Capacity building

Driving local content and creating better outcomes

We use our expertise and global network to build capacity by mainstreaming marine biodiversity best practice, improving local knowledge and access to resources, and creating long-term local legacies.

We provide training and capacity building to a variety of stakeholders and at multiple levels. We support governments to mainstream biodiversity in their processes and decision-making. We also work with local groups to build capacity related to best practice international approaches and standards. Additionally, we support International Finance Institutions and private development organisations by providing training in biodiversity risk assessment and management.

Our capacity building approaches include in-person workshops, webinars, on-the-job support (in-person or remotely), developing online portals, creating guidance, and more, all tailored to specific client needs. We also collate best practice information and make this accessible to underpin capacity building and create mechanisms for long-term knowledge sharing. Additionally, we develop tools to support both scientists and non-scientists in their research implementation, such as our Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Indicator Tool, available to download in our Marine Toolbox.

A key outcome of our capacity building work globally is to reduce dependency on international experts by encouraging and building local content. Our approach ensures that projects not only meet international best practices but also foster local ownership and stewardship, creating lasting positive impacts for biodiversity and local people.

Some of the areas that we support

  • Understanding risks to marine biodiversity and identifying priority features

  • Assessing critical habitat

  • Good practice approaches to developing biodiversity baseline

  • Good practice approaches for biodiversity impact assessment, including strategic assessments

  • Support for delivering field research

  • Good practice approaches for applying the mitigation hierarchy and delivering effective mitigation

  • Biodiversity data resources and tools to support decision-making

  • Good practice for biodiversity-related stakeholder engagement

  • Designing and implementing net gains for marine biodiversity (including offsets)

  • Biodiversity management and action planning

  • Biodiversity monitoring and evaluation, including adaptive management

  • Assessing and managing risks to ecosystem services

  • Good practice for protected areas management

  • Framing understanding around nature positive

Our projects

Technical marine biodiversity capacity support

Saudi Arabia

Biodiversity safeguard standard capacity building

Maldives

Local capacity building for oil and gas development

Sierra Leone

Capacity building to support sea turtle research

Tunisia

Training to mainstream effective implementation of the mitigation hierarchy

USA