The submission of 7th National Reports is grounded in the mandatory reporting obligations of Parties under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Conference of the Parties, through Decision 16/32 on mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting and review, adopted on 27 February 2025, formally required Parties to submit national reports as a core component of the monitoring and review framework for the implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This requirement builds on Decision 15/6, paragraph 1(b), which requested Parties to submit national reports in 2026 and 2029, including the use of headline indicators and, as appropriate, other indicators adopted under Decision 15/5 as part of the GBF monitoring framework.
‑While the reporting process is designed to be facilitative, nonintrusive and non-punitive, respect of national sovereignty and to avoid placing undue burden on Parties particularly developing countries, the submission and quality of the 7th National Reports remain a formal requirement under the Convention.
In this context, there is a need for a consolidated review of the 7th National Reports submitted by African Parties to assess their alignment with the requirements of Decision 16/32 and the GBF monitoring framework as well as the African Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (ABSAP) It is important to note that the findings from the report will also help inform Africa CSOs engagements in the lead up to CBD COP17.
Assess regional progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through a review of selected Seventh National Reports from Africa.Evaluate regional progress towards the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including the comparability and quality of reporting on selected GBF targets.Review the provision of means of implementation in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Identify regional implementation challenges, gaps, and opportunities, and propose practical recommendations to strengthen future reporting and coordination.
outlining the review methodology, assessment framework, sample of Seventh National Reports to be analysed, and timeline for delivery.
A consolidated analytical reportAn assessment of progress towards the goals of the FrameworkA review of means of implementationAn analysis of the contributions of relevant multilateral environmental agreements, international organizations, and related processes , with practical recommendations to improve future reporting and strengthen regional coordination.
Improved regional understanding of progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, based on evidence from selected Seventh National Reports.
A more robust evidence base for strategic engagement by African stakeholders, including civil society organizations, in the lead-up to CBD COP17 in particular better articulation and negotiations under global review to be conducted at COP 17.
The consultant will focus on reviewing the 7th National Reports and the capacity needs assessments conducted under the Technical and Scientific Cooperation mechanism that have been submitted by African countries where institutions represented on the International NGOs Regional Directors Forum are present. These include the following countries by region
– Gabon, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic, Equatorial Guinea.
– Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan
– Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Malawi
Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Liberia, Guinea
Expected duration for the consultancy – 30 days
The consultant will focus on the GBF Targets that deal with the following areas:
