UNDP, in partnership with the Secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and its Global Mechanism, invites governments to express interest in joining the GEF-funded project: "Strengthening Rio Synergies: Aligning Climate, Biodiversity and Land Policy & Finance through Food Systems."

About the project

This two-year project will support up to three selected countries in strengthening coordination and implementation across the three Rio Conventions through a food systems approach. Working with UNDP, the Rio Convention Secretariats and other partners, countries will receive tailored technical support to strengthen policy coherence, governance, institutional coordination and sustainable finance, while identifying practical opportunities to advance climate, biodiversity, land and food systems objectives together.

Benefits for participating countries

• Tailored technical assistance to strengthen integrated implementation of commitments under the UNFCCC, CBD and UNCCD through a food systems approach
• Support to strengthen interministerial coordination and whole-of-government approaches
• Information on innovative sustainable finance approaches and investment-screening tools
• Participation in peer learning, knowledge exchanges and technical events
• Access to global guidance, tools and frameworks supporting planning, implementation, reporting and resource mobilization under the Rio Conventions
• Opportunities to develop and demonstrate approaches that can be replicated and scaled in other countries

Selected countries will receive support over a 24-month implementation period for technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, capacity strengthening and implementation support tailored to their national priorities.

Who can apply?

The Expression of Interest should be submitted by the Government, with support from the relevant UNDP Country Office and Rio Convention focal points, as appropriate.

Countries should demonstrate:

• Active engagement under all three Rio Conventions and in relevant national policy and planning processes
• Existing coordination mechanisms that the project can build upon
• Commitment to involve environment, agriculture, finance and planning authorities
• Concrete opportunities to generate benefits across climate, biodiversity, land and food systems priorities
• Readiness to explore sustainable finance and financing reforms
• Potential to generate lessons and approaches that can be replicated and scaled

Regional balance will also be considered.

Application process

Interested countries are requested to complete the online Expression of Interest Questionnaire here and upload a Letter of Interest signed by the relevant government institution.

Application deadline: September 1st, 2026.

For questions, please contact:

Goetz Schroth: goetz.schroth@undp.org

Zaha Chowdhury : zaha.chowdhury@undp.org