What happened in our Q3, 2026 Community Call? From shared progress to collective action

Insights and updates from the community

We kicked off with community updates and lots to share! Five members brought insights and opportunities from recent events and processes, spanning international policy, funding and collaboration, youth-led agrifood systems, and biodiversity and food systems:

• Beatrice Rocca (ProVeg International) Highlights from the recent Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI).
  Reflections emphasized that progress is being made across all 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), but the world remains off track to achieve its 2030 goals. Discussions also stressed the urgent need to bridge the gap between biodiversity policy and implementation, particularly through stronger coordination across environment, agriculture and other ministries.

• Selamawit Enna (FAO Ethiopia) Identified funding and collaboration opportunities in Ethiopia.
  Funding opportunities in Ethiopia are increasingly shifting from standalone projects towards resilience, market systems and climate finance, with opportunities spanning agriculture, climate change and sustainable development. Strong collaboration potential lies in initiatives that combine effective delivery, technical expertise, youth inclusion and measurable climate outcomes.

• Harko Koster (SNV) Highlights from UNCCD COP17
  Harko highlighted key outcomes from UNCCD COP17, including stronger recognition of rangelands and pastoralists, growing private-sector engagement, and new initiatives to strengthen drought resilience. He also noted progress in involving local and regional governments, while emphasizing that the COP took place amid broader challenges to multilateral cooperation, particularly around gender, inclusion and synergies with the Rio Conventions.

• Christine Karanja (WFF Kenya National Chapter) African Food Systems Forum: takeaways and insights.
  Keeping the energy from AFSF and sharing insights from the event, Christine highlighted a growing focus on youth-led agrifood innovation, access to finance, and climate-resilient solutions. Discussions during AFSF also stressed the need to move from ambition to measurable action and stronger cross-sector collaboration.

• Caroline Kawira (glocolearning) Experience and reflections from glocolearning x NFP booth at the Kenya Youth in Agrifood Systems in Nairobi
  Also bringing back a lot of the energy from the Kenya Youth in Agrifood Systems Summit, Caroline reflected on how the Shared Messages opened up conversations around biodiversity and food systems, leading to new members joining the Partnership! The booth also sparked enthusiasm for the Photo with a Story contest and created new connections with actors across Kenya’s food systems ecosystem.

Together, these contributions brought perspectives from different geographies, organisations and spaces: from international policy processes to youth engagement on the ground. They also highlighted opportunities for community members to connect directly with one another and continue exchanging beyond the community call.

Moving forward: from shared efforts to action

So many things have moved forward for the Partnership throughout the year, but there is still much more to come! As we enter the final quarter, we took a moment to reflect on the progress made and look at where members can continue engaging in what’s ahead:

1. Strengthening connections through our online community

Since launching our online community platform earlier this year, we have continued exploring ways to make the diversity of knowledge, experiences and opportunities within the community more visible and accessible.

One of these is Members in the Spotlight series, which recently featured its first group of community members: who they are, what they are working on, and where they see opportunities to connect and collaborate. Building on the first edition, we are now preparing the next Members in the Spotlight and inviting more community members to share their work, experiences and opportunities for collaboration! Are you a community member and would like to be in the next spotlight? Reach out to [email protected]

2. Activating the Shared Messages through peer-to-peer learning

Following the co-creation and launch of the Shared Messages earlier this year, we are now moving further into their second phase: from developing and sharing the messages towards learning how they can be used in practice.

During the call, the Convene  team introduces a series of peer-to-peer sessions that will take place between October and November. Co-facilitated with community members, these sessions will create an informal space to exchange experiences of using and adapting the Shared Messages across different contexts and geographies.

The aim is not only to amplify the messages, but also to learn from what works, what challenges members encounter, and how the Shared Messages can support engagement, advocacy across different levels, and be used as a framework tool for organisational strategies for collective action around biodiversity and food systems.

3. Progress on the youth incubator process

The Biodiversity Incubator is taking shape! Following demand from the community and the co-creation process earlier this year, the ideas are now coming together into a pilot supporting 25 young agri-food entrepreneurs to strengthen the role of biodiversity in their businesses and contribute to more sustainable food systems in Kenya.

The incubator grew from the Biodiversity & Food Systems Partnership as a concrete opportunity for collective action. Responding to demand from the ground, it was shaped through local consultations and a roundtable  with diverse stakeholders. The pilot will bring together Kenyan, Dutch and international partners, starting with an in-person kick-off, followed by six weeks of coaching and mentorship, and a final day to come together again in a showcase event.

Partnership members will be involved in different roles, from sharing expertise and facilitating sessions to mentorship, learning and supporting the demo event. While this is a pilot, we also see the value of bringing this diversity of partners together. The experience can help us learn what works and explore how the incubator could eventually be adapted and brought to other contexts through collaboration with different stakeholders.

The incubator kicks off soon, so more to come! Stay tuned on NFP Connects.

4. Taking the Partnership into upcoming events

Some exciting moments are coming up for the Partnership this year, with biodiversity and food systems taking the spotlight across several key events!

At UN CBD COP17 (19-30 October), the Partnership will contribute through an official CBD side event, two sessions at the Netherlands Pavilion and one session in the CGIAR Pavilion. In the lead-up to COP17, we are also creating opportunities to connect and prepare as a network, including a Biodiversity & Food Systems Partnership briefing pack and pre-COP exchanges.

During NFP World Food Day on 20 October in The Hague, biodiversity and food systems will also be in the spotlight. The Partnership will take the stage with a plenary contribution, alongside a community co-organised side event and booth, and the Photo with a Story exhibition “Agrobiodiversity as roots of resilience”, co-organised by glocolearning  and the Agrobiodiversity Index team from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

Don’t forget to register for WFD here!

5. Looking beyond NFP: sustainability of the Partnership

What would need to be in place for this community to continue creating value without NFP in a leading role?

As the Partnership enters its second year, it is time to start thinking together about our shared transition strategy. This process will start with our Partnership Health Check in November and December, where we’ll explore possible pathways and priorities for 2027. From there, we’ll work with members to shape and finalise the transition strategy in early 2027 and start putting it into practice throughout the year. And this does not mean slowing down! The Partnership remains fully active throughout 2027, while we work together on what comes next.

Several members have already signed up to join this process, with more opportunities for the community to contribute along the way.

To sum up

The coming months will bring opportunities to test the Shared Messages in different contexts, implement the Youth Incubator, bring community voices into World Food Day and COP17 CBD, and collectively explore what longer-term stewardship of the Partnership could look like.

Across all these activities, there are different ways for community members to engage! Whether you have been actively involved throughout the year or are looking for a new opportunity to contribute, we invite you to bring your ideas, experiences and energy into what comes next.

Not yet part of the community? If you are interested in contributing to this growing network working to strengthen the connections between biodiversity and food systems, join the community!