-chairs.

Thank you.

The usual practice and rules will apply to participation of observers. They may speak at the discretion of the co-chairs, and any substantive proposal from— on an observer during the contact group must be supported by at least one party. Kindly note that audio and video recording during contact groups is strictly prohibited. We will announce the time and venue for the contact group on item 4B. And now, colleagues, I would like to go ahead with our agenda considerations. So, next item on our agenda is item 10, capacity building and development and the technical incentive cooperation. I will allow some time for delegates to rearrange.

Thank you.

And I'll take advantage of this time to say that the known paper for item 4A, resource mobilization, is already available online. I see that the DRC is requesting for the floor again? No. Okay, colleagues, thank you very much. I will now— but DRC, is that another point of order? But please, if this is a point of order regarding the organization of this plenary, okay. Otherwise, if it's something for bureau to mind, please abstain to raising it. Yes, DRC, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, for giving me the floor. Indeed, we understood your advice, and through the Afrikan Group, we will raise our concern with the Bureau. But we are currently taking the floor because before beginning the plenary session, we appointed a rapporteur. We are concerned to note that our rapporteur is not here with us now, and we don't have an update on that. So we'd like to have more information on that. Thank you.

Yes, thank you very much, DRC. Yes, we have appointed and approved the rapporteur. It's Mrs. Bilal Kitchat from Jordan. Yes. And he's here. Yeah. Thank you, Ms. Bilal. Thank you very much, the DRC. Yes.

Could they please join the podium? Then we can be sure that everything is in order. Thank you.

Thank you very much, DRC, for your very useful suggestion, and I would like now to invite the Secretariat to introduce item 10. Microphone to the Secretariat, please. Secretariat, you have the floor. Microphone to the Secretariat.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Pursuant to the requests contained in decisions 15.8 and 16.3, the Secretariat prepared for your consideration document CBD/SBI/7/10, which contains in Section 2 progress reports on capacity building and development, including progress in the use of the Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity Building and Development, as well as progress in the implementation of Target 20 of the ChemGBF. Section 3 includes the progress on the operationalization of the TSC mechanism, including the TSC support centers. and the global coordination entity. The Secretariat also prepared 2 information documents: Document INF8, containing the progress report in the implementation of the Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity Building and Development, and INF10, containing the progress report on the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism. The subsidiary body is invited to consider elements of a draft recommendation which is contained in Section 4 of Document SBI/7/10. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Secretariat. Before beginning our discussions, I would like to invite Nat Katzeni-Tichada from the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Center hosted by SANBI in South Africa to provide a brief assessment statement on behalf of the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism regarding progress made in its operationalization. So, Mrs. Tichada, you have the floor.

Thank you, Thank you, Chair. I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism, which brings together 18 technical and scientific cooperation support centers and the global coordination entity in support of parties worldwide. We thank parties for the continued confidence in the mechanism reflected not only in the draft recommendation under this agenda item, but also in several draft decisions negotiated during SBI 7 and SAPSTA 28. We are committed to meeting these expectations and supporting implementation on the ground. We welcome the progress and significant achievement made in a relative short period despite the limited availability of resources. Across all regions, the support centers have moved rapidly from establishment to implementation, operationalization, work plans, conducting capacity needs assessment, building strategic partnerships, and strengthening governance arrangements. They are already responding to parties' needs through technical assistance, training, workshops, establishment of help desks, and peer learning activities. The global coordination entity has played a critical role in fostering collaboration, mobilizing resources, and strengthening partnership. At the same time, important challenge remains, including insufficient and unpredictable funding, limited staffing capacity, governance-related delays, and growing demand for technical support that exceeds available resources. We therefore strongly support the draft recommendation, particularly its calls for the predictable multi-year financing, strengthened engagement by parties and partners, enhanced resource mobilization, and greater support from funding mechanisms. Investing in the TSC mechanism, Madam Chair, is an investment in implementation, enabling parties to transform commitments into tangible results and accelerate progress towards the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Ms. Chichada. Colleagues, as you may recall, at our 6th meeting we adopted recommendations on capacity building and development and technical and scientific cooperation contained in document CBD/SPI/Rec/6/5. Those recommendations focus on options to address technical, technological, and institutional capability gaps identified by parties, and also terms of reference for the independent evaluations of the relevance and effectiveness of the long-term strategic framework and of the TSC's mechanism. At this meeting, we are going to consider 2 additional sets of recommendations which will all be grouped under one agenda item for consideration of COP17. As previously explained, Information Document 21 lists the 15 submissions received received from parties and 7 statements from observers on item 10 by the deadline. The list of parties and observers indicated in the formation document is also being displayed on the screen. Note that this list only includes observers that have registered on site. Colleagues, are there any objections from any parties or observers listed in the formation document to your statements being formally entered on record as statements officially submitted for this agenda item in this meeting? Please raise your hands if you have any objection. Thank you, colleagues. Your statements will therefore be formally entered on record and considered as officially submitted under this agenda item. Regarding the statements submitted by observers, I will go through the list on the screen one by one. I would then ask if the representative— if the observers are in the room so that we can confirm that, and I would then ask parties to press their microphone button if they support the observers' statements. So I will go to observer number 1. ECOMACCEI Querétaro? Yes, they are present. Thank you very much. Do I see any support from the floor? Yes, I see lots of support for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cuba. Thank you very much. Organization number 2, the GYBN, are you in the room? Yes, you are in the room. Thank you very much. Do I see any support for this Yes, DRC, Fiji, Guatemala, they have support. Organization number 3, IUCN, they are in the room. Thank you very much. I see support, DRC, Côte d'Ivoire, and Colombia, and several others. Thank you. Organization number 4, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN, are you in the room?

Yes.

Yes. In the corner. Thank you. Yes, they are present. So I see support from Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Egypt. Thank you very much. Organization number 5, the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. They are in the room. They are present. Thank you. I see support from the European Union, Guatemala, Yes, thank you very much. Organization number 6, the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, they are present. Thank you very much. I do see support from Tunisia, Tanzania, and Cuba, and several others. Thank you very much. Organization number 7, Human Rights Watch. Women for Biodiversity. They are also present. Thank you. I see support from the DRC, Mexico, and the United Republic of Tanzania, among others. Thank you very much. The list of— the complete list of supporters will be published and available for everyone. Thank you, colleagues. I would like now to open the floor for interventions on item 10, The usual rules for our meeting— meetings apply. Please, colleagues, focus on the essential points and upload the full text of your intervention to the Secretariat no later than 1 hour after the close of the session and preferably before taking the floor. I now open the floor for comments on item 10, beginning with parties speaking on behalf of a regional group. Please only request the floor now if you are speaking on behalf of a regional group. I see Kenya speaking on behalf of African countries. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Kenya has the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Africa. Africa welcomes the progress reflected in the draft recommendation. Particularly the measures to strengthen the long-term strategic framework for capacity building and development, operationalize the technical and scientific cooperation mechanism, and support the work of the global coordination entity and the regional and sub-regional technical and scientific cooperation support centers. While we support the draft recommendation, we believe that several implementation priorities require greater emphasis if the mechanism is to deliver lasting results for developing countries. First, capacity building should be institutionalized within national biodiversity institutions rather than implemented primarily through short-term projects. Long-term institutional strengthening is essential for sustaining national implementation capacity. Second, greater attention should be given to retaining and and developing national scientific and technical expertise. Developing countries continue to invest in training professionals but often face challenges in maintaining the institutional capacity needed to implement the KMGBF over the long term. Third, Africa encourages greater investment in regional centers of excellence and stronger collaboration among scientific institutions, universities, and research organizations to promote collaborative research, innovation, technology development, expert exchanges, and the generational— and generation of practical solutions that respond to Africa's biodiversity processes. Capacity building should evolve beyond short-term training programs to include sustained technical accompaniment, through mentoring, advisory services, peer learning, network, and community of practice that enable parties to effectively apply knowledge during implementation, monitoring, and reporting under the KMGBF. Africa emphasizes the importance of investing in the next generation of biodiversity professionals through scholarship, research fellowships, regional mobility programs, and scientific exchange initiatives for young researchers, technicians, and practitioners. Sixth, stronger attention should be given to enhancing national scientific infrastructure, biodiversity information systems, and technical facilities that underpin evidence-based implementation and effective technical and scientific cooperation. Further, supporting the capacity of indigenous people and local communities, women and youth to participate effectively in biodiversity planning, implementation, monitoring, and knowledge sharing processes. Africa emphasizes that capacity building should extend beyond government institutions to include the private sector, particularly the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, whose production systems and value chains have significant implications on biodiversity. Strengthening their technical capacity to integrate biodiversity considerations into business planning, sustainable production, and reporting will contribute more effective— to more effective mainstreaming across key sectors of the economy. Further, greater attention should also be given to strengthening the capacities of subnational governments and local institutions responsible for implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans. Local authorities require technical skills, planning tools, and access to scientific information to effectively integrate biodiversity into local development.

