| What: | The Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) |
| Who: | African Development Bank Group |
| When: | 19-30 October 2026 |
| Where: | Yerevan, Armenia (some sessions will be streamed) |
The African Development Bank Group will participate in the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026. Convened under the theme Taking Action for Nature, the conference will bring together governments, development institutions, scientists, associations of indigenous people and local communities, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector leaders to accelerate action for nature.
The Bank Group will advocate for stronger support to African countries in implementing biodiversity commitments and mobilizing investments that generate environmental and development benefits. Its participation reflects how central biodiversity is to Africa's sustainable development: the continent's ecosystems underpin its food and water security, climate resilience, livelihoods and long-term growth. Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate and Green Growth, will lead the Bank Group delegation, which will participate in Finance Day discussions, ministerial sessions, multilateral development bank coordination meetings, and engagements with African governments, the African Group of Negotiators, and other development partners. A particular focus of Bank Group engagements will be advancing nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, natural capital accounting, and innovative financing mechanisms that can help African countries deliver on their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
The African Development Bank Group will co-host the joint Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) Pavilion, providing a shared platform to showcase collective action and solutions for biodiversity and nature-positive development.
COP-17 will also feature the first global review of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which was adopted in 2022. Participants will assess achievement on delivery of global biodiversity commitments and identify priorities for accelerating action on mobilising finance and strengthening implementation support for developing countries among other targets.
Key Bank Group Engagements:
- More information and the COP17 agenda: https://cop17yerevan.am/en
- For more information check our biodiversity webpage: https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/topics/biodiversity
Media contact: Sonia Borrini, Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist | email: [email protected]
