We are excited to announce the launch of the Open Data Champions Initiative, an effort to celebrate and elevate leaders worldwide who champion open data in the land sector. This initiative shines a spotlight on the incredible individuals dedicated to advancing data transparency and access, especially within the Global South. These champions are at the forefront of transformative change, harnessing the power of data to address critical land governance challenges.

We, rural women from across the world play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation due to our deep-rooted knowledge of local ecosystems, traditional agricultural practices, and community-centred approaches to resource management.

Here, at COP16 we come together to demand our rights to land, as they are critical to continue our conservation work. Secure land tenure is the foundation that allows us to invest in sustainable practices, protect natural resources, and maintain biodiversity.

• Investment in gender equality is declining and Indigenous and Afro-descendant women's rights organizations are especially marginalized.
• Between 2016 and 2020, of the $28.5 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) Funds designated to support women and girls, only 1.4% went to organizations working with Indigenous women.
• In 2018-2019, Afro-descendant women, girls and trans people received less than 0.5% of global funding.