From Inequality and Vulnerability
to Prosperity for All

Global BioTrade Facilitation Programme: Linking trade, biodiversity and sustainable development

----------------

The aim of the Global BioTrade Facilitation programme is to synchronize and leverage results from previous phases and thus contributing to unfold the potential of the BioTrade approach for biodiversity conservation as well as poverty reduction.

The overall objective of the continued programme is to support key stakeholders to seize and capitalize on trade opportunities. At the same time, the programme advances the implementation of SDGs, the Aichi Targets as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted last December 2022.

UNCTAD steers, coordinates and facilitates joint actions of key stakeholders at the national, regional and international level and addresses key concerns limiting the trade flows of biodiversity-based products and services.

The programme builds on the following three pillars:

  1. Coordination and knowledge sharing among stakeholders

    The programme ensures coordination on key BioTrade issues. UNCTAD steers and leverages the capacity of different BioTrade partners to share information. Furthermore, through a structured approach to collaboration, visibility for the partners' work is enhanced and thus incentives for engagement provided. This approach shall further strengthen the business case for BioTrade and help mainstream it into sustainable sourcing and development strategies.
     

  2. Enabling favourable policy environment for BioTrade companies

    BioTrade companies are supported to overcome non-tariff measures (NTMs) and to implement national schemes of access and benefit sharing (ABS) in order to enable their continued participation in the international market. Furthermore, the programme will illustrated how the private sector as well as governments can also use BioTrade to report on the implementation of international processes (e.g. SDGs).
     

  3. Facilitate market linkages for BioTrade companies

    The programme supports private companies and other partners to increase their knowledge on BioTrade as well as their capacity to raise awareness of BioTrade. Partners will also be encouraged to stimulate growth and development of ethical sourcing practices and sustainable supply chains in relation with the BioTrade principles and criteria.
     

The duration of the programme was extended until October 2024. During this period, UNCTAD will focus on enhancing the sustainability of the BioTrade concept and work while expanding its scope of work to other emerging trade and biodiversity related issues.

These issues include: smallholder food systems and agricultural commodities; oceans and the blue bioeconomy; circular bioeconomy; trade and biodiversity statistics; biodiversity and voluntary standards; finance, among others.
 

Link to the SDGs:

It contributes to SDGs, particularly to SDGs 12, 14, 15 and 17.
 

Monitoring and Evaluation

UNCTAD is responsible for the monitoring, internal evaluation and reporting of the programme impacts, outcomes and outputs. The annual Stakeholders' Steering Committee meeting provides a platform for progress reporting, feedback and recommendations on programme implementation. Additional monitoring and evaluation activities are done virtually, including through electronic means, phone calls or meetings organized back-to-back with other programme or partners' events.

An external mid-term evaluation as well as an external final evaluation of the programme may be commissioned by SECO. Should an external evaluation not take place, UNCTAD will conduct a participatory self-evaluation.

Advancing shared prosperity through biodiversity-friendly trade

27 Mar 2024

With the right policy and governance approach, sustainable trade can flourish and, in turn, nourish the very biodiversity on which it relies.

Promoting sustainable trade as a safety net for marine wildlife

25 Nov 2022

UNCTAD and its partners promote trade in line with environmental, social and economic sustainability criteria as a nature-based solution to the biodiversity crisis.

New UNCTAD tool tracks global trade in biodiversity products

23 Sep 2022

The database will enable policymakers and other stakeholders to accelerate progress towards combating biodiversity loss, which has put 1 million species at risk of extinction.

Study shows COVID-19 effects on trade in biodiversity products

18 May 2022

The pandemic has posed challenges but also created opportunities for workers and businesses producing and selling biodiversity-based goods and services.

Sustainability standards are a powerful tool to protect biodiversity

24 Jan 2022

Voluntary sustainability standards can play a bigger role in conserving our planet’s resources and help strengthen the new post-2020 global biodiversity framework, experts say.

How continental treaty can foster sustainable trade in biodiversity in Africa

19 Aug 2021

New study shows how to transform the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement into an enabler of sustainable trade in biodiversity as a key driver of an environmentally friendly recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Why trade must be part of the solution to biodiversity loss

21 May 2021

Unsustainable trade is behind the biodiversity crisis threatening our existence. But done sustainably, international commerce can help protect our planet’s precious resources.

UNCTAD updates principles to promote biodiversity-friendly trade

18 Jan 2021

Guidelines to help governments, companies and consumers benefit from sustainable trade in precious plants and animals now include elements such as climate resilience and marine biodiversity.

BioTrade company in Myanmar shows resilience to COVID-19 shock

4 Jun 2020

A small business making natural products from jujube and tamarind has kept its doors open and workers safe thanks to sustainability principles adopted before the pandemic.

Promoting biodiversity-friendly trade in the Mekong region

21 Jan 2020

UNCTAD coordinates activities to link trade with the sustainable use of biodiversity and maximize benefits.

Project Code

THAI

Partners

UNCTAD in partnership with CBD, CITES, ITC, UEBT, ABS Capacity Development Initiative, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, PhytoTrade Africa, trade and environment government entities in beneficiary countries, and regional and national partners.

Donors

Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO

Beneficiaries

Global, with emphasis in developing countries in Latin America, Mekong and southern African subregions

Duration

2018-2024

Budget

$ 6,100,000

Contact

General information: [email protected]

Lorena Jaramillo, Economic Affairs Officer ([email protected])

Related

Topic

Trade and environment

Programme