— GBA to establish solution ‘labs’, mobilise investment and develop projects in up to 30 communities

PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali has outlined an ambitious six-step action plan for the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) over the next 12 months, aimed at transforming international biodiversity commitments into practical projects, mobilising financing and creating economic opportunities for communities.
The plan includes establishing specialised solution labs, preparing investment-ready projects for a major financing summit in London in June 2027, and identifying up to 30 biodiversity-rich communities for initiatives that combine conservation with improved livelihoods.
Addressing delegates on Saturday during the final day of the GBA Conference and Financing Forum, President Ali stressed that the Alliance must move beyond discussions and declarations to become a platform capable of delivering measurable results.
“Our ambition is for the GBA to become the place where action gets started. Not simply where discussion takes place,” the Head of State declared.
He said the partnerships and commitments emerging from the conference represented an important starting point, but translating those commitments into action would require sustained technical work, collaboration and investment.
The President outlined six priority areas intended to guide the Alliance’s work and ensure that its initiatives produce tangible benefits for member countries and their communities.
1. ESTABLISHING GBA SOLUTION LABS
The first priority is the establishment of specialised solution labs that will bring together experts to address challenges preventing biodiversity proposals from becoming practical, financeable projects.
“I would like us to establish what we might call GBA solution labs. Small focus groups bringing together the right expertise to work through the difficult questions that still stand between good ideas and practical action,” President Ali said.
He explained that the labs would bring together governments, scientists, investors, businesses and communities to examine proposals, assess their feasibility and identify practical solutions.
The President tasked GBA Organising Team Lead, Dr Pradeepa Bholanath, with assembling a working group to develop the structure of the labs, identify initial priorities and prepare an implementation plan by the end of November.

2. ALIGNING ACTION WITH GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY COMMITMENTS
The second priority will ensure that the Alliance’s work remains aligned with international biodiversity commitments, particularly those under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
President Ali said the GBA should help countries identify progress, overcome implementation challenges and strengthen co- operation to meet their commitments.
He cautioned against allowing the momentum generated by international conferences to fade once delegates return to their respective countries.

Instead, he urged members to maintain engagement throughout the year, share expertise and work collectively to address obstacles.
The President emphasised that the Alliance was not intended to duplicate the responsibilities of existing international institutions but to complement their work and help accelerate implementation.
3. MOBILISING INVESTMENT IN LONDON
A major component of the plan is the preparation of biodiversity projects for an investment and financing summit expected to be held in London in June 2027.
President Ali said the GBA would work with member countries to identify and develop projects capable of attracting support from investors, philanthropic organisations, international development agencies, private-sector entities and participants in the bond market.
He stressed that proposals must be properly structured and technically developed before they are presented to potential financiers.
The GBA Secretariat will therefore coordinate the preparation of a compendium of investment-ready projects, providing prospective investors with clearly defined opportunities.
“So, by the time we get to June, we have to have projects ready to be presented, opportunities ready to be presented. We will bring together all the players in finance, philanthropic, international donor agencies, private sector, investors, bond market,” President Ali said.
The initiative is intended to bridge the gap between biodiversity commitments and the financing required to implement them.
4. DEVELOPING PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES
The fourth priority will take the Alliance’s work directly into biodiversity-rich communities, with a focus on developing projects that improve livelihoods while protecting natural ecosystems.
President Ali announced that the GBA intends to identify between 20 and 30 communities across its membership where practical initiatives can be developed.
Before the end of 2026, the Secretariat is expected to establish a coordinating team to provide technical assistance for these community-based programmes.
“We want to identify actual projects that the Secretariat and a membership will help to build at the community level,” he said.
The President explained that the Alliance could draw on its network of research institutions, financial organisations, academics and scientists to assist communities with project development.
This approach, he said, would allow countries and communities to access specialised expertise without lengthy delays associated with sourcing external consultants.
The objective is to demonstrate that biodiversity protection and economic development can advance together, particularly in communities whose livelihoods are closely connected to natural resources.
5. EXPANDING TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT
The fifth priority focuses on strengthening access to technical assistance, research, scientific documentation, auditing and monitoring systems.
President Ali said the Secretariat would work with relevant institutions and partners to examine existing support mechanisms and integrate them into a more accessible system for GBA members.
“The Secretariat will look at all the models that are out there, all over the place and we will try to align those models,” he explained.
Under the proposed arrangement, member countries would be able to approach the Secretariat for guidance on obtaining specialised expertise, technical personnel, research support and appropriate technology.
The President said this would help reduce delays in project preparation and implementation while strengthening the capacity of countries to deliver biodiversity initiatives.
6. HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND QUANTUM COMPUTING
The sixth priority will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing can support biodiversity conservation, research, project development and implementation.
President Ali said the Alliance would identify members and technical institutions with advanced capabilities in these fields to examine opportunities for applying emerging technologies.
He stressed, however, that the adoption of such technologies must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards to ensure their responsible and sustainable use.
“We are going to identify a subset of the alliance members to work with some of the members now who are advanced in this, to allow the GBA and other partners to have access to this technology, to evaluate how we can use AI, what are the guardrails we want to put in place to ensure that we are building resiliently and we are building in a sustainable,” he said.
The President also called for a clearer implementation framework connecting the Alliance’s activities with international commitments and ongoing global biodiversity discussions.
RESULTS, NOT DECLARATIONS
President Ali said the six priorities would be developed into a more detailed programme of work, with emphasis on practical implementation and accountability.
He maintained that the Alliance’s success must ultimately be judged by its ability to solve problems, attract financing and improve people’s lives rather than by the number of conferences held or declarations issued.
“Our success will not be measured by the number of meetings we organise or declarations we issue. It will be measured by the problems we can solve, the finance we mobilise and the difference we make in the people’s lives,” the President said.
He reiterated that the GBA must become an action-oriented international platform capable of connecting scientific expertise, financial resources and community needs to advance biodiversity conservation alongside sustainable economic development.