Montreal, January 13-15, 2026
The Sahara and Sahel Observatory is participating in a workshop on operationalizing scientific and technical cooperation support centers, organized as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework implementation.
This strategic event, organized by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, brings together 18 scientific and technical cooperation support centers, institutional and scientific partners, and the interim global coordinating body and aims to strengthen cooperation, technology transfer, innovation, and to support the effective and coherent implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The workshop purpose is to accompany the support centers in developing and finalizing their 2025-2026 work plans, while fostering peer-to-peer exchange, the sharing of experiences and best practices, and collective reflection on governance, communication, resource mobilization, and regional coordination mechanisms.
It is important to recall that the scientific and technical cooperation mechanism, established by Decision 15/8 of the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties, aims to build local, national and regional capacities on a demand-driven basis, foster access to relevant scientific data, and support the development of innovative solutions adapted to national and regional contexts.
Through its participation, the OSS reaffirms its long-term institutional commitment to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, as demonstrated by the conclusion of an MoU with the Convention on Biological Diversity. This formalizes the OSS role in hosting and operationalizing scientific and technical cooperation mechanisms and its contribution to discussions on regional coordination, data mobilization and utilization, and the integration of existing knowledge and tools, in order to generate a lasting impact for nature and people.
The workshop is expected to lead to the development of common performance and reporting criteria and to strengthen coordination between the centers and the global coordinating body, in anticipation of upcoming international deadlines, including the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 6) and COP 17.