Thank you very much, Kenny, on behalf of the African Group. I will now see Fiji. Fiji, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Fiji speaks on behalf of the Pacific Small Island Developing States and on behalf of the 14, as this is our highest priority at this meeting. Madam Chair, this statement does not replace our written submission but is supplementary to that. Madam Chair, there is one sentence in the progress report that ought to govern this whole discussion on the network of regional and sub-regional Regional Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centers, and it reads, the most critical challenge is the lack of predictable and sustained funding. The figures behind that sentence are these: 18 entities selected, 15 signing host agreements, 10 signed, and 2 of the 15 have mobilized any funding. The global coordination entity and most of the centers cannot hire full-time staff to carry out the functions they were governed and demand at the same time for technical support running ahead of what they can supply. We say this with respect for what the Secretariat has built. The Forum called these centers a potential game changer, and absolutely we agree, and that is precisely why designation without resourcing troubles us because it creates the appearance of delivery where there is very little, and it does not so in the name of decisions 15/8 and 16/3, which this group supported. And for our region, Madam Chair, this is concrete. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program, SPREP, is the only center for Oceania, one center for the largest ocean region on Earth, serving countries thousands of kilometers apart. It operates in its own words by leveraging existing program budgets and in-kind contributions. We also note and ask the Secretariat to correct that this Convention's own technical cooperation webpage lists that center as serving 11 countries. Our region has more parties than that, and the error is not cosmetic. It is the figure against which need is assessed. Madam Chair, nobody disputes the assessment of need. The report tells us that implementation in developing country parties is generally weak, uneven, ad hoc, and largely based on short-term interventions, and that insufficient and unpredictable financing is the primary barrier. 63% of parties address capacity building in their national targets, while only 17% address technical and scientific cooperation. Article 18 of the Convention obliges parties to promote technical and scientific cooperation, and with that, Article 20, paragraph 4 makes our implementation conditional on that cooperation being delivered. So, Madam Chair, these 4 changes we propose: one, the paragraph inviting predictable multi-year contributions is the weakest instrument available to us for what the report itself calls. 2, a budget line for the delivery centers and not only for the coordination entity, and we cannot support a budget structure that funds coordination of work that is not funded. 3, the paragraph inviting the GEF and other funds to support the centers should be converted from an invitation into a request. And 4, at Yerevan, we'll conduct the first review of these centers under Decision 16/3, and that review must examine resourcing and not only activity, as the centers themselves must be heard in it. And finally, Madam Chair, let me conclude with a simple request. Where the Convention supports national capacity and monitoring, it should also support sub-regional capacity.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Fiji, on behalf of Pacific Seeds. Colleagues, I see no more ask for the floor from regional groups. I would like now so to open the floor for parties, and that means that parties should have 2 minutes allowed to them. Yes, thank you very much. So I will take the first intervention from Egypt. Egypt, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. First of all, Egypt strongly supports the statement given on behalf of Africa. Madam Chair, capacity building has been recognized since the adoption of the Convention as one of the fundamental enabling conditions for effective implementation. Likewise, technical and scientific cooperation remains a cornerstone for achieving the objectives of the Convention as well as GBF. While appreciating the progress achieved, Egypt believes that it is timely to reflect on the way we define and measure capacity building. Too often, capacity building is associated only with workshops, training events, and short-term activities. Although these are valuable, they don't reflect themselves or create lasting national capacities. Sustainable capacity building requires strong national institutions, qualified and motivated professionals, effective knowledge management system, continuous learning, public expression or awareness, access to scientific information, adequate financial resources, and the ability to retain skilled staff within the normal conditions. Egypt, therefore, we should or we should invest in people, institutions, and organizations in a way that we can reflect all of these things together. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Egypt. I see on the screen the DRC, followed by the United Republic of Tanzania and Bangladesh. So I will now give the floor to the DRC.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. The DRC wishes to align itself with the statement made by Kenya on behalf of the Africa Group. The Global Biodiversity Framework will not move from desire to action without a radical change in the scale of our work. For the DRC, capacity building and development, as well as technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer, are not secondary options. They are preconditions for our collective success. In this respect, the DRC would like to firmly stress the key indispensable role played by regional support centers as well as sub-regional support centers for technical cooperation. These structures should not remain theoretical institutions on paper only. They should become genuine engines, operational engines provided with predictable and adequate financing. Madam Chair, the DRC for this reason calls upon all parties as well as development partners and financial mechanisms including the GEF, offer to target direct substantial resources towards the operationalization of these regional centers as well as sub-regional centers for capacity building. I thank you.

Thank you very much, DRC. I'll now give the floor to Tanzania, followed by Bangladesh and Costa Rica. United Republic of Tanzania, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, the United Republic of Tanzania aligning with the statement delivered by the African Group. We thank the Secretariat for the progress made in implementing the Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity Building and Development and in operationalizing the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism. Madam Chair, Tanzania recognizes that achieving the goal and targets of the KMGBF will depend on the availability of scientific knowledge and the capacity of the countries to apply that knowledge effectively. We therefore stress that capacity building and scientific cooperation must be treated as investment in resilience and sustainability rather than temporary measures. Without robust national institutions, skilled human resource, and accessible knowledge system, the KMGBF target will remain aspirational. We therefore call for enhancing international solidarity, predictable financing, and equitable partnerships that empower developing countries to generate, manage, and apply their biodiversity knowledge in a way that directly supports national development priorities and community livelihood. Capacity building and scientific cooperation must be inclusive and should engage youth women, and local communities. We further underscore the importance role of the regional and sub-regional technical and scientific cooperation support centers in facilitating technical transfer, knowledge exchange, and technical assistance. These centers should be provided with predictable and sustainable resources to effectively respond to the needs of the developing countries. Madam Chair, the United Republic of Tanzania remains committed to working with all the parties for effective implementation of the KM—

