ABOUT THE CALI FUND

Launched in 2025, the Cali Fund represents a breakthrough in both benefit-sharing and biodiversity finance. It is the first multilateral mechanism designed to mobilise private-sector contributions linked to the commercial use of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources (DSI). It receives contributions from private companies that use publicly available DSI and redistributes these resources to indigenous peoples and local communities in both developing and developed countries.

OBJECTIVE 1

Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use

Supports the CBD objectives, specifically the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through direct payments to developing countries.

OBJECTIVE 2

Scientific Research and Capacity Building

Strengthens the generation, use, and management of digital sequence information from research institutions and infrastructure.

OBJECTIVE 3

Equity and Inclusion

Ensures indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth in those communities, receive at least half the funding for their self-identified needs.

OBJECTIVE 4

Multilateral Alignment and Mutual Supportiveness

Supports the Convention on Biological Diversity and other intergovernmental processes to avoid obligation stacking and retain flexibility.

The financial arm of the first multilateral mechanism for DSI benefit-sharing is designed to ensure that those who need support can access resources

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)

The Fund supports KMGBF Goal C (Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing) and directly advances Target 13. It also contributes to broader priorities across Goals 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, and 22, strengthening international cooperation and resource mobilization.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Cali Fund demonstrates strong alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals particularly Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and Goal 15 (Life on Land) by advancing fair and equitable benefit-sharing that supports global biodiversity.

UN Co-implementing partners

The Cali Fund is a partnership between the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Each partner contributes complementary strengths that ensures the Fund’s effective governance, transparency, and impact.