The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to conserve and sustainably use biological diversity and share the benefits of genetic resources equitably. The 193 countries party to the CBD were revising their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) during the course of this project.

Done well, NBSAPs could help integrate poverty alleviation with environmental policy, plans and investment and support both development and biodiversity objectives. 

The first phase of the project, funded by the Darwin Initiative, focused on supporting four countries – Namibia, Uganda, Seychelles and Botswana – to revise their NBSAP, incorporating development concerns into the plan in order to support poverty reduction and social inclusion. This phase finished in March 2015 and much of the content on these pages reflects what was achieved and the experiences of the project members.

The second phase of the 'Mainstreaming biodiversity and development' project started in April 2015 and finished in March 2017. It aimed to take the lessons from the revision process into the NBSAP implementation phase, to engage with national development processes and build relationships beyond environment ministries. 

The project involved the original four countries and brought on board Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Zambia to expand the Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Development Africa Leaders' Group.

Working in collaboration with UNEP-WCMC, the project built capacity for biodiversity mainstreaming, developed tools, provided technical support and shared learning.