FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Find answers to common questions about the MatchMaking Mechanism.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Find answers to common questions about the MatchMaking Mechanism.

 
GENERAL
GETTING STARTED
HOW THE MMM WORKS
COUNTRIES
SUPPLIERS
1. What is the MatchMaking Mechanism (MMM)?+
The MatchMaking Mechanism (MMM) is a core service of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership that connects country biodiversity needs with technical and financial partners to advance NBSAP implementation.
2. What problem does the MMM solve? +

The MMM addresses the misalignment between country needs and available support, while solving challenges that partners face in pursuing shared goals.

For countries on the demand side, the MMM helps solve:

  1. Fragmented offers of support
  2. High transaction costs in engaging multiple partners
  3. Pressure to negotiate before country priorities are clearly articulated

For partners on the supply side, the MMM helps solve:

  1. Fragmentation and high transaction costs
  2. Lack of visibility of country needs
  3. Inefficiency and uncertainty in the process of engagement with countries and partners
3. Is the MMM a digital platform? +
The MMM is more than a digital platform. It takes a people-centred approach, combining guidance and coordination with a digital infrastructure to enable partners to mobilise efficiently around shared priorities.
4. Is the MMM a funding mechanism? +

No. The MMM does not directly provide funding, manage funds, or guarantee financing. Instead, it:

  1. Connects country needs with relevant technical and financial suppliers
  2. Supports structured engagement between countries and suppliers
  3. Improves the conditions for technical and financial support to materialise
In some cases, requests may also be considered under the Accelerator Action Account, which helps bridge funding gaps for requests that do not immediately secure a match.
5. What is the Accelerator Action Account (AAA)?+
The AAA is a dedicated multi-partner trust fund (MPTF) established to provide reserve funding for the MMM. It helps bridge funding gaps for some requests that do not immediately secure a match.
6. Why is the MMM a neutral broker?+

The MMM is a neutral broker because it:

  1. Does not promote or endorse specific providers or funding sources
  2. Preserves country ownership over decisions and engagement
  3. Ensures fair and transparent access to country demand for partners
  4. Provides an independent and transparent process for interaction
  5. Coordinates engagement but does not take on an implementation role.
7. What is the MMM’s theory of change? +

The MMM’s theory of change states that if a nation’s biodiversity needs (demand) are articulated, centralised, and connected to the right partners (supply) through a transparent and coordinated process (the MMM), then engagement will become more efficient, less fragmented, and more likely to result in technical and financial support for strategic and effective NBSAP implementation.

This theory of change is expressed as three core pillars:

  1. Demand: Country-led biodiversity priorities, needs, and defined requests
  2. Supply: Technical, financial, and implementation resources
  3. MMM: The neutral connection point between demand and supply
8. What is a match? +
A match is a connection between a country and one or more partners interested in engaging around a defined need.
1. Who can submit a request for support? +
Requests for support can be submitted by an official representative of an NBSAP Accelerator Partnership country member, typically the designated focal point within the Ministry of Environment or the CBD.
2. Who can be a supplier for a request?+
All NBSAP Accelerator Partnership members can be suppliers on country requests for support. Members can be countries, institutions and non-state actors, including national or regional centers of excellence, international organizations, intergovernmental institutions, and NGOs.
3. Do I need to be an NBSAP Accelerator Partnership member to use the MMM? +
Yes, to use the MMM, countries and partners should first become members of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. Membership is free of charge.
4. How do I become a member? +

To become an NBSAP Accelerator Partnership member, follow these three steps:

  1. Review and commit to the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s 10 guiding principles.
  2. Confirm your alignment with relevant membership criteria in a signed membership request letter.
  3. Send the letter to membership@nbsapaccelerator.org.
Letter templates are available upon request at the email address above. Learn more here.
1. How does the MMM process work? +

Through the MMM, country-defined requests for support are developed, shared with relevant partners, matched through expressions of interest, and advanced through direct country-partner engagement.

The mechanism follows these general steps:

  1. Define: A country assesses and develops requests for support.
  2. Submit: A country submits requests for support to the MMM, with advisory input available to help clarify and articulate priorities where needed
  3. Share: Requests are centralised and distributed to a global network of technical, financial, and implementation partners, called suppliers.
  4. Match: Suppliers express interest. Countries review expressions of interest and determine whether to proceed.
  5. Finalize: After a match is finalized, suppliers and countries engage directly to define the next steps.
2. Are all matches bilateral? +
No, matches can involve multiple NBSAP Accelerator Partnership members.
3. What is the MMM dashboard? +

The MMM dashboard is a secure digital platform used to support visibility and engagement for members. It allows members to:

  1. View active country requests
  2. View active supplier profiles
  3. Filter requests by region, thematic focus, or type of support
  4. Express interest in engaging around a request
While the dashboard supports visibility and coordination, it does not replace direct engagement between countries and suppliers. Access details are shared directly with members.
4. How do I get more help? +
Reach out directly to the Global Coordination Unit at info@nbsapaccelerator.org.
1. How does a country submit a request for support? +
Countries interested in submitting a request for support should reach out to the MMM team at matchmaking@nbsapaccelerator.org to get started. The team will help clarify priorities and guide the process.
2. What type of support can be requested? +
Countries can request technical and financial support aligned with their biodiversity priorities and the 23 Global Biodiversity Framework targets. The types of support requested are flexible and can range from expert consultation to capacity building and development, knowledge exchange, project funding, policy planning, and project implementation.
3. How often can a country submit a request? +
Requests can be submitted at any time.
4. How long will it take for a country request for support to be distributed to potential partners? +
Requests for support through the MMM are typically distributed to potential partners (suppliers) quarterly.
5. How does the MMM engage with countries?+

Engagement is demand-driven and tailored to context. While the MMM does not provide or manage funding, negotiate agreements, or substitute for direct bilateral engagement between countries and partners, it does provide coordination and assistance in the process of matching. This may include:

  1. Guidance on structuring requests prior to sharing
  2. Identification of relevant partners
  3. Coordination of initial engagement and follow-up
1. What is a supplier? +
A supplier is a country, institution, or non-state actor that responds to a request for support with technical, financial, or other forms of assistance.
2. What is the value of the MMM for suppliers?+
  1. Access to a digital platform that centralises well-articulated, country-led requests for support on biodiversity action
  2. Independent, fair, and transparent access to country needs
  3. Greater visibility into regional and thematic demand insights and trend data
  4. Earlier engagement in national project pipelines
  5. Reduced transaction costs through aggregation, strategic alignment, and coordination
  6. Opportunity to bundle smaller requests and reduce administrative burden
3. What is expected of potential suppliers?+

Membership in the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is free of charge, and there are no formal requirements of members who are potential suppliers. These members are invited to respond to requests that align with their mandates and areas of expertise.

Engagement typically involves:

  1. Filling out a short, informational supplier form
  2. Reviewing requests shared through periodic communications or the MMM dashboard
  3. Indicating interest in engaging around a specific request
  4. Coordinating directly with the relevant country focal point if engagement proceeds
4. What is the supplier form? +
The supplier form is a short, informational form that feeds the MMM algorithm to highlight the expertise and service areas of suppliers.
5. How often are requests shared with suppliers?+
Requests are typically circulated quarterly, with ongoing updates available via the dashboard.