As part of their cooperation, the Norwegian government and the European Commission are supporting an informal global dialogue process to advance discussions on the DSI Multilateral Benefit-Sharing Mechanism and the Cali Fund during the inter-sessional period leading up to COP 17 in Yerevan, Armenia. The aim is to provide opportunities for informal exchange, generate useful information for all, and foster the trust- and relationship-building necessary for Parties to find common ground at the next COP.
The process involves in-person dialogues, virtual encounters, and the creation of knowledge products. It is being implemented in cooperation with GeoMedia and the Mexican Centro de Colaboración Cívica (CCC).
This page documents key outcomes and products of this process in descending order (latest first).
Side event, 19 October 2026, Yerevan, Armenia
The DSI MLM & its Cali Fund: What is needed to enable early operationalisation?
At this side event on the first evening of COP 17, the highlights and main outcomes of the informal DSI dialogue process in 2026 were presented and discussed, with over 100 participants attending.
Following presentations on key Cali Fund ‚construction sites‘ which were addressed at two in-person meetings earlier this year, two panels with a) representatives of DSI-relevant stakeholder groups and b) CBD parties from all global regions commented on the different dialogue outcomes.
Here is the PPT (EN) from the side event. For more detailed information on the two in-person meetings, held in March and September 2026 in Leuven, Belgium, please see further below.
Asia-Pacific pre-COP17 webinar on DSI, 8 October 2026
Advancing implementation of the multilateral mechanism and the Cali Fund
This webinar brought together around 100 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange views on the implementation of the Digital Sequence Information (DSI) Multilateral Mechanism (MLM) and its Cali Fund ahead of CBD COP17. The discussion was explicitly framed as an informal exchange rather than an attempt to develop a common regional position.
Participants broadly agreed that the priority at COP17 should be to move from the architecture established by Decision 16/2 towards practical implementation, while preserving open access to DSI and ensuring that benefit sharing contributes meaningfully to conservation, sustainable use and capacity development. Below are the full report and the recording of the webinar (both in EN).
In-person meetings, 21-25 September 2026, Leuven, Belgium
Global Exchange and Dialogue on the MLM and its Cali Fund
From 21st to 25th September 2026, the DSI Informal Dialogue Partnership organised two overlapping in-person events in Leuven, Belgium. As part of the preparations for COP17, the overall objective was to help move the discussion on the Multilateral Mechanism (MLM) and its Cali Fund from broad principles towards practical implementation regarding key ‚construction sites‘.
The Monday and Tuesday of that week were devoted to a Stake- and Rightsholders‘ Exchange; the Thursday and Friday to a Negotiators‘ Dialogue. On the Wednesday, the two groups met for a day of Relay to exchange views and discuss outstanding issues.
Participants of the Exchange included representatives from industry, non-commercial research, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and CSOs. Recognising that good progress has been made on institutional and procedural elements, they identified some unresolved legal, conceptual and operational questions that require further work. A key outcome were messages from stake- and rightsholders to DSI negotiators (see report from the Exchange, EN, 3 MB).
The Relay provided the opportunity for stake- and rightsholders and negotiators to discuss those messages and elaborate jointly on possible pathways towards consensus ahead of COP17.
The Dialogue brought together key negotiators from all global regions, as well as some recognised experts and members from UN secretariats. The participants arrived at substantial convergence on the need to move pragmatically towards implementation, while important differences remain over the pace, parameters and safeguards. The solution pathways developed during the Dialogue (see report from the Dialogue, EN, 4 MB) could provide possible ways to bridge these differences.
Both reports (please click on the links above in the text) include accounts of the ‚Relay‘ day.
Knowledge product, September 2026
An Analytical Reflection of DSI in post-GBF NBSAPs
How is digital sequence information (DSI) reflected in national biodiversity priorities? This Analysis (EN) reviews post-GBF NBSAPs from 105 CBD Parties, examining DSI, benefit-sharing and related capacity needs. It explores whether these plans could guide Cali Fund funding decisions, including support for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Side Events, 5 and 10 August 2026
Updates and Discussions at CBD SBI 7
During the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 7) from 4-12 August 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, the DSI Informal Dialogue Partnership organised two side events:
The first was titled Towards a Testing (Pilot) Phase and Update on Informal Work and reported on insights from the in-person Dialogue in March and further elements of the informal process.
The second brought together a panel of five international experts to share and discuss perspectives on Financial Mechanisms and Incentives to Maximise the Cali Fund’s Potential.
