From 25 to 27 February, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) participated in the Resumed Session of the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16), held in Rome, Italy, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The CBD COP16 Resumed Session aimed to resolve outstanding decisions from the negotiations in Cali, Colombia, particularly those related to resource mobilisation, the financial mechanism, and the monitoring and planning of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

The Context: CBD COP16 and the GBF Implementation

As the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP15 in December 2022, COP16 was expected to review progress on its implementation, with a focus on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and resource mobilisation.

While key agreements were reached—including the establishment of a new new mechanism and fund for fair and equitable benefit-sharing from Digital Sequencing Information of genetic resources and a permanent Subsidiary Body for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCS)—negotiations ran overtime and eventually lost the quorum, forcing the conference to be suspended before consensus was reached on critical issues, such as a new funding instrument and a monitoring framework for tracking biodiversity commitments, requiring the Resumed Session in Rome.

WFO at CBD COP16 Resumed Session: Advocating for Stronger Farmer Involvement

WFO’s delegation, led by Secretary General Andrea Porro, included: James Thiaine Imwonyo, Senior Policy Advisor for Climate Action at the Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) and newly appointed Facilitator of the WFO Working Group on Nature and Biodiversity; Luisa Volpe, Advocacy, Policy and Partnerships Lead; Francesco Brusaporco, Senior Advocacy, Policy and Partnerships Officer; and Valeria Di Marzo, Communications Lead.

As in Cali, WFO’s participation in the resumed session of CBD COP16 was a crucial opportunity to advocate for stronger farmer involvement in the process, bridging the gap between high-level negotiations and on-the-ground implementation. WFO delegates engaged in conference activities, closely monitoring negotiations on agriculture-related issues.

Key Outcomes: Strengthening the Financial Architecture for Biodiversity

After intense negotiations amid a deeply divided geopolitical landscape, the session concluded with a landmark agreement on resource mobilisation, marking a crucial step in implementing the GBF.

The agreement facilitated the adoption of key decisions, including financial guidance for the Global Environment Facility (GEF), while advancing essential aspects of GBF implementation:

• Monitoring Framework: Strengthening national-level assessments of biodiversity commitments.
• Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review (PMRR): Establishing a global review process to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Cross-Sectoral Cooperation: Enhancing synergies between biodiversity policies and other global agreements.

As part of the outcomes, the official launch of the Cali Fund was announced—an innovative financial mechanism established by the COP16 Presidency in collaboration with UN agencies working on biodiversity and the environment. The fund aims to engage private sector companies to contribute financially and support on-the-ground actions for biodiversity conservation and promotion. Notably, 50% of the fund’s resources will be dedicated to addressing the needs of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who will also play a crucial role as members of the Steering Committee overseeing the fund’s operations.

Photo credit: ©IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis

In the closing plenary, COP16 President Susana Muhamad, Colombia, noted that the session succeeded in “giving the arms, legs, and muscles” to the GBF to prevent it from remaining an “empty shell”.

From Commitments to Action: Ensuring Biodiversity Finance Reaches the Farm Gate

While the agreement lays the foundation for bridging the biodiversity finance gap and developing a financial architecture that effectively channels both existing and new funding streams, these commitments must now translate into tangible opportunities for farmers, ensuring their direct access to biodiversity finance. Strengthening farmer-led organisations and cooperatives will be essential to facilitating this process.

Farmers’ access to financing is crucial for scaling up sustainable agricultural practices that protect biodiversity while ensuring food security.

As discussions continue, WFO remains committed to advocating for a greater engagement of farmers in biodiversity policymaking and the development and identification of adequate financial mechanisms that ensure biodiversity finance reaches farmers at the farm gate, empowering them as strategic partners in the achievement of the GBF goals and targets.

Cover photo by ©IISD/ENB|Mike Muzurakis