WHO Sociocultural Knowledge Exchanges with Indigenous Peoples on Biodiversity, Traditional Knowledge Systems, and Health

The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to identify a suitable contractor:

• To support Indigenous leadership on biodiversity conservation, management, and sustainable use, traditional knowledge systems, traditional medicine, and health through targeted knowledge exchange workshops. Anchored in the interlinked areas of traditional medicine, biodiversity, health and the rights of Indigenous Peoples—including their rights to self-determination, the protection and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources and the intellectual property rights related to traditional knowledge. By centring Indigenous worldviews, governance systems, and community-led solutions, these workshops will foster equitable engagement to support holistic understandings of health held by Indigenous Peoples, which are deeply interconnected with the natural world, to support their meaningful integration into global policy frameworks and decision-making processes.

• The knowledge exchange workshops align with the theme of the Second Global Traditional Medicine Summit, Restoring Balance for People and Planet (December 2025), demonstrating how Indigenous leadership, traditional knowledge systems and holistic worldviews contribute to health and environmental sustainability. These knowledge exchanges will emphasize equity and justice advancing the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from Indigenous knowledge systems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage; identify actionable pathways to address health disparities and advance sustainability; and showcase Indigenous leadership at the intersection of these interconnected areas.

• Additionally, the workshops will facilitate the systematic documentation of best practices, ensuring that successful Indigenous-led approaches to biodiversity conservation, traditional medicine, and ecosystem-based health strategies are identified, shared, and incorporated into relevant international policy discussions. These efforts will help to support implementation and knowledge of key international instruments at this intersection including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Article 8(j), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties on traditional knowledge

See detailed Terms of Reference and bidding instructions under “Documents” below. 

Please note: it is NOT necessary to click on “Express Interest” on the top right-hand side of the screen. In order to inform WHO that you are interested in participating in this Request for Proposals, please follow the provisions of the RFP document below.