From Left: Robert Agenonga (DRC), Elizabeth Kamara (Liberia), Jann Vinze (Philippines) and Maissa Louhichi (Tunisia) throughout a Youth facet occasion at COP16.
Africa’s function within the ongoing United Nations Conference on Organic Variety (CBD) Convention of Events (COP16) is crucial. Residence to 25% of the world’s biodiversity and a predominantly younger inhabitants, Africa’s engagement in these essential negotiations will assist form the way forward for conservation efforts.
This COP16, the primary biodiversity convention for the reason that adoption of the Kunming-Montreal International Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in 2022 convenes beneath the theme “Peace with Nature.” Governments will assess their progress in implementing the GBF and align Nationwide Biodiversity Methods and Motion Plans (NBSAPs) accordingly. The conference will sort out essential points, together with useful resource mobilization for conservation and finalizing mechanisms for honest and equitable entry to the advantages from genetic sources.
Over 190 international locations are represented at COP16, together with governments, Indigenous Peoples, native communities, companies, youth, civil society, and academia. However this 12 months, African youth—Africa’s largest demographic group—are positioned to make an excellent larger affect.
The African Wildlife Basis (AWF) and the African Civil Society Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA) are striving to make sure that Africa’s youth and civil society play a central function in shaping the way forward for biodiversity conservation. Recognizing that the following era should be empowered to steer, AWF and ACBA emphasize youth management and civil society engagement as key drivers of sustainable change on the continent.
By initiatives just like the AWF Charles R. Wall Younger African Coverage Fellows Program, AWF is actively coaching younger African leaders to take part meaningfully in worldwide biodiversity governance. This program supplies younger professionals with hands-on expertise in international biodiversity negotiations, with a concentrate on boards such because the Conference on Organic Variety (CBD).
Simangele Msweli is AWF’s Senior Youth Program Supervisor.
“Our younger persons are not simply the longer term—they’re the current,” says Simangele Msweli, Senior Youth Program Supervisor at AWF. “By our applications, African youth are actively shaping conservation coverage at native, nationwide, and international ranges. COP16 is a crucial platform for them to be heard and to affect choices that may affect biodiversity for many years to return.”
5 Coverage fellows will likely be becoming a member of the AWF delegation at COP16. These fellows have undergone rigorous coaching, studying the intricacies of the CBD, and honing their negotiation expertise. In preparation for COP16, AWF hosted management dialogues, together with a dialogue with seasoned negotiators like a consultant from Malawi to handle Africa’s distinctive biodiversity challenges.
“Our fellows will do extra than simply observe,” Msweli emphasizes. “They’ll have interaction in management dialogues, contribute to facet occasions, and take part instantly within the negotiations. Their objective is to make sure that Africa’s youth perspective will not be solely heard but in addition acted upon.”
Why Youth Engagement Issues
“Africa is a younger continent,” Msweli notes, “however many youth really feel disconnected from international processes like COPs. We want them engaged as a result of the choices made at COP16 will outline their future.”
The International Biodiversity Framework (GBF) requires a “whole-of-society” strategy, making youth crucial companions in guaranteeing the framework’s efficient implementation. Extra importantly, younger individuals can function watchdogs, holding governments accountable for his or her commitments.
“Youth should be those asking robust questions,” Msweli insists. “Are governments delivering on the guarantees made within the GBF? How can we be certain that biodiversity conservation is built-in into nationwide growth plans?”
AWF at COP16
AWF’s Coverage Fellows play lively roles throughout three key areas:
- Facet Occasions: The fellows will share their insights on crucial biodiversity points. For instance, Ignatious Kudakwashe from Zimbabwe will take part in a session organized by the Southern African Improvement Neighborhood (SADC) Secretariat. In the meantime, Sana Balde from Guinea-Bissau will co-host an occasion with the POST-2020 Mission, and Elizabeth Kamara from Liberia and Maissa Louhichi (Tunisia) will be part of a International Panorama Discussion board occasion on marine biodiversity.
- Management Dialogues: The fellows will have interaction with influential stakeholders, together with representatives from the African Improvement Financial institution and the African Union Fee. These discussions are important for understanding how the GBF will likely be applied throughout Africa and the way younger leaders can assist this work.
- Negotiations: Every fellow will monitor key agenda gadgets and be certain that Africa’s priorities—notably these of its youth—are mirrored within the last agreements. They’ll concentrate on biodiversity finance, equitable entry to sources, and stronger protections for Africa’s pure belongings.
ACBA at COP16
Yemi Katerere, ACBA Coordinator, echoes Msweli’s issues concerning the function of youth and the significance of useful resource mobilization. “This isn’t about Africa begging for cash,” Katerere says. “The International North, which consumes 74% of the world’s sources, has a duty to contribute to biodiversity conservation.”
ACBA’s work focuses on guaranteeing that sources aren’t solely promised however are directed to the suitable locations—native communities, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and girls’s teams on the frontlines of conservation. “We have to ask robust questions,” Katerere emphasizes. “How will funds be localized? Will they honestly profit those that want them most?”
Expectations from COP16
Katerere stresses that at COP16, the authorized and sustainable use of biodiversity should stay a precedence and shouldn’t be compromised. It must be totally built-in into African international locations’ NBSAPs to make sure that each business and non-commercial biodiversity harvesting aligns with conservation targets.
Concerning the funding hole, notably in reaching biodiversity targets, Katerere agrees with Msweli that financing must be a key focus of the discussions at COP16.
“We hope the talks will end in concrete options to spice up public funding, relatively than counting on the personal sector, which regularly promotes greenwashing and false options,” Katerere explains. “This contains addressing dangerous subsidies and navy budgets in rich international locations, in addition to acknowledging the historic exploitation of Africa’s sources.”
Katerere additionally highlights the significance of defending African environmental defenders, lots of whom face threats and violence for his or her work. “We count on COP16 to carry consideration to their plight, with stronger protections put in place to safeguard their rights and assist their crucial function in conservation.”
>>Learn extra on how COP16 can ship biodiversity targets for Africa.