In the context of the Long-Term Strategic Framework for Capacity-Building and Development, the term capacity is described as the ability of people, organizations and societies as a whole to achieve the goals and targets related to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Capacity-building and development is understood as the process whereby people, organizations and society as a whole unleash, strengthen, create, adapt and maintain capacity over time to achieve positive biodiversity results at the enabling environment, organizational and individual levels.

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing, have identified capacity-building and development as a priority for the effective implementation of these three instruments, as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Role of the Secretariat

The main role of the Secretariat is to coordinate and facilitate capacity-building and development support to Parties for the effective implementation of the Convention and its Protocols, in accordance with relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocols (COP-MOP).

The COP, in its decision 15/8, adopted the long-term strategic framework for capacity-building and development to support nationally determined priorities for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The long-term strategic framework recognizes that the tools and methodologies to deliver capacity-building and development interventions may vary according to the needs and national context of the target audience. It also takes into account that the involvement of partner organizations and non-government actors, including indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth, is crucial for the success of any capacity-building and development intervention.