Capacity Building and IPBES

(Adapted from: National Capacity Self Assessments-a resource kit; UNDP 2004)

The functions to be performed in order to meet the requirements for the management of biodiversity and ecosystem services can be grouped as follows:

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  organizing and formulating policies, legislations, strategies and programmes;
  
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  implementing and enforcing policies, legislations and strategies, often through projects, notably by mobilising and managing all required resources;
  
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  building consensus and partnerships among all stakeholders;
  
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  mobilizing information and knowledge;
  
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  monitoring, evaluating, reporting and learning.
  

Capacity development is a process of change through which the system, institutions and individuals are strengthened in order to better perform the capacity functions. Capacity development in this context is defined as the process by which individuals, institutions and social systems increase their capacities and performance in relation to meeting each of the requirements for management of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Capacity development directly increases ability to meet requirements under the IPBES.

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  At the individual level, capacity development refers to the process of changing attitudes and behaviours, most frequently through imparting knowledge and developing skills through training. However it also involves learning by doing, participation, ownership, and processes associated with increasing performance through changes in management, motivation, morale, and levels of accountability and responsibility;
  
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  Capacity development at the institutional level focuses on the overall performance and functioning capabilities of an institution. This includes developing the mandates, the tools, the guidelines and the information management systems for the institution. It aims to develop its constituent individuals and groups, as well as its relationship to the outside. Institutions can be governmental or non -governmental, local or national, and formal or informal;
  
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  At the systemic level, capacity development is concerned with the creation of “enabling environments”, i.e. the overall policy, economic, regulatory, and accountability frameworks within which institutions and individuals operate. Relationships and processes between institutions, both formal and informal, are also important.
  

(Adapted from: National Capacity Self Assessments-a resource kit; UNDP 2004)

Name and country of the person completing questionnaire:
Type of organization that you work within:
Contact information in case we need further detail:
Assessing Capacity Constraints at the Systemic Level - Capacity building at the systemic level emphasises the overall policy framework in which individuals and organisations operate and interact with the external environment, as well as the formal and informal relationships of institutions.
Policy framework: Is the country’s overall policy environment supportive of biodiversity and ecosystem services? Is the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services fully recognised by all sectors of the economy? If no, what is needed?
Legal and regulatory framework: Is the appropriate legislation in place and are these laws effectively enforced? (These may be both formal and informal, such as cultural practices). If no, what is needed?
Management accountability framework: Are institutional responsibilities clearly defined and are responsible institutions held publicly accountable? If no, what is needed?
Economic framework: Has current economic challenges reduced the allocation of resources to your institution for biodiversity and ecosystem services management?
Systems level resources: Are the required human, financial and information resources available? (These may be in any or all of national and local government, private sector, and civil society – including NGO’s). If no, what is needed?
Processes and relationships: Do the different institutions and processes interact and work together effectively? (Including national and local government, private sector, and civil society). If no, what is needed?
Assessing Capacity Constraints at the Institutional Level - Capacity building at the institutional level focuses on the overall organisational performance and functioning capabilities, as well as the ability of an organisation to adapt to change. It aims to develop the institution as a total system, including individuals, groups and the organisation itself.
Mission/strategic management: Do the institutions have clearly defined and understood missions and mandates? If no, what is needed?
Culture/structure/competencies: Are the institutions effectively structured and managed? If no, what is needed?
Processes: Do institutional processes such as planning, quality management, monitoring and evaluation, work effectively? If no, what is needed?
Human resources: Are the human resources adequate, sufficiently skilled, and appropriately deployed? If no, what is needed?
Financial resources: Are financial resources managed effectively and allocated appropriately to enable effective operation? If no, what is needed?
Information resources: Is required information available, easily accessed, managed and effectively distributed? Is the biodiversity bioinformatics system in place and utilised? Is traditional knowledge utilised in decision making? If no, what is needed?
Infrastructure: Are material requirements such as buildings, offices, vehicles, computers, allocated appropriately and managed effectively? If no, what is needed?
Assessing Capacity Constraints at the Individual Level - Capacity building at the individual level refers to the process of changing attitudes and behaviours - imparting knowledge and developing skills while maximising the benefits of participation, knowledge exchange and ownership.
Job requirements and skill levels: Are jobs correctly defined; are the required skills available at your institution? If no, what is needed?
Training/retraining: Is the current level of trained staff appropriate? Are opportunities for retraining/further training utilised? If no, what is needed?
Accountability/ethics: Is responsibility effectively delegated and are individuals held accountable? If no, what is needed?
Access to information: Is there adequate and timely access to needed information? If no, what is needed?
Personal/professional networking: Are individuals in contact and exchanging knowledge and experiences with appropriate peers? If no, what is needed?
Performance/conduct: Is performance effectively measured or evaluated? Are there active attempts to guide and improve performance of staff? If no, what is needed?

Biodiversity/Ecosystem Specific Questions

Country’s biodiversity knowledge: 1.1 - Estimate the percentage of the country’s biodiversity that is known/described < 25% 25-50% 50-75% 75 – 100% - Which is/are the country’s most endangered ecosystems? What is/are the main pressure on biodiversity and ecosystem services loss? Has your country an Official List of Species? YES No Has your country an Official List of Endangered Species? YES No Has your country a List of Invasive Species? YES No

2. Please prioritize from 1 to 5 the list below, having as number 1 the main problem/bottleneck to increase biodiversity knowledge: Number of trained taxonomists Infrastructure for Biological Collections Biodiversity Bioinformatics Infrastructure Biodiversity Bioinformatics Personnel Difficult access to specialized literature (books & journals)

3. Biodiversity protection 3.1 - What is the percentage of each of your country’s ecosystem within Protected Areas? 3.2 - What is the percentage of the country’s Marine Protected Areas? 3.3 - What are the country’s categories of Protected Areas? 3.4 – Has your country specific Action Plans for protecting Endangered/Threatened Species?