Thank you very much, United Republic of Tanzania. I will now give the floor to Bangladesh, followed by Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bangladesh thanks the Secretariat for preparing document CBD/SBI. And welcomes the progress made in implementing the long-term strategic framework for capacity building and development, as well as the mechanism for technical and scientific cooperation. Capacity building must be country-driven, need-based, and inclusive, and aligned with national biodiversity strategies, priorities, and circumstances. Bangladesh supports practical guidance, step-by-step tools, accessible e-learning resources, training of trainers program, and peer-to-peer exchanges to help parties translate the strategic framework into effective national action. However, implementation of Target 20, particularly in developing countries, continues to be constrained by financing gap, limited access to appropriate technologies, and insufficient institutional coordination. Addressing these challenges requires sustained, predictable, and coordinated financial and technical support. Bangladesh also supports stronger regional and sub-regional support centers that provide timely, time-driven assistance. Technology transfer should be accompanied by training, maintenance support, and the development of national expertise. Bangladesh supports the draft recommendation subject to the provision of adequate means of implementation for developing party countries. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Bangladesh. I'll now give the floor to Costa Rica, followed by Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. Costa Rica, you have the floor.

Thank you very much. Costa Rica welcomes the outcomes of the first forum. On capacity building biodiversity in Cali in 2024, which confirmed that common challenges remain for many developing countries. Costa Rica believes that the capacity building needs to be understood as a continuous process, strategic process in the long term, and led by national priorities. In addition, we note with interest that most of those surveyed identified associations and cooperation networks as the most effective parts of the strategic framework. This reaffirms the need to strengthen cooperation and exchanges between peers in order to accelerate implementation of the strategic framework. Costa Rica recognizes the transformative potential of regional and sub-regional support centers, and these centers can play a key role in the identification of needs, transfer of knowledge. Nevertheless, we share the concern expressed in the report with regards to the lack of predictability of available financial resources for the functioning of these mechanisms. Their sustainability will depend on a renewed commitment by parties, cooperation organizations, and financial institutions. Finally, Costa Rica supports recommendations aimed at strengthening capacity building, which is practical, promotes learning between pairs, improves monitoring and assessment of results. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Costa Rica. I will now give the floor to Saudi Arabia, followed by Zimbabwe and Colombia. Saudi Arabia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to emphasize the importance that these activities of, of scientific and technical cooperation should be practical and commensurate with the needs and national priorities which are determined by the state parties. This will contribute to enhancing the capacity of scientific and technical institutions and facilitate exchange of experience. We do recognize the importance of supporting regional and sub-regional centers in addition to achieving complementarity with existing initiatives and avoid duplicity of efforts. The Kingdom emphasizes that any assessment should be directed to assessing the effectiveness of the reports submitted. It is important to implement the proposed activities based on the availability of resources and in a way commensurate to the national capacities and priorities with a view to accelerating the implementation of the global framework. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dear colleagues, I will soon close the floor for speakers. Zimbabwe, followed by Colombia and Guatemala. Zimbabwe, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Zimbabwe aligns itself with the statement delivered by Kenya on behalf of Africa regarding the document under review. Zimbabwe commends the Secretariat for its diligent efforts in producing comprehensive reports through diverse methods, including surveys, progress analyses, and reviews, which are vital for effectively assessing progress in the implementation of the long-term strategic framework for capacity building and operationalizing cooperation mechanisms to advance biodiversity goals. The report highlights valuable achievements, including the establishment of support centers, fostering partnerships, and conducting capacity assessments, all of which are crucial for advancing biodiversity goals. However, despite these progress indicators, significant challenges remain. Implementation gaps exist, particularly in resource mobilization, institutional coordination. The issue of funding is especially serious, severely impacting developing country parties' ability to implement capacity building and developing programs. This lack of predictable, sustained funding is also hampering the full operationalization of support centers, limiting their effectiveness. effectiveness. Additionally, parties are encouraged to establish national steering committees to collaborate effectively with support centers. Progress on technology transfer from developed to developing country parties remains inadequate, hindering capacity building efforts essential for effective biodiversity strategies.

