OBIS workplan for 2026

The proposed work plan represents a realistic suite of activities that progresses the strategic aims of OBIS and aligns with the wider strategies of IOC. Where relevant, additional tasks have been identified that, where resources allow, will be integrated. You can get an overview of the workplan in our article here.

General objective

See OBIS objectives.

Governance

The OBIS Work Plan is implemented by the OBIS Secretariat with the active support from the community through the OBIS Coordination Groups, who report to the OBIS Steering Group. The OBIS Executive Committee monitors the implementation. The OBIS Steering Group sets the priorities.

Duration

Start date: 1 November 2025. End date: 31 October 2026.

Alignment with IOC

The OBIS Work Plan contributes to all five IOC high-level objectives.

Project outcomes

Outcome 1. Ensure an operational OBIS Nodes Coordination Group (NCG)

Improve communication and promote exchanges between OBIS Nodes, and between the OBIS Nodes and the Secretariat.

Performance indicators

• KPI 1.1: At least five online dual-session meetings scheduled through October 2026.
• KPI 1.2: Number of OBIS Nodes participating per meeting, with a minimum of 10.
• KPI 1.3: High percentage of OBIS Nodes actively presenting or leading discussions during NCG meetings, with a target of 60 per cent per year.
• KPI 1.4: Number of reported inter-Node collaborations not covered by the Node-to-Node programme, supported or initiated by the NCG, with a target of 10 per year.
• KPI 1.5: High percentage of OBIS Node satisfaction with communication and support from the NCG, with a target of 80 per cent per year.

Deliverables

• D1.1: Meeting minutes shared through a public portal via the OBIS website.
• D1.2: A revised version of the NCG meeting to give more space to Node-to-Node communication (standing deliverable).
• D1.3: An improved OBIS Pulse newsletter to help circulate information horizontally among Nodes.
  
  

Outcome 2. Create and adopt communication tools to leverage the visibility of the Nodes and their contributions

Performance indicators

• KPI 2.1: Number of OBIS Nodes using and adapting the communication toolkit