The role of the Participant nodes within GBIF has increased in importance since GBIF's inception, acquiring a new dimension as a more decentralised model is being implemented. Participant Nodes promote, coordinate, and facilitate the mobilisation and use of biodiversity data among all the relevant stakeholders within the Participant’s domain, primarily to help address the Participant’s information needs and priorities. To fulfil this role a Participant Node needs to develop capacity and expertise over a range of issues, including political, technical, scientific and administrative.

This training strategy is designed to cover the most relevant issues that will help Node Managers to develop the capacity described above for the successful establishment, management and consolidation of a Participant Node. The contents draw upon the experience gathered over the years from Participant Nodes worldwide, highlighting the most recent information, tools, best practices and resources.