- Pelecanus onocrotalus (White Pelican)
The Capacity Enhancement Programme for Developing Countries (CEPDEC) is a GBIF initiative that helps create effective capacity in developing countries to integrate the use of biodiversity data in education, science and decision-making at all levels.
Acting as an umbrella for projects conducted in individual countries or groups of countries, CEPDEC builds upon the efforts of multiple partners, who together focus on helping developing countries move toward a sustainable future. It also works to foster communication among science, policy and society by enabling them to better access, manage, share and use biodiversity data.
A CEPDEC project generally is a partnership among the government of a developing country, development agencies and other donors in developed countries, the scientific community, biodiversity stakeholders, decision makers and GBIF.
Countries involved in CEPDEC will be able to better meet national obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity and respond to issues such as poverty alleviation, environmental stability and other Millennium Development Goals.
Who can participate in CEPDEC?
Governments in developing countries can mobilise national and international support, establish a GBIF Node, implement a national biodiversity information network, and encourage their scientists to interact with their international peers.
Development agencies and other donors can, through CEPDEC, help developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals, particularly where biodiversity plays a key role in the livelihoods and well-being of local communities.
Through CEPDEC, the scientific community has a great opportunity to expand scientific activities, explore new avenues for research based on data sharing, find new areas of application, mentor scientists and students in developing countries, share know-how and best practices, and deliver benefits to other sectors of society.
Governments of industrialised countries can contribute to CEPDEC in a range of ways, including supporting projects that lead to the repatriation of data to developing countries, transferring technologies and sharing scientific expertise.
