In December 2022, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), outlining ambitious goals, including restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems, conserving 30% of terrestrial and marine areas, and halting the human-induced extinction of threatened species by 2030. The GBF is ambitious–aiming to bring our collective society back into harmony with Nature. In support of the GBF’s ambitions, a coalition of countries and partners, under the initial leadership of Colombia and Germany, came together to envision a support mechanism that would help make the GBF a reality. 

Acknowledging the ambitious goals of many nations and the unique knowledge and capacity they bring to the table, the coalition sought to keep countries in the driver’s seat–aiming to support country-led action. They recognized the need for complementary support, to coordinate and accelerate country-led plans, especially as the GBF’s timeline gave nations just six years to implement their GBF commitments from the time of submitting national targets and NBSAPs at COP16 in 2024. They also saw a need for cross-cutting collaboration across government and society. These concepts formed the heart of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s mission and name.

In 2022, the group set up a task force and produced a nun paper reflecting its ideas and purpose. During this time, Germany became inspired by the mission and vision, seeing its potential and offering a pledge to help it launch. CBD, UNDP, and UNEP joined as operational partners, laying the framework for making the dream of an NBSAP accelerator a reality. 

In December 2022, as the High-level Segment of COP15 drew to a close, 23 governments and organizations announced their intent to form the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Belize, Chile, Colombia, EU Commission, France, Gabon, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Alliance International for Biodiversity-CIAT, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund. The group collectively acknowledged their intention of “setting-up of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership as a coalition of high ambition stakeholders to foster innovative global collaboration for accelerated action on biodiversity” and emphasized “the urgent need to strengthen the architecture of implementation mechanisms and collaboration at multiple levels to achieve the Vision of Living in Harmony with Nature by 2050 and to collectively achieve the new global goals and targets on biodiversity." 

In September 2023, on the margins of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership announced its operational launch, stepping into a new development phase and holding the first meeting of its steering committee. Since then, significant progress has been made in governance, membership, and resource mobilization, laying the groundwork for the core acceleration support programmes that support its global impact today. In October 2024, during COP16, in Cali, Colombia, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership formally announced the initiation of its foundational acceleration support–the MatchMaking Mechanism. Together with its Facilitator Programme, which places experts in countries to support implementation, the MatchMaking Mechanism fast-tracks connections, addresses obstacles, provides tailored solutions, and maximises impact.

As more countries, non-state actors, and institutions join the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, its impact grows. Each new member strengthens its collective ability to accelerate biodiversity action and forge a sustainable future. Together, through global cooperation, the vision of living in harmony with Nature by 2050 is within reach.