Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) is a 5-year, 3.9 million Euro programme funded by the European Union and led by GBIF (http://www.gbif.org/bid). Its aim is to increase the amount and use of biodiversity information available in the ACP countries of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. The funding will support capacity enhancement activities and projects to mobilize biodiversity data and strengthen national or regional biodiversity information facilities. BID focuses on data that supports policy needs, particularly in connection with protected areas, threatened species and invasive alien species. BID was launched in May 2015 at the Africa Rising Conference in Cape Town. About 100 delegates from 21 African countries, representing various biodiversity information stakeholders, deliberated on the theme: ‘Mobilising biodiversity information for sustainable development.’ The delegates drafted a ‘Declaration on Biodiversity Information for Development in Africa’ outlining a shared vision for 2030. GBIF is currently seeking input via surveys for data holders and decision makers—two stakeholder groups critical to the long-term success of the BID programme. African stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to the survey by 11 September 2015. A pre-announcement of the first call for proposals in Africa that GBIF plans to issue in September 2015 has been made. The call for proposals will provide biodiversity data mobilization grants at the national, regional, and individual institute or project level. For the latest update on the BID programme, also available in French and Portuguese, with reference to the pre-announcement, the survey, and the Declaration on Biodiversity Information for Sustainable Development in Africa please check the following link, http://www.gbif.org/bid/update-on-the-BID-programme-1 or contact BID@gbif.org.