In conclusion, I'm sorry, Zimbabwe. Thank you very much. I will now give the floor to Colombia, followed by Guatemala and Malawi. Colombia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Distinguished delegates, capacity building and technical and scientific cooperation are essential to accelerate implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Colombia recognizes the long-term strategy for capacity building as a key reference point. Nevertheless, we believe that efforts need to be focused on providing operational support for implementation prior to activities in the strategy. Parties don't need more strategic guidance We need support for meeting our commitments in this regard. Colombia recognizes the technical scientific cooperation centers as a key component of international architecture for biodiversity, established by the parties as a pillar to accelerate implementation. The mechanism and centers have the mandate to provide technical and scientific scientific support based on demand from countries with a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, which involves indigenous peoples, local communities, Afro-descendants, and other relevant stakeholders. Within this context, we welcome progress made in establishing and progressively implementing these cooperation centers. Nevertheless, without sustained financial and technical support, it's difficult for them to fulfill the mandate set out by them for party— by parties. Support continues to be insufficient and does not reflect the ambition of decisions adopted. Therefore, we call for donors, the Global Biodiversity Fund, the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, and other multilateral funds and philanthropic organizations, private sector, and relevant stakeholders to establish predictable and sustainable financing windows, which enable us to consolidate the role of the centres and the mechanism. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Colombia. I'll now give the floor to Guatemala, followed by Malawi and Morocco. Guatemala, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. We fully support strengthening the global cooperation entity and we recognize the importance of the actions proposed in order to consolidate the scientific and technical cooperation mechanism. In particular, we believe it's essential to step up resource mobilization in order to guarantee the sustainability of the regional and sub-regional support centers, strengthening cooperation and exchange of knowledge between them, and improve their visibility and recognition as strategic instruments in order to support the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and bring technical assistance in a specialized and sustained manner closer to countries, promoting learning between peers and responding in a more effective manner to the priorities and needs of countries. In addition, we support the establishment of common monitoring and assessment networks, which enable us to work in a transparent manner and measure the impacts and results of support provided by parties, and planning and presenting of reports in a periodic manner, which contributes to improving the effectiveness of these regional and sub-regional centers, accountability, and strategic guidance of the mechanism in the long term. Finally, we highlight the need to guarantee the full and effective participation of the Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women and youth in the initiatives for capacity building. Their knowledge, practices and experiences are an invaluable contribution for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity as an integral part of implementation processes of the global framework. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Guatemala. Dear colleagues, I'm now closing the floor for parties, for speakers, party speakers. Okay, so I will now give the floor to Malawi, followed by Morocco and the Russian Federation. Malawi, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Malawi aligns itself with the statement delivered by Kenya on behalf of the African Group and welcomes the progress in the draft decision. Madam Chair, the global review is telling us where implementation gaps are, and those gaps should feed back into our capacity building and technical and scientific cooperation priorities. We therefore recommend that the priorities identified through the global review should be integrated in ongoing implementation of capacity building frameworks and in the work programs of global and sub-regional regional support centers. With regards to the mechanism on technical and scientific cooperation, Malawi believes that the regional and sub-regional support centers should not develop work plans based primarily on what they have capacity to offer, but to take into account the technical and scientific needs and priorities identified by parties, and therefore any further reports should focus on how such needs and priorities have been addressed. We would also like to see the support centers— that the support through the centers should complement and not replace financial and technical support provided directly to parties. Finally, Malawi believes that capacity building should not be measured by the number of workshops delivered, but by whether developing countries have stronger institutions, retained expertise, functioning scientific infrastructure, structure and the capacity to implement the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. We will submit additional draft textual proposals in writing. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Malawi. I will now give the floor to Morocco, followed by the Russian Federation and India. Morocco, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. We've already submitted a statement in writing. But we just want to specify a few additional points. The Kingdom of Morocco believes that the needs of developing countries today exceed just capacity building at the institutional level. It also concerns the creation and development of scientific, technical, and technological capacities needed in order to respond to new challenges linked to biodiversity, in particular in the fields of biosafety, access to and sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources, digital sequencing information, synthetic biology, restoration of ecosystems, and the use of digital technology in order to help conservation. In this regard, Morocco underlines the importance of ensuring equitable access to relevant technologies and technology transfer under mutually agreed conditions. Strengthening capacities of national institutions, research institutions, universities, laboratories, and centers of excellence in order to promote scientific innovation, in order to promote biodiversity, to develop national competencies in terms of monitoring, data collection, and management of biodiversity, in particular the use of digital tools and new technologies. Chair, based on its experience, Morocco reiterates its willingness to actively contribute to scientific cooperation activities at different levels— regional, South-South, and internationally— based on the sharing of knowledge, innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building in order to accelerate the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and effectively contribute to achieving our goals. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Morocco. And now I'll give the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by India and Benin. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. The Russian Federation wishes to note that the mechanism for scientific and technical cooperation is crucial to the successful implementation of the GBF, but currently requires substantial efforts to be made by the parties and partner organizations to guarantee the necessary technical capacity and secure sufficient funding. Not all regional and sub-regional support centers are fully operational or adequately resourced, as was already noted today by a number of colleagues. This hampers the harmonious development of capacity building and the provision of adequate technical support and leads to a growing imbalance in capabilities among regions and sub-regions in achieving the goals and objectives of the GPF. The submitted work plan for the global coordination body gives rise to questions regarding the effectiveness of the body itself. The plan lacks specific measurable objectives, outcomes, and timelines, and it is unclear how the coordinating body ensures the operation and development of the centers. The plan therefore cannot be adopted as is. It requires further refinement, and only after that can it be submitted for approval alongside a budget based on a revised plan that includes specific outcomes and deadlines. Our proposals regarding text will be submitted to Secretariat in writing. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Russian Federation. I will now give the floor to India, followed by Benin and Argentina. India, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. India appreciates the progress made on the long-term strategic framework for capacity building and the technical and scientific cooperation mechanism. India reaffirms its commitment to the KMGVF and supports the development of practical guidance, e-learning modules to facilitate implementation. We also recommend that collaboration with the Vaidasi Finance Initiative explicitly include planning authorities and relevant sectoral ministries in addition to finance and planning ministries to promote a whole-of-government approach to biodiversity mainstreaming. India notes that the financial and institutional challenges affecting the operationalization of the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism— we welcome the approval of 2027-2028 work plan and emphasize that the global coordination entity should prioritize effective matchmaking between identified needs and available expertise and resources. India remains committed to actively engaging with the Technical and Scientific Cooperation mechanism, including through South-South cooperation, peer learning, and the sharing of expertise in areas such as ecological restoration, remote sensing, access and benefit sharing, and traditional knowledge. We support the adoption of the draft recommendation with the modification proposed and call for extending resource mobilization and collaboration implementation to ensure the capacity building and scientific cooperation deliver tangible outcomes for the effective implementation of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, India. I will now give the floor to Benin, followed by Argentina and Madagascar. Benin, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Republic of Benin supports the statement made on behalf of the African Group on the creation and capacity building technical scientific cooperation. Benin thanks Secretary-Atta for preparing the progress report on the implementation of the Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity Building and Development and the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism. Benin is delighted to work closely with the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Center for capacity building and technical cooperation. Benin recognizes the importance of this topic and calls on all parties to pay particular interest to this topic. Benin notes indeed that this is a essential, in particular for developing countries, because this topic remains of great importance for the effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and achieving its goals. Benin strongly hopes that a considerable budget be allocated to this topic, which is essential in achieving the goals of the framework by 2030. The Republic of Benin also suggests seriously looking at new approaches for capacity building and scientific and technical cooperation, in particular bilateral cooperation, the sharing of experiences, peer learning, cooperation between institutions, et cetera. These approaches could therefore support actions conducted by these technical centers. As an important illustration of this type of initiative, Benin welcomes the MB-SAP Accelerator Partnership, which plays a strong role in this regard in terms of technical and scientific cooperation. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you very much, Benin. I'll give the floor to Argentina, followed by Madagascar and Indonesia. Argentina.

Thank you very much, Chair. Just to briefly speak, given the little time we have, to mention that we share, just as many delegations do, the opinion that this is a very important topic because of its effects that it has in countries In this context, we will actively take part in negotiations and we are sending text proposals in writing. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Argentina. I now give the floor to Madagascar, followed by Indonesia and South Africa.

Madam the President.

Chair, Madagascar reiterates its full support to the statement made by the African Group, made by Kenya, and welcomes the progress as set out in the draft decision. However, my delegation would like to draw our attention to a few additional priorities to make the mechanism more effective and adapted to the realities of developing countries. First, we call for strengthening participatory and decentralized mechanisms for monitoring and assessment, fully integrating local and traditional knowledge in national scientific systems. Secondly, Madagascar insists upon the need for approaches adapted to island contexts and fragile ecosystems which take into account geographic isolation, climate vulnerability, and dependence on natural resources. Thirdly, strengthened support is needed for national scientific infrastructures, databanks, information systems on biodiversity, and seed banks, which are essential for implementation based on reliable data. Finally, future reviews of the mechanism should assess not just the number of activities conducted, but also their contribution to strengthening local institutions, national ownership, knowledge, and resilience of communities. For Madagascar, capacity building should aim to create national institutions which are independent and resilient, able to, in a sustained manner, carry forward the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. We hope that these concerns will be reflected in the final draft decision. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you very much, Madagascar. I will now give the floor to Indonesia, followed by South Africa. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. Indonesia welcomes the progress made in implementing the Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity Building and Development and the technical and scientific cooperation mechanisms. We appreciate the continued efforts of the Executive Secretary, the Global Coordination Entity, and the support centers in advancing technical and scientific cooperation. Indonesia supports training of trainers programs, peer-to-peer learning, and knowledge exchange. These initiatives are most effective when they remain country-driven, respond to priorities identified by parties, and are implemented in accordance with national circumstances and capacities. Indonesia further underscores that effective implementation requires adequate, predictable, and sustainable financial resources, particularly for developing country partners, complemented by access to and transfer of technology, institutional strengthening, and long-term human resource development. Support should prioritize party-identified capacity needs, including risk assessment and management, detection and identification, and institutional and human resource capacity consistent with the Capacity Building Action Plan. Finally, Indonesia supports practical and efficient monitoring arrangements that build on existing mechanisms and avoid additional reporting burdens. Indonesia fully supports the continued role of the support centers and the global coordination entity and would encourage their activities to remain responsive and accountable to party-identified needs and priorities, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of KMGBF. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Indonesia. I'll now give the floor to South Africa, followed by Brazil. and Chile. South Africa, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. South Africa aligns itself with the statement made by Kenya on behalf of the Africa Group. Madam Chair, South Africa would like to recall the preambular paragraph of the Convention, which recognizes the need to develop scientific, technical, and institutional capacities to implement the Convention. The findings of the Global Report on collective progress in the implementation of the KMGBF reinforce this recognition. It is therefore of serious concern that the Global Report concludes that major barriers remain to achieving most of the Framework's goals and its 2030 targets. It underscores the urgent need to scale up the provision of the means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity building and development, technical and scientific cooperation, access to and transfer of technology, and knowledge sharing. If we are to achieve the ambitions of the framework, these remain very inadequate. This therefore serves as a clear signal that the current level of support is insufficient. South Africa therefore wishes to underscore that addressing these barriers will require urgent and timely provision of the means of implementation. Madam Chair, South Africa is honored to host one of the regional and sub-regional technical and scientific cooperation centers through the South African National Biodiversity Institute. We have seen firsthand the value of these mechanisms in supporting parties, particularly in strengthening monitoring and reporting capacities. Indeed, parties supported by the SANBI Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Center are among those showing a high rate of reporting on the headline indicators, which demonstrate the practical value and potential impact of this support center. However, notwithstanding this progress, the full operationalization of the support center remains a significant challenge owing to limited and unpredictable resources. Thank you very much.

