The African Development Bank Group is among organisations at 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.
Themed “taking Action for Nature” the conference has drawn stakeholders including governments, development institutions, scientists, associations of indigenous people and local communities, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector leaders.
The Bank Group promised it would advocate for stronger support to African countries in implementing biodiversity commitments and mobilizing investments that generate environmental and development benefits.
The Bank’s Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate and Green Growth, is expected to lead the Bank Group delegation, in Finance Day discussions, ministerial sessions, multilateral development bank coordination meetings, and engagements with African government.
There he hopes to engage in planned discussions 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).
This week’s sessions include the Launch of MDB Briefing Note on Wednesday, titled “Identifying Opportunities to Support Biodiversity Objectives Through MDB Operations.”
Another on Thursday, is themed “mobilising partners for the International Marine Protected Areas Congress: Advancing marine and coastal biodiversity conservation under the Convention on Biological Diversity framework.”
The African Development Bank Group will also 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.
Picture: Supplied