A Biodiversity Planning Support Programme (BPSP) was established by UNDP and UNEP in 1999, with financial support from the GEF, to respond to the needs of Parties to strengthen national capacity to prepare and implement National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in compliance with Article 6 of the Convention. As a result of a joint effort between the BPSP, l'Institut de l'énergie et de l'environnement de la Francophonie and the Quebec Environment Ministry, the Guide to Developing a Biodiversity Strategy from a Sustainable Development Perspective was published in 2000.

Since 2002, the direction of capacity development work supporting synergies between the CBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD has been largely set by the GEF Strategic Approach to Enhance Capacity Building, one of the outcomes of the Capacity Development Initiative, a major review carried out in 1999-2000. A searchable database of the National Capacity Self-Assessment reports completed under this programme can be accessed via the UNDP NCSA webpages. In addition, a review of the entire NCSA programme has recently been released.