Both events were well attended, with 50-100 participants each. Below are some impressions as well as links to the presentations and reports (EN).
Global webinar, 9 July 2026
Exploring the Implications of CBD COP 16/2 Provisions on the DSI MLM
This webinar served to examine and discuss interpretations of four key terms in CBD COP Decision 16/2 that are central to its operationalisation: publicly available, entities, indicative rates, and direct/indirect use. The objective was to identify areas of convergence in the understanding of these terms, clarify differing perspectives, and explore their practical implications for implementation.
A strong consensus emerged on several overarching principles, notably legal certainty, proportionality, fairness, scientific openness, and administrative feasibility. Discussions on the individual terms revealed both substantial convergence and important unresolved issues. However, the panelists also emphasised that the four terms should be interpreted as interconnected elements of a coherent implementation framework rather than in isolation.
More than 300 participants representing all stakeholder groups and world regions attended the webinar. Their chat contributions expanded the debate beyond terminology to practical implementation challenges. The webinar report includes an anonymised summary of the chat, grouped by key topics addressed.
Below are the full report and the recording in EN. The recording is also available in FR and ES.
Knowledge product, June 2026
Testing Phases of Global Funds: Draft Comparative Analysis
This Draft Paper (EN) distils lessons learned from testing and piloting approaches of various global environmental and health funds. Such lessons may have potential relevance for designing an initial phase of the Cali Fund in order to primarily test the contribution process and the linked role of the Certificates, as well as the disbursement process based on country allocations including access of IPLCs to funds, as suggested by participants of the Informal Global Dialogue on DSI held in March 2026 in Leuven, Belgium (see below).
Global webinar, 21 May 2026
Report and Reflection on the Informal Global Dialogue on DSI and the Cali Fund
The purpose of this webinar was to share and reflect on the outcomes of the in-person Informal Global Dialogue on DSI and the Cali Fund, held in March 2026 in Leuven, Belgium (see below). More than 300 participants representing all global regions and relevant stakeholder groups attended the webinar, which was simultaneously interpreted into French and Spanish.
After a report back on the Leuven meeting, six panellists, all of whom had participated in the event, shared their impressions and reflections. The SCBD provided an update on the formal DSI work streams, while the DSI Informal Dialogue Partnership informed about upcoming activities. Throughout the webinar, participants were able to discuss and ask questions in the chat.
Below are the full report and the recording in EN. The recording is also available in FR and ES.
In-person meeting, 10-12 March 2026, Leuven, Belgium
Informal Global Dialogue on DSI and the Cali Fund
Hosted by the EU Commission DG Environment
This three-day informal global dialogue on Digital Sequence Information (DSI) brought together some 40 representatives from governments, indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), the private sector, academia, and international organisations to advance the operationalisation of the multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of DSI (MLM), including the Cali Fund, established under CBD COP Decision 16/2.
Key Messages emerging from the meeting included the importance of:
- Moving from agreement to implementation
- Trust as the central enabling factor
- Balancing ethics, incentives, and legal certainty
- Key operational issues that require further work, especially regarding „Money IN“ (contributions), „Money OUT (disbursement)“, and Non-monetary benefit-sharing (NMBS)
- Practical testing through pilots, i.e. moving from concepts to learning by doing
Six initial pilots were developed, ranging from technical prototypes to full system validation. These could serve as basis for further discussions at COP17 and to generate evidence to further inform decisions at COP18.
Overall, the dialogue confirmed that the foundations for the MLM and Cali Fund are in place, but their success will depend on practical implementation, trust-building, and stakeholder engagement.
The report includes notes from all discussions, a documentation of group work results, and descriptions of the six pilots. It is available at the CBD ABS Clearing House and can also be downloaded HERE (2 MB).
Global webinar, 5 February 2026
Where do we stand with the implementation of the DSI Multilateral Mechanism and the Cali Fund?
In cooperation with the SCBD and the interim Secretariat of the Cali Fund
CBD Decision 16/2 operationalised the Multilateral Mechanism (MLM) for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources (DSI), including the Cali Fund and its Steering Committee.
This webinar provided Parties, observers and stakeholders with an opportunity to take stock of what has been done so far, and what still needs to be done. The agenda included, inter alia: Input on Decision 16/2; Overview of the inter-sessional formal process since CBD COP16; Inputs by Secretariats of other fora dealing with DSI; Progress made through the Friends of the Cali Fund; and Reflections by stakeholder representatives. The webinar was held in English with simultaneous interpretation into French and Spanish.
Below are the report and the recording in EN. The recording is also available in FR and ES.
