St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – 11 April 2026 – A stakeholder consultation was
convened on Friday, 10 April 2026, to support the integration of gender considerations
into Antigua and Barbuda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
The consultation formed part of an initiative supported by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) through the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, with
funding from the government of Canada. The project is being implemented by the
Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARDC).
The session brought together more than 30 participants representing government
agencies, civil society organisations, community groups, and biodiversity practitioners
to examine how gender perspectives can be more effectively reflected in biodiversity
planning and implementation across key sectors.
The consultation was facilitated by national consultant Mellissa Johnson, with
technical support from Refica Attwood, who assisted in stakeholder engagement,
coordination of consultation inputs, and documentation of perspectives shared during
the session. Together, the consultants guided discussions aimed at identifying genderrelated challenges affecting participation in biodiversity initiatives, validating
stakeholder groups engaged in biodiversity management, and highlighting
underrepresented actors whose contributions are important to achieving national
biodiversity objectives.
Participants engaged in structured discussions exploring gender roles within
biodiversity sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, natural resource management, and
community-based conservation. The consultation also provided an opportunity to
identify barriers to participation, highlight opportunities for more inclusive engagement,
and strengthen stakeholder input into the ongoing gender analysis supporting the
NBSAP update process.
Several stakeholder groups were identified as requiring stronger representation in
biodiversity planning and implementation processes, including small-scale farmers,
fishers, artisans, backyard gardeners, beekeepers, persons with disabilities, older
community members, landowners, and development stakeholders. Participants also
emphasised the importance of strengthening enforcement of existing environmental
legislation to support improved biodiversity management outcomes.
Feedback gathered during the consultation will inform the identification of priority entry
points for gender integration within the updated NBSAP framework and support the
development of practical recommendations to strengthen inclusive biodiversity
governance in Antigua and Barbuda.
GARD continues to invite input from stakeholders across sectors through the
Institutional Mapping Survey being conducted as part of the gender analysis
supporting integration into the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
Stakeholders are encouraged to share their perspectives by completing the survey
using the QR code below.
The organisers expressed appreciation to all participants for their valuable
contributions to advancing inclusive and sustainable biodiversity planning in Antigua
and Barbuda.
For additional support and information gathering, GARD asks for assistance in
completing the survey on Instructional Mapping by scanning the QR code below.
Stakeholders Engage in Consultation on Gender Integration in Antigua and Barbuda’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
