CBD Secretariat

CBD Secretariat
Name	Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat
Native name	Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Formation	1993
Headquarters	Montreal, Canada
Region served	Global
Leader title	Executive Secretary
Leader name	Elizabeth Maruma Mrema
Parent organization	United Nations Environment Programme

CBD Secretariat

The CBD Secretariat supports the Convention on Biological Diversity, serving as the administrative, scientific and policy hub for implementation of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development outcomes, including links to the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. It facilitates interactions among COP meetings, Cartagena Protocol consultations and Nagoya Protocol processes, coordinating inputs from IPBES, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization on cross-cutting biodiversity issues. The Secretariat provides technical assistance, manages knowledge products and hosts subsidiary bodies such as the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice.

History and formation

The Secretariat was established after adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and the treaty's entry into force in 1993. Early engagements included support to the inaugural COP-1 and coordination with the Global Environment Facility as the interim financial mechanism. During the 1990s and 2000s the Secretariat worked with regional institutions such as the European Commission, the African Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to operationalize national biodiversity strategies and action plans influenced by decisions from COP-6 through COP-10. The Secretariat's role expanded with the negotiation and adoption of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2000 and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing in 2010, anchoring legal and technical support for biosafety, genetic resource access, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.

Mandate and functions

The Secretariat's mandate derives from the Convention on Biological Diversity and COP decisions, requiring it to service meetings of the COP, facilitate implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and provide secretariat services for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework process linked to COP-15 (Biodiversity) outcomes. It prepares documentation for subsidiary bodies including the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, coordinates reporting under Article 26, and administers the secretariat functions for protocols under the Convention. The Secretariat also engages in capacity-building with actors such as the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, and national ministries of environment, while liaising with multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Organizational structure

Headquartered in Montreal, the Secretariat is led by an Executive Secretary appointed by the COP and approved by the United Nations Environment Programme governance arrangements. Divisions include policy and programme, science and technical support, and legal and institutional affairs, each interacting with subsidiary technical bodies and working groups established by COP decisions. The Secretariat maintains liaison offices and collaborates with regional and thematic partners such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature to mobilize expertise. Staff comprise legal advisers, technical experts, negotiators and communication specialists who coordinate meetings, workshops and online platforms for Parties and observers.

Key activities and programs

The Secretariat organizes and services COP sessions, protocol meetings and intersessional workshops, coordinates scientific assessments in cooperation with IPBES, produces reporting guidance for national reports and the Global Biodiversity Outlook series, and facilitates implementation of global targets exemplified by the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and their successors. It manages clearing-houses and knowledge platforms connecting national focal points, supports development of national biodiversity strategies and action plans with agencies like the United Nations Development Programme and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) secretariat, and promotes mainstreaming of biodiversity across sectors through engagement with entities such as the World Bank and World Trade Organization. The Secretariat also administers compliance mechanisms, helps operationalize access and benefit-sharing measures under the Nagoya Protocol, and provides technical guidance on biosafety under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Funding and partnerships

Funding streams include assessed support from the United Nations Environment Programme budget, voluntary contributions from Parties, grants channeled through the Global Environment Facility, and project-specific funding from bilateral donors and philanthropic organizations such as the European Union and national agencies. The Secretariat forms formal partnerships with international organizations including IPBES, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and regional bodies like the African Union Commission to leverage expertise and co-finance capacity-building. Collaborative initiatives involve research institutions, non-governmental organizations such as WWF, Conservation International, and academic partners like Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México for implementation and science-policy translation.

Criticisms and challenges

Critiques of the Secretariat focus on constraints in operational capacity, dependency on voluntary funding from Parties and donors, and the complexities of coordinating implementation across sovereign states and multiple instruments such as the Nagoya Protocol and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Observers including members of Civil Society and scholarly analysts have highlighted challenges in translating global targets into measurable national action, disparities in technical support for developing Parties, and procedural bottlenecks within COP negotiations such as at COP-15 (Biodiversity). The Secretariat faces institutional challenges in aligning biodiversity priorities with climate agendas represented by UNFCCC processes, managing stakeholder expectations from organizations like Indigenous Peoples' organizations and private sector actors, and ensuring effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms amid resource constraints.

Category:International environmental organizations