South Africa, apologies. Brazil, followed by Chile and China. Brazil, you have You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Brazil supports the emphasis of the Strategic Framework for Capacity Building and Development on long-term institutional strengthening as well as on North-South, South-South, and triangular cooperation. However, it must be noted that the low response rate to the survey on the use of the Strategic Framework with only 46 states responding, which means less than one-third of the parties to the convention. This undermines any assessment of the effectiveness of efforts to meet Target 20. Capacity building and technical cooperation activities should remain country-driven, demand-based, and responsive to national circumstances, priorities, capacities, and institutional arrangements. And at the same time, Thematic coverage should be balanced and reflect the full scope of the framework, adequately addressing the sustainable use of biodiversity, including sustainable agriculture and the bioeconomy, as well as the issues of genetic resources, biosafety, innovation, and the strengthening of public capacities for assessment, regulation, and enforcement. Brazil emphasizes that discussions on capacity building should give greater prominence to means of implementation. So beyond guidance workshops and knowledge-sharing activities, we need concrete scientific and technological cooperation, including joint research and development initiatives, researcher exchanges, training and retention of specialized personnel, access to scientific infrastructure and equipment, laboratory networks, technology technology adaptation and effective technology transfer. Lastly, we support the operationalization of the support centers and the global coordination entity, provided that their governance remains transparent, regionally balanced, intergovernmental in nature, and focused on delivering practical support to parties. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Brazil. I will now give the floor to Chile, followed by China and Panama. Chile, you have the floor.

Muchas gracias, señora presidenta.

Thank you very much, Chair. Fortunately, capacity building is a decisive factor for the implementation of the framework, and its deficiencies are inseparable from deficiencies in terms of financing, which we have seen under other gender items. We note with concern the conclusion of the report that implementation in developing countries continues to be unequal, ad hoc. And depending in large part on short-term project-based financing. Therefore, Chile supports a change towards a more programmatic approach driven by countries and institutionalized based on national biodiversity strategies and on assessments of needs led by countries and supported by predictable financing. Chile particularly values the role played by regional and sub-regional technical and scientific cooperation support centers in providing support to parties. We attach particular importance to capacity building of parties in order to mobilize domestic resources and access international financing in line with Target 20. Chile also highlights the importance of South-South, North-South, and triangular cooperation, technology transfer and development, and aligning capacity building with national priorities through comprehensive approaches which have a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, and which are based on the best available scientific evidence alongside traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you very much, Chile. I will now give the floor to China, followed by Panama and Botswana. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. China thanks the Secretariat for its support on capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation, and technical support mechanisms. China aligns itself with the statement made by the African Group and Chile and Brazil. We have 3 points. First, we support the continued long-term framework building, transforming from one-off training to long-term systemic needs-based support. The work should remain country-driven, tailored to national circumstances, priorities, and actual needs, and avoid duplication and additional reporting burdens. Second, China welcomes the role of the Global Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism and regional TSCCs. These centers should be more responsive to regional and national needs, helping parties address concrete implementation challenges including monitoring indicators application, data management, use of technical tools, national report preparation, resource mobilization, and multiple stakeholder engagement. Third, China stands ready to continue strengthening experience sharing, expert exchange, and technical support through South-South Cooperation, the Kunming Fund, and Global TSC mechanism and regional support centers to help Asia-Pacific and other developing countries implement the KMGBF to the best of our ability. Thank you, Chair.

China. I will now give the floor to Panama, followed by Botswana and Somalia. Panama, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Panama already said on item 5 that capacity building needs to be a priority, just as the distribution of benefits. Item 10 is where this commitment becomes concrete. Chair, the report identifies amongst its main challenges the inclusion of approaches driven by countries, including indigenous peoples and local communities, and the cross-cutting nature of gender amongst the measures proposed, adapting methodologies adapted to each country. For Panama, these 2 elements together require robust methodologies and also need to be driven by those who need to implement them. This peer learning, which paragraph 8 already recognizes, We'll support this. We'll not just adopt scientific knowledge to territories, but also diagnose the needs based on additional and traditional knowledge. Panama supports that paragraph 8 ensures the full and effective participation of Indigenous peoples, local communities, women, and youth in training, and that paragraph 19 incorporates disaggregated data on gender, age, and ethnicity to include We don't just need capacity within territories, but also to recognize that they also provide knowledge and training. We don't need just a single reference system. Sometimes there are distinct forms of knowledge and training which need to be taken into account. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you very much, Panama. I'll now give the floor to Botswana, followed by Somalia. Botswana, you have the floor. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, for the opportunity. Botswana aligns itself fully with the statement delivered by Kenya on behalf of the Africa Group. We commend the progress reflected in the draft decision and welcome the efforts to strengthen the long-term strategic framework for capacity building and development and to operationalize the technical and scientific cooperation mechanism. Chair, for Botswana, the success of the Kwame Nkrumah Global biodiversity framework hinges on our collective ability to translate ambition into tangible, lasting capacity on the ground. Botswana has benefited from continuous capacity building through short and medium-term projects. While these are valuable, them alone cannot build the enduring institutional memory and resilience required for sustained implementation. Sustained technical mentoring and advisory support must accompany. Capacity development. Botswana sees immense value in strengthening our regional centers of excellence and networks of scientific institutions. These platforms are vital for collaborative research, innovation, and practical problem-solving. They allow us to share experiences and find solutions that are tailored to our shared ecological and developmental context. Botswana wishes to show its appreciation to the South African National Biodiversity Institute for their exceptional support and facilitation extended to our country and to the broader African region. Sambi's technical expertise, institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment to capacity building have been instrumental in advancing our national biodiversity agenda. Botswana is developing its environmental information system and welcomes any support to further enhance its national scientific scientific structure and biodiversity information systems. Finally, as we look towards future reviews, we must move beyond counting activities. We need to assess the long-term contribution to stronger institutions, retained expertise, and—

Thank you very much, Botswana. I will now give the floor to Somalia. Somalia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for giving me the floor. Following by statement made by Africa, Somalia emphasized that capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation must prioritize strengthening national institutions, not only short-term training activities. Sustainable implementation of the convention requires long-term investment in the government institutions, national research institutions, universities, and biodiversity information systems. We call and wish for predictable financial support, technology transfer, institutional partnership, which is based on South-South and trilateral cooperation to build a lasting national capacity. Madam Chair, this approach will ensure country ownership and sustainable implementation of common material global biodiversity framework. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Somalia. I don't see any further requests for the floor. I would like now to open the floor to other governments and observers, starting with major stakeholder groups. Yes, I see the GYBN and the IPOCs. I will give the floor to the IPOCs. You have the floor, IIFB.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. IIFB retains its earlier submission, and we would like to thank parties who have supported our proposals. We would like to stress from our submission that supporting the active practice and transmission of knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles for monitoring their territories and for their collective actions on biodiversity is integral to enhancing and scaling implementation to achieve the KMGPF. Capacity building and development and technical and scientific cooperation initiatives should therefore support the implementation of Article 8J and related provisions for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and also ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, youth, and relevant stakeholders. In addition, we also note that a few regional technical and scientific cooperation mechanisms or centers intend to engage the whole society, including Indigenous Peoples peoples and local communities in their work plans and structures. We encourage the Global Coordinating Entity and its regional TSC mechanisms to build on this and call for resource flows to support these initiatives and accelerate means of implementation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, IAIFB. I will now give the floor to youth. Youth, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, GYBN, which serves as the international coordinating platform for youth participation in the CBD. As a youth network, we regard capacity building and non-formal education as core to our work. We deeply understand the importance of capacity building and development to implementation. We are concerned about the insufficient or no progress implementing Target 20. We also find it concerning that within the national reports, youth are, if at all, merely recognized as a receiver of capacity building rather than recognized within our role to facilitate and provide capacity building. For example, we have competencies in providing capacity building on meaningful youth participation, which is a responsibility of all actors and is necessary to achieve Target 22 of the framework. This competency should be leveraged and supported fairly. Furthermore, we appreciate the support centers who already reached out to our national original chapters. In particular, some of them reached out both to understand our needs but also to request our expertise. Finally, we thank parties for their support for our Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Yves. I don't see any further requests from the floor, from observers, international organizations. So— oh, yes, NGOs. NGOs, you have the floor.

Hello, this is an observer intervention on behalf of the California Global Biodiversity Alliance and California Environmental Voters. We want to note that capacity building is essential to a successful whole-of-government and whole-of—

Excuse me just a moment. We have to adjust the time. Yes, for 1 minute. Thank you. I'm sorry for interrupting you.

Okay. Capacity building is essential to a successful whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, including to support the role of subnational government, cities, and other local authorities in enabling PMGBF implementation. The long-term strategic framework for capacity building and development should be more inclusive of the role of subnational government, cities, and local authorities in implementing the GBF, including in partnership with their stakeholders. And we'd love to see increased access to practical guidance, scientific and technical support, and knowledge sharing at these levels to help support national government to coordinate with—

Thank you.

Yes, thank you very much. I don't know if any party would like to support this statement. I do ask if any party would like to support this statement. Okay, I don't see any support. Thank you, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you. Well, I don't see any further requests for the floor for any observer or international organization, so I do— with this, we have concluded the first reading of this item. And colleagues, after hearing your intervention, I propose to establish contact group on this item. The mandate of the contact group is to discuss the entire draft recommendation contained in Section 4 of document CBD/SBI/7/10 with a view to reaching consensus on all issues and submit a CRP for consideration by the plenary. Together with the co-chairs of the contact and with support from the Secretariat, I will produce a non-paper for discussion by this contact group. The group will be co-chaired by Holly Kelly-Will from UK and Martha Mafatso from Malawi. The Secretariat will inform us of the time and the room for the contact group to meet. I intend this group to meet this evening.

Thank you.

The rules of engagement for contact groups also apply to this contact group and will be recalled by the co-chairs. Thank you very much. If you have not already done so, please be sure to upload the full text of your intervention no later than 1 hour after close of this session so that we can prepare the non-paper. I would like now to pass directly to item 12, mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across sectors. I will allow 1 minute for you to rearrange.

Thank you.

Thank you, Thank you very much, colleagues. So, I will now invite the Secretariat to introduce item 12. Please take your seats. Thank you very much. Secretariat, you have the floor. Which one?

Thank you, Chair. In Decision 1613, paragraph 6, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary to prepare a progress report on activities undertaken in support of the implementation of the decision for consideration by the subsidiary body on implementation. For this item, the Secretariat prepared document CBD/SBI/7/12, which provides an overview of progress made in the implementation of Decision 1613. Including activities undertaken to support the mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across sectors, and suggests draft elements of a recommendation. Detailed information on activities undertaken, outcomes achieved, and a structured overview of good practices has been made available in Information Document CBD/SBI/7/Inf/16. The subsidiary body is invited to consider the documents and provide recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its 17th meeting as appropriate. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Secretariat. As we have already explained, Information Document 21 lists the 14 submissions received from parties and the 10 statements from observers on item 12 by the deadline. The list of parties and observers indicated in the information document is also being displayed on the screen. Colleagues, are there any objections from any parties or observers listed in the information document to your statements being formally entered on record as statements officially submitted for this agenda item in this meeting Please raise your hands if you have any objection. I see no hands, so thank you very much, colleagues. Your statements will be formally entered on record and considered as officially submitted under this agenda item. Regarding the statements submitted by observers, I will now go through the list on the screen one by one. I ask the representatives of observers if they are in the room, and I will then ask for parties to press their microphone button if they support the statements made by that observer. I will only read the first 3 parties that support the statements. Organization number 1, Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT. Are you in the room? Yes, they are present. Do I see any support? Colleagues? Yes, I see the European Union. Thank you very much. Organization number 2, Ecomaxxe Querétaro. Are you in the room? Yes, thank you very much. You are present. I see Cameroon, DRC, and Panama. Thank you, thank you very much. Organization number 3, CBD Alliance Friends of the Earth International. They are in the room. Thank you, thank you very much. I see Egypt, Congo support, and European Union. Thank you, thank you very much. Organization number 4, the GYBN. They've been here. They are present. Thank you. Do I see any support? Yes. I see Panama, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe. Thank you, colleagues. The global organization number 4?

4.

Yes. Organization number 4, the Global Youth for a Diverse Network. Are you present? Yes. Yes, they are present. Thank you. I see support from Panama, Brazil, and Uganda. Thank you very much. Organization number 5, IPOCs, the IIFB. They are present as well. I see the DRC, Brazil, and Uganda. Thank you. Thank you very much for your support. Organization number 6, the Rainforest Action Network. They are present. Thank you. Do I see any support? Yes, I see support from Congo. Uganda. Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much. Also, organization number 7, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES. Are you present?

Yes.

