NOTIFICATION
No. 2023-019

Dear Madam/Sir,

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, at its fifteenth meeting, adopted decision 15/10 ( https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-10-en.pdf ) on the development of a new programme of work and institutional arrangements on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities. In the same decision, it also decided to establish an ad hoc technical expert group to further elaborate possible elements, tasks and actors of a new programme of work, and institutional arrangements and their modus operandi. The recommendations of the expert group will be available for the twelfth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions. The terms of reference of the expert group are contained in annex III of this decision.

In accordance with the above-noted decision, I am pleased to invite Parties, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations to nominate experts to participate in the ad hoc technical expert group. As established by annex III of the same decision, the expert group will be composed of three experts per region nominated by Parties, two representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities from each of the seven sociocultural regions recognized by the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as no more than six experts from other relevant organizations.

The selection of experts will be undertaken in consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, with due regard to expertise in all aspects of the development of a new programme of work and institutional arrangements on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention related to indigenous peoples and local communities, taking into account geographical representation, as well as gender balance.  The meeting of the ad hoc technical expert group is expected to take place in June 2023.

Nominations for the ad hoc technical expert group should be submitted through an official letter addressed to the CBD Executive Secretary and signed, respectively, by the National Focal Point or head of the organization, and sent as a scanned attachment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 7 April 2023. When submitting nominations, please provide the name and full contact details of the nominee(s), as well as a curriculum vitae that demonstrates their area of expertise and experience, bearing in mind the terms of reference of the ad hoc technical expert group, as specified in annex III of decision 15/10. In line with decision 14/33 ( https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-33-en.pdf ), nominees are also required to complete the interest disclosure form ( available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/forms/conflict-interest-form-en.pdf ).

Further information on the working modalities for the group will be communicated in due course.

The text of this notification is also available on the CBD website at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2023/ntf-2023-019-8j-en.pdf .