On 22-23 April, civil society actors, researchers and policy experts gathered in Paris for CO-OP4CBD’s training session on engaging and improving capacity-building for civil society in view of COP17 in Armenia.

Organised by the French National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) with the support of the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, this event aimed to strengthen engagement in processes of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD). 

During this two-day session, participants explored Convention processes and mechanisms as well as worked with concrete tools and strategies to enhance their involvement in these processes. Particular attention was afforded to youth, traditional ecological knowledge holders' and women's organisations.

Throughout the first day, participants explored the structure and functioning of the Convention, how to engage in its processes and the importance of a whole-of-society approach to biodiversity governance. The UN CBD COP17 was in the spotlight, as the session provided concrete entry points for civil society to engage in the upcoming negotiations.

Additionally, members of traditional ecological knowledge holders' organisations had the opportunity to share their experience in engaging in UN CBD processes and meetings. Among the speakers were Sirarpi Leraneh Khojabaghyan (Carota Cultural Educational Development NGO), Christine Myrseth (Forum For Nature Troms), Yolanda Lopez-Maldonado (Indigenous Science) and Silje Heldt Zaltzman (IWGIA). 

During the second day, the training session focused on concrete tools and approaches to engage more effectively in the UN CBD, including capacity-building resources, cooperation mechanisms and the TSC landscape. Participants had then the opportunity to use their knowledge in practice through a series of interactive workshops, followed by a COP simulation.

Members of women’s and youth organisations, including Maine Monteiro (NBYN), Anna Shakhnazarian (GYBN), Cristina Eghenter (CBD Women's Caucus) and Mkrtich Grigoryan (Maqoor NGO), shared their perspective on participating in UN CBD processes and meetings.

Bringing together targeted inputs with hands-on exercises, this training offered concrete knowledge and tools to participants for engaging in the UN CBD processes.