Yes, yes, thank you. They are present. I see Switzerland, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cuba, among others. Thank you, thank you very much. Organization number 8, The Nature Conservancy. Are you present? Yes, they are present. I see Cuba, Zimbabwe, and Gabon. Thank you, among others, yes. Organization number 9, United Nations Development Programme, UNDP. They are present. Thank you. I see Gabon, Suriname, Uganda, among others. Thank you. Organization number 10, Humans for Biodiversity. Yes, they are present. Thank you. I see Cameroon, DRC, and Panama. Thank you very much. Yes, and this concludes our support for the early submission of statements made by observers. Thank you. Please note that now we have a new feature. Party support for observers' statements for the agenda items are now published in the Other tab of the meetings document page on the website. So you can check the support for observers' early submission of statements on the tab Other on our webpage. Thank you very much. Oh, I see Business is also asking for the floor. Yes, Business, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just wanted to mention that we submitted our statement and it's on the website, but I didn't see our name on the screen right now, so I wanted to clarify that point.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you very much. I will check. I understand that this is due also to the time of registering, etc., I ask the secretariat to explain?

Yes. Thank you.

This is Business for Nature who made the submission, correct? Sorry, I don't think it was indicated in the slide, but we have received the early submission. Okay, I'm sorry for that. So could I please see support for the early statement made by Business for Nature? Yes, I see. Well, of course they are present. And I see Australia, the European Union, and Japan. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm so sorry for that, business.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Thank you very much, colleagues. So with that, I would like now to open the floor for comments on items 12, beginning with parties speaking on behalf of a regional group. Please now only request for the floor if you are speaking on behalf of a regional group. Yes, I see Vanuatu and Ghana. Okay, Vanuatu, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Vanuatu speaks on behalf of the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States. We support the communities of practice and the regional dialogues, and we thank the Secretary for convening them. On the evidence base, the Secretariat invited submissions submissions in December, sent out a reminder in March, set no deadline, and received submissions from 4 parties. The document concludes quite rightly that 4 submissions covering 3 regions do not provide a sufficiently representative basis for broader conclusions. None of the 4 came from our region. We asked for a further round of submissions with a stated deadline, targeted outreach to underrepresented regions, and to small island developing states in a short structured format. We also asked the Secretariat to reflect on why the current approach produced 4 responses. Speaking from experience, Chair, a request for submissions with no deadline arriving at an environment ministry of a dozen staff does not survive contact with a reporting calendar. This is a design problem, not an interest problem, and it requires across this agenda. On substance, we have one structural point. The communities of practice cover infrastructure, finance, circular economy, mining, fisheries, forestry, tourism, trade, agriculture, and subnational government. There is no ocean or coastal stream among them. For a group of large ocean states whose economies rest on fisheries, tourism, coastal ecosystems, the sector are being taken one at a time and the ocean is not being taken at all. That omission is now out of step with the Convention's own decision. Decision 15/17 established the long-term strategy approach to mainstreaming as a whole-of-economy instrument. Decision 16/13 carried it forward and Decision 16/17 placed marine, coastal and island biodiversity together in the standing work of the Convention. A mainstream architecture with no ocean stream cannot survive Decision 16/17. We therefore ask for 3 things. One, an ocean and island economy community of practice established under this decision rather than deferred to the next. 2, that the ridge-to-reef approaches be named in the guidance. The report speaks of integrated Integrate land and seascape management, which is the same idea in different words. Using our language as well makes the guidance findable by the people who need to use it. 3, that tourism be treated substantively. It appears here only as a scheduled webinar with no finding behind it, although it is a first-order driver of biodiversity loss and a first-order dependency in almost every island economy. Finally, Chair, the biodiversity and health risk links matter a great deal to us, and we ask that the work under Decision 16/19 be carried forward in the stream rather than being allowed to fall between items. Mainstreaming has to move from principle to finance, sector-specific actions, and it has to fit with our national biodiversity strategy and action plans without adding reporting impediments that nobody has funded, a point we make under Article 6 of the Convention, which asks us to integrate biodiversity into sectoral plans in accordance with our particular conditions and capabilities. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Fanatu. I will now give the floor to Ghana. Ghana, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. Ghana delivers this statement on behalf of The African Group thanks the Secretariat for the report on implementation of Decision 1613 and the accompanying information on biodiversity mainstreaming. We acknowledge the progress made in promoting biodiversity mainstreaming through regional dialogues, strengthening collaboration with multilateral environmental agreements and international organizations, capacity building initiatives, and the establishment of sector-specific communities of practice. These efforts are creating valuable platforms for knowledge exchange, peer learning, and technical cooperation among parties and stakeholders. Chair, the reports highlight the continuing challenge of translating these commitments into concrete actions across sectors. Biodiversity mainstreaming must therefore move beyond the environment sector and become an integral part of national development planning and decision-making, including in public finance, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, infrastructure, trade, and the private sector. Achieving Target 14 of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework requires genuine whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches through enhanced cross-sectoral coordination, stronger cooperation with local authorities, the development of partnerships with the private sector, and the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as women and youth, supported by effective institutional coordination and policy coherence. Africa believes that cooperation with other multilateral environmental agreements will further enhance mainstreaming within and across sectors, as evidenced in the submitted 7th National Report. We cannot belabor the need for continuous efforts to facilitate the exchange of good practices, tools, mechanisms, guidance, and relevant solutions for mainstreaming biodiversity, including by strengthening the technical and scientific support centers and the communities of practice. The African Group therefore calls for continued investment in technical and scientific cooperation, long-term capacity building and development, technology transfer, provision of adequate, predictable, and accessible financial resources, and further expansion of regional and sector-specific communities of practice to effectively mainstream biodiversity across sectors. These mechanisms should be responsive to the nationally identified priorities and should contribute to building sustainable institutional capacities in developing countries. Finally, the African Group welcomes the proposed recommendations. We consider them a useful framework for strengthening biodiversity mainstreaming through enhanced cooperation, knowledge sharing, and capacity development. Their effective implementation should help to ensure that biodiversity considerations are fully integrated into national development pathways and economic decision-making, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the goals and targets of the KMDGs. GBF. I thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you very much, Ghana. I see no more parties asking for the floor on behalf of— oh yes, China. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. China thanks the Secretariat for efforts made to promote the mainstreaming of biodiversity,

中国，请问您是？Okay. I heard parties.

Okay. Yes. Yes. So no. So so so that we can adjust the the timing. Thank you. So sorry. Thank you. China, you have the floor. Please microphone to China. Two minutes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair, again. China thanks the Secretariat for the efforts made to promote the mainstreaming of biodiversity. Biodiversity mainstreaming is important and it's core to realize Kunming-Montréal Framework. China attaches great importance to the protection of biodiversity and it has been integrated into the building of eco-civilization. We have mobilized the whole society to participate. We have We'd like to share with you 4 experiences. First of all, we enhance system guarantee. We integrate the difference between policy and practice. We support all sectors to enhance their coordination and enhance institutional support. And secondly, China has— China will fully mobilize the force of the entire society, especially private sectors and the financial sector, We support and further encourage enterprises and businesses to integrate biodiversity into their core decisions and operations and management so that they can grasp the opportunity and fulfill their obligations. 3, enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building to give full play of the current mechanism and create synergy. Effective knowledge sharing is important and the basis For accelerated action, we support the recommendations on enhancing the exchange. Fourthly, we support the Secretariat to enhance— to focus on its core functions and improve its efficiency to optimize the current workflows and mechanisms and share economies— share its experience and knowledge in a highly efficient economic way, and we will provide report to the parties. Thank you.

I will now give the floor to Egypt, followed by Brazil and the Russian Federation. Egypt, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, Egypt supports statement given on behalf of Africa. Mainstreaming biodiversity has been fundamental, a fundamental principles of the Convention since its adoption. It is reflected not only in the Convention itself, but also throughout successive decisions of the Conference of the Parties. Despite this long history, we believe that implementation has not yet achieved the level of transformations originally envisaged. The challenge is no longer whether the biodiversity Thank you. The challenge is not the mainstreaming itself in different sectors. If you want to get all of the different ministries, whether it is ministries of energy, ministries of agriculture, finance, whatever, it is not only you involve or you include biodiversity in terms of environmental— as environmental issues. You need to work together in a way that required adoption of the whole governmental approach as well as many, many other issues. So we see that mainstreaming is an investment itself. It is not environmental issue, but it is more than that. It includes the economics, includes the social considerations, and many, many other considerations as well. So we have been trying for a long time, but the issue of simple mainstreaming in terms of workshops in terms of several other activities is no longer acceptable anymore. You need to speak different language, the language of investment, language of— that can be accepted by decision makers as well in a way that we can improve the way how can mainstreaming. In Egypt, through our ENBISAB and National Civil International Report, We made considerable progress by getting all of these different considerations, different agencies together, but not speaking in terms of biodiversity itself, but in the way how they can listen to us. So we need to communicate with them in a much better way. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Egypt. I will give the floor to Brazil, followed by the Russian Federation. Federation and Zimbabwe, and then I will close the list and we'll keep the list for the next session. So Brazil, you have the floor.

Thank you for the floor, Madam Chair.

Brazil recognizes biodiversity mainstreaming as essential to ensuring that biodiversity considerations are effectively incorporated within and across sectors. Mainstreaming should help move biodiversity from the margins of environmental policy into the core of economic and social decision-making. At the same time, Brazil considers that this agenda should reflect a balanced understanding of the 3 objectives of the Convention. Mainstreaming must not be framed solely in terms of identifying, reducing, or disclosing negative impacts. It should also recognize the positive contribution that productive sectors can make through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. For this reason, Brazil has proposed language recognizing approaches that promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including within productive sectors, as practical pathways for mainstreaming. Sustainable use can translate biodiversity objectives into concrete actions in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries while supporting food security, livelihoods, innovation, and sustainable development. This proposal is directly connected to Brazil initiative at Subsida 28 to launch a consultative process towards a program of work on the sustainable use of biodiversity. Both seek to correct the persistent imbalance in the implementation of the Convention by giving greater operational visibility to its second objective and by recognizing sustainable use not as an exception, but as a central pathway for integrating biodiversity into productive sectors. Such language does not imply that all users are inherently sustainable, nor does it replace the need to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts. Rather, it ensures that the decision reflects the full scope of the convention and recognized that well management—

Thank you, Brazil. Sorry, I will now give the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by Zimbabwe and Côte d'Ivoire. Russian Federation, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair. We agree with previous speakers and note the importance of this topic for the implementation not only of Global Goal 14, but the whole of the framework program. We agree with the recommendations to continue integrating biodiversity considerations into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies, plans, programs, and processes. Taking into account national circumstances. We note the importance of work based on national approaches involving the whole-of-society approach. At the same time, we believe that Document 12, presented as it is, as a separate decision of COP17, is ineffective as it does not include clear provisions aimed at practical action by the parties. Taking into account the provisional agenda for COP17, the principles of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, and to enhance the effectiveness of the work, we propose merging this item with the draft decision on Agenda Item 9, Engagement with Subnational Governments, the main points of which are to take note of the summary of the report and to call for strengthening coordination and so forth. Such a merger would streamline the preparation and consideration of draft decisions, and it would enhance the efficiency of our work at COP17 in Yerevan. We will return to this discussion when we discuss the effectiveness of the Convention's work, as this agenda item and item 9 are good examples. of areas where there is a potential to optimize the organization of work of the Convention. Our proposals regarding the text will of course be submitted to the Secretariat in writing. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Russian Federation. I will now give the floor to Zimbabwe, followed by Côte d'Ivoire. Zimbabwe, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Zimbabwe aligns itself with the statement made by Ghana on behalf of the African Group on this agenda item and commends the Secretariat for its dedicated effort in executing the tasks that led to the preparation of the report currently under review. Chair, in addition to the activities outlined in the report, the following tasks are being either proposed or re-emphasized to further enhance and strengthen biodiversity mainstreaming efforts. In integrating biodiversity considerations into national development and sectoral planning processes such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, infrastructure to ensure mainstreaming is embedded across all levels of policymaking. Secondly, in developing and implementing cross-sectoral policies and incentives that promote biodiversity objectives. Thirdly, conducting targeted awareness campaigns and educational programs to raise understanding of biodiversity's importance among policymakers, indigenous peoples, local communities, and private sector actors. Fourthly, fostering innovative partnerships with private sector entities, financial institutions, and civil society to mobilize additional resources and Amplifying the reach and effectiveness of biodiversity mainstreaming activities and initiatives. Chair, activities alone are the least indicative pointers of performance compared to outcomes and impacts. In the future, similar tasks and their reports can be made more useful as part of an agenda item that also includes outcomes and and the impacts that reflect the resulting changes and long-term benefits achieved through the biodiversity mainstreaming activities.

I thank you.

Thank you very much, Zimbabwe. I will now take the last intervention from Côte d'Ivoire, and we will resume the list of speakers on the next session. Côte d'Ivoire, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Madam.

Thank you, Chair. Give me the floor. Give me the floor.

Au nom du groupe Côte d'Ivoire, nous saluons les progrès accomplis.

Group, we welcome the progress achieved by the parties while recognizing that important challenges remain, especially in terms of intersectoral coordination, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and monitoring the integration of biodiversity. Côte d'Ivoire fully endorses the approach. Mobilizing all relevant public authorities and stakeholders. Integration of biodiversity cannot be driven by the environmental sector alone. It must be promoted by all sectors involved: the private sectors, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, academia, and indeed civil society. Côte d'Ivoire has launched After a review of its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which aims to strengthen the integration of biodiversity into sectoral public policies and to improve coordination among the relevant institutions, we call to strengthen mechanisms for intersectional coordination, the development of institutional technical capacities in the relevant government agencies, as well as mobilizing technical technological resources to accompany all parties. Côte d'Ivoire remains convinced that promoting biodiversity is an essential precondition to achieve the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Côte d'Ivoire. Thank you very much, colleagues. This was a very interesting morning. I will now give the floor to the Secretariat for some announcements, and of course we will resume our session this afternoon. Thank you very much, colleagues.

So, 3 announcements, special event. So, we would like to remind you that Government of Armenia, as incoming host of the CBD-COP, will be holding a special event on the preparations for COP17 and its concurrent meetings in this same room as soon as we we finish this session. You are all invited to join. Contact groups. There will be 2 contact groups meeting this evening at 7:30 PM. The contact group on resource mobilization will meet in Conference Room 3 and 4, which is just behind this room. A non-paper on resource mobilization has already been posted. The capacity building contact group will meet in Conference Room number 1 which is opposite to the other side. And the team is working on an on-paper which will be posted as soon as possible, but definitely before the meeting starts. And the last one is that for next plenary, we will meet here at 3:00 PM sharp. Thank you very much and wish you a nice lunch break.

Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished delegates, Excellencies, colleagues, and friends, we will begin shortly, so I would kindly ask you to take your seats.