Proposal Development: From observations to policy: Capacity building along the continuum from biodiversity monitoring to decision-support
| Project title | Proposal Development: From observations to policy: Capacity building along the continuum from biodiversity monitoring to decision-support |
| Implementing Institutions | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Denmark German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig (hosting the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Networks (GEO BON)), Germany United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) (including the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) which is still to confirm participation), UK Yale University (Map of Life), USA |
| Country(ies) | UK |
| Abstract | This activity will support the development of a proposal for a ‘future’ project on capacity building along the continuum from biodiversity monitoring to decision-support in a number of African countries. This ‘future’ project will address the priority IPBES Capacity Building Needs numbers 1, 2 and 4. This (and the ‘future’ project) is a collaboration between organisations with expertise in various areas of the above-mentioned continuum (see Framework.pdf). |
| Project Description | There is a perceived problem that policy- and decision-making processes do not take account of trends in biodiversity and ecosystem services. This is often due to inadequate tools, lack of capacity, and inability to bring together the various components that make up truly integrated systems for the observation, assessment and management of biodiversity. These components, e.g. observations and knowledge, essential variables for tracking change, sound data management practices, indicator development, assessments, and policy support tools, often lie in multiple sectors and in the care of various organisations. This discontinuity could be rectified through creation of integrated observation systems that allow a flow from biodiversity and ecosystem observations through to their use in policy/decision-making. Such a flow represents a sound end-to-end biodiversity observation system, allowing for adaptive management practices in the face of changes in biodiversity, ecosystems and their services. We aim to bring together the experts in these sectors to develop a proposal on capacity building along the continuum from biodiversity monitoring to decision-support in a number of African countries. Support for one face-to-face meeting of 12 experts is sought. The ‘future’ project would meet the following priority IPBES Capacity Building Needs: 1. Enhance the capacity to participate effectively in implementing the IPBES work programme, 2. Develop the capacity to carry out and use national and regional assessments, 4. Improve the capacity for access to data, information and knowledge. |
| Project Objectives and expected Achievables | Objectives 1. Develop a draft proposal for capacity building along the continuum from biodiversity monitoring to decision-support to help close data and knowledge gaps in a number of African countries. 2. To determine roles and responsibilities for further development of the proposal after the workshop, till completed. 3. Identify possible funding sources to target for support in implementation of the project. 4. To submit the proposal to possible funders. Outcomes (as linked to Objectives) a) A coherent, implementable project concept that is to have impact on capacity in biodiversity and ecosystems monitoring, assessment and decision-making in a number of African countries. b) An understanding of the roles of each of the partners in the ‘future’ capacity building project and agreement on responsibilities for various sections of the proposal to be completed after the workshop. c) An understanding of both the intended users/stakeholders and funders of the ‘future’ project. d) Potential funders informed of ‘future’ project and its need for support. Outputs (as linked to Outcomes) a) A zero-order draft proposal at the end of the workshop. b) A full proposal within 3 months of the workshop. c) A list of stakeholders to be engaged in the ‘future’ project as well as a list of potential funders. d) An appropriate version of the proposal as submitted to each of the target funders. Planned activities (to achieve Objectives) a) A four day face-to-face workshop to develop a draft proposal. b) Continued development and finalisation of the proposal following the workshop. This will be done using Skype, email, etc. c) Investigate options for funding. d) Submit proposal to target funders. |
| Timeframe | < 1 year |
| Geographic Scale | Sub-national |
| Seeking Resources for: | Project development |
| Type of Resources/Support needed: | Financial |