Fomento de capacidad

The term ‘capacity building’ generally constitutes the development of activities and materials that support the acquisition of specific knowledge and skillset to better understand and implement the provisions of the Convention.

Resolutions and Decisions

Oportunidades actuales en materia de fomento de capacidad

Recursos y oportunidades de apoyo al fomento de capacidad

International University of Andalucía (UNIA) Master’s Degree in Management and Conservation of Species in Trade

UNIA logo

Organized by the International University of Andalucía (UNIA), the UNIA Master's Degree in Management and Conservation of Species in Trade. The International Framework has been running since 1998 and has provided specialized quality training on the concepts, scientific bases, techniques and instruments that enable CITES implementation to hundreds of participants from over 100 countries. Many of the course participants are CITES authority officials.

The course, held every two years, consists of an on-campus period of 11 weeks in Baeza, Spain, followed by a research period of 9 months leading to the submission of a master’s thesis. The successful completion leads to the attainment of 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits and the Master’s Degree issued by UNIA, a public university in Spain.

Photos from the Master's course

Important dates regarding the 15th edition of the Master’s course:

  • Publication of course information through Notification to Parties: mid-2025
  • Pre-registration: 4 May-31 October 2025
  • Formal enrolment: 15 November-16 December 2025
  • On-campus period: 13 April-28 June 2026
  • Virtual period: 1 February-1 September 2026

Subject to the availability of external funds, the CITES Secretariat provides limited financial support to interested CITES officials from developing country Parties. Other financial support is available from the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development program (USAID WABiLED) for participants from West Africa.

Commemorative book "Master CITES: A success story of the Spanish cooperation (2019)"

Presentation on the Vision, Origins and Evolution of the CITES-UNIA Master