IUCN CEESP Environmental Governance, Equity and Rights Thematic Group

Jessica Campese is a long-time CEESP member with over 20 years' experience as a practitioner, researcher, and advocate in environmental governance and human rights-based conservation, with a focus on protected and conserved areas. She is also an active member of the ICCA Consortium’s International Policy Team. Her work includes collaboration with communities, civil society organisations, governments and others at local, national, and international levels, including in relation to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In recent years, she has also been collaborating on research exploring the governance of environmental research and data.

Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Memberships:  Alliance Nationale d’Appui et de Promotions des Aires et Territoires du Patrimoine Autochtone et Communautaire en RDC (ANAPAC-RDC); Indigenous Information Network (INN – Kenya); IUCN's CEESP Member; Member of the Steering Committee of Multilateral Mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of DSI, including the CALI FUND.   

Main events: Actively participated and contributed to UNEA-6, SBSTTA26 and SBI4; contributing member of a dynamic in the DRC that follows and participates with interest in the meetings on the implementation of the NBSAP and the drafting of the 7th Country Report on Biodiversity. 

Positively contributed to the Dialogues of Francophone and Anglophone African Countries on NBSAPs, took part in CBD COP16 and Climate COP29. 

Community Engagement: Engaged with grassroots communities in all three bio-cultural landscapes of DRC within the context of the IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) ICI Project funded by GEF-7 where he promotes equity and rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in the Conservation of Biodiversity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.