Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3–5 September 2025
The OSS took part, from 3 to 5 September 2025 in Yaoundé, in the Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting for Francophone African Countries. Organized by UNEP, the CBD Secretariat, COMIFAC and IFDD, with the support of the Government of Cameroon, the event brought together decision-makers, experts and partners around a common ambition: to accelerate the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and to prepare the submission of the Seventh National Reports.
Over three days, participants worked on themes ranging from the revision of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), to the establishment of monitoring systems and indicators, the preparation of the Seventh National Reports, the monitoring of ecosystem restoration, and access to multilateral funding. These exchanges provided an overview of the progress made, while also identifying persistent challenges and priority needs for the countries.
Agenda Item 5 was the highlight of OSS’s participation. Representing the organization, Ms. Olfa Karous, Project Management Officer, presented OSS’s contribution as an African center of technical and scientific cooperation recognized by the CBD. She recalled that OSS supports eight countries in North Africa and the Horn of Africa—Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia—in preparing their national reports and aligning their strategies with the Global Framework.
OSS’s intervention highlighted the concrete services the Center offers to its member countries: harmonized and interoperable tools for data collection and analysis, scientific and technical support for the preparation of indicators, the mobilization of regional experts for capacity building, and facilitation of access to multilateral funding thanks to the organization’s accreditations with the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. OSS also stressed the importance of knowledge capitalization and advocacy to ensure that Africa speaks with a strong and unified voice in international negotiations.
Following these presentations, the group discussions enabled countries to share experiences, showcase innovative approaches and express their expectations. Several inspiring initiatives were presented, such as the creation of intersectoral commissions, the development of national monitoring platforms, and the participatory integration of ecosystem specificities. However, the discussions also revealed persistent challenges: lack of reliable data, limited technical capacity, insufficient institutional coordination, and restricted financial resources. Countries expressed clear expectations towards regional centers: stronger technical support, tailored training for field actors, and improved sharing of best practices, particularly in land restoration and the management of invasive species.
On the sidelines of the session, a trilateral meeting brought together OSS, COMIFAC and CSE/OBAPAO. This exchange made it possible to identify avenues for collaboration and common synergies, with the aim of consolidating a coherent and united African mechanism in support of the implementation of the Global Framework.
Through its dedicated contribution to Agenda Item 5 and its active involvement in the collective work, OSS reaffirmed its role as a regional catalyst and strategic partner. By providing concrete services, linking science to decision-making, and amplifying Africa’s voice in international forums, the organization positions itself as a key actor in biodiversity monitoring and reporting in Africa.