The term capacity development is defined by the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) as the process whereby people, organizations and society as a whole unleash, strengthen, create, adapt and maintain the ability to manage their affairs over time. Any intervention or activity purposely designed to contribute to the development or strengthening of the capabilities of people, institutions and systems is considered to be capacity-building.

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing, have identified capacity-building and development as a priority for the effective implementation of these three instruments, as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The CBD Secretariat has adopted a strategic, integrated and results-oriented approach to capacity development in accordance with decision XIII/23 and decision 14/24 of the Conference of the Parties (COP). Under this approach, it is recognized that the choice of tools and methodologies for delivering capacity development varies according to the needs and contexts of the target audience, and that the involvement of partner organizations and stakeholders is crucial to the success of any capacity development intervention.

The main role of the CBD Secretariat is to coordinate and facilitate capacity-building support to Parties for the effective implementation of the Convention and its Protocols, in accordance with relevant COP and COP-MOP decisions.