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Publication of the first guide to the Cali Fund

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, hosting the interim Secretariat of the Cali Fund, joined forces with the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme to produce the first guide aimed at potential contributors and the public at large.

 

Guide to the Cali Fund


Adopted in a landmark decision of the Parties to the CBD at COP 16 in Cali, Colombia, the Cali Fund is the financial arm of the multilateral mechanism on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI).

DSI—including genetic data that is derived from nature using advanced technology applications—is the engine of a rapid growth of life sciences industry. Lucrative applications span a range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biotechnology.

Participation in the Cali Fund offers a practical and credible way for companies benefiting from commercial use of DSI to demonstrate commitment to the objectives of the CBD and its Protocols, including the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)—the world’s ambitious plan to transform our societies’ relationship with biodiversity by 2030.

Contributions to the Cali Fund send powerful signals to consumers and investors, and anchors businesses into the transformative change needed to decouple socio-economic progress from adverse impacts to nature.

Among other aspects, the guide covers:

  • What qualifies as DSI;
  • Who is expected to contribute and from which sectors;
  • How much contributors are expected to pay;
  • Why it makes sense to contribute to the Cali Fund;
  • How the Fund can  help meet the self-identified needs of indigenous peoples and local communities—key custodians of biodiversity;
  • How contributions are verified and an explainer on the certificates issued by the Secretariat of the Cali Fund.

The Cali Fund can be downloaded here.