Building on the success of the Paris Agreement, the European Commission selected Expertise France to assist it in the preparation of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which took place in Montreal in December 2022.
To this end, the French agency for international technical cooperation developed a partnership strategy with various countries and influential observers sharing a common ambition and built a coalition of stakeholders for COP15.
The Project team worked with key actors such as local governments and authorities, international NGOs, indigenous peoples, the business and finance sector, as well as women and youth movements and organisations. For instance, as part of the first phase of the project (2018-2021), Expertise France coordinated the #BiodiversityNeedsYouTH campaign, alongside the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN).
After the success of its first phase (2018-2021), the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support project was extended for a second phase with two main objectives:
1. Operationalize the main components of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) by facilitating access to best practices, tools and knowledge for project countries and partners.
2. Encourage ambitious commitments and concrete actions from key stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the GBF.
In this framework, several key activities were implemented:
• Technical Assistance: Specific support was provided across six priority areas of operation in collaboration with national authorities, stakeholders and EU delegations. These efforts aimed to bolster existing initiatives and launch concrete actions involving all levels of government and non-governmental actors.
• Knowledge Transfer: Knowledge materials (guidance notes, studies, methodological guides) were produced in collaboration with experts to showcase best practices and concrete experiences. They were disseminated at the regional and international levels.
• Mobilization and Communication: All activities included consultation, participation and communication efforts. The project highlighted lessons learned and best practices while supporting partner and stakeholder efforts using communication channels aligned with EU visibility rules.
In 2024, Colombia hosted Biodiversity COP16 in the city of Cali. This marked the conclusion of the Post-2020 project’s activities.
During the six years of implementation, thanks to its strong commitment, effective collaboration with stakeholders, and spirit of innovation, the project played a pivotal role in achieving the GBF's goals. This journey was inspiring and rewarding, reflecting significant progress in global biodiversity efforts.
Leveraging on the project’s knowledge of United Nations conference dynamics, the European Commission trusted the Post-2020 team with the coordination of the activities of the European Union Pavilion at COP16. The pavilion highlighted Europe’s concrete contributions toward achieving GBF's goals and reaffirmed its commitment to global biodiversity ambitions.
In collaboration with AL Invest Verde, Amazonia+, Euroclima+, and Grandes Bosques de Mesoamérica, the EU Pavilion hosted nearly 70 sessions. These brought together high-level officials, experts, practitioners, and civil society participants from around the world. These exchanges not only showcased the EU’s leadership in supporting high-impact biodiversity initiatives but also fostered new collaborations and innovations for the future.
Read the discussion papers created within the project
Visit the toolbox to integrate biodiversity in the development planning of Latin America and the Caribbean
More information on the project website: www.4post2020bd.net
