Register to join the NFP Community on Biodiversity & Food Systems + Community Guiding Principles

In the set-up phase, this community operated as an open network without a formal membership structure. However, we have received many questions about what it means to be part of this community. To address this, NFP developed a draft and fine-tuned it after receiving strategic input from the community. The goal is to co-create a membership model that:

• Strengthens our collective identity as a community working on biodiversity - food system linkages

• Clarifies how members can engage and contribute

• Ensures the community remains responsive to members’ needs

Community objective

The NFP Biodiversity and Food Systems Community of Practice builds connections between food systems and biodiversity actors and existing networks to increase mutual understanding, agency, and capacity to collaborate and act upon biodiversity - food system interlinkages.

Each year a set of concrete community activities and products are co-created. This with the aim to contribute to changes in views, structures and practices that lead to stronger synergies between food and nutrition security and biodiversity. Our ambition is that this synergy will also lead to new partnerships. While we recognize that this community will not exist indefinitely, our goal is for it to serve as a dynamic and fruitful space that fosters meaningful collaborations. The community is envisioned to operate over a maximum three-year period, with annual assessments with the community of objectives and results. A more comprehensive evaluation and discussion on its future will take place in the third year, allowing partners to determine the next steps and potential long-term developments.

Guiding Principles

Our community is built on four core principles that shape how we work together:

• Co-ownership – Members play an active role in continuously shaping the community and take shared responsibility for its success.

• Transparency & Trust – A thriving community depends on open knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

• Inclusivity & Dialogue – We welcome diverse perspectives and knowledge systems, fostering dialogue over debate to move toward shared understanding.

• Diversity – Just as biodiversity strengthens food systems, a diverse community strengthens our impact. We seek diverse expertise, backgrounds, and perspectives to drive transformative change.

Membership Model

We will introduce a membership registration system that allows individuals and organizations to formally join the community. This will help clarify roles, enhance collaboration, and provide exclusive opportunities for members while maintaining an open and inclusive spirit. Members that join can be represented, if desired, on the NFP Connects Community to recognize and promote their contribution and shared ownership of this community.

One can choose between three types of membership:

• Supporting member
  You and/or your organisation receives updates on the community outputs/products and invitations to community events and the four network calls per year. With consent, your organization will be mentioned in our communications and on our NFP Connects Community Page
  

• Collaborative member
  You and/or your organisation participates in the co-development of community outputs/products, gain and share knowledge in the process, contribute to the agenda and network for community events and collaborate with other members in these activities. With consent, your organization will be mentioned on related community products and events as well as in our communications and on our NFP Connects Community Page.

• Strategic member
  You and/or your organisation actively contributes as an ambassador/advocate/champion on integrating biodiversity and food systems, joins in strategic thinking, connects the community with other partners/initiatives, co-facilitates parts of the community product development or/and has an active role in communications, publicity and/or events. As well as a role in drafting the NFP annual activity plans. With consent, your organization will be mentioned on community products, events, communications and on our NFP Connects Community Page.

Expectations

What Can You Expect from NFP?

• Opportunities to contribute and accelerate/ amplify your reach and impact—whether to working groups, knowledge-sharing efforts, or joint initiatives.
• Stronger connections and complementarities with other members, including access to exclusive community resources (e.g., member directories, shared interests concerning specific engagements).
• Four community meetings per year to connect and exchange insights, with a focus on gaining members' input on strategy and planning as we aim that this community answers to what would support the community in accelerating their impact.
• Regular email updates on activities, opportunities, and key developments.

What Can NFP Expect from You?

• Active engagement in community activities when relevant to your expertise or interests (e.g. joint strategic thinking, sensing & scoping of relevant opportunities, e-course contribution, use case contribution, innovation challenge, ‘bio-incubator’ expertise inputs).

• Openness to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices with fellow members.

• Commitment to the guiding principles—especially trust, inclusivity, and collaboration.

What Can You Expect from Each Other?

• A trusted network of peers working on biodiversity & food systems across different sectors.

• A space for knowledge exchange, building further partnerships, and joint learning.

• Opportunities to collaborate on initiatives that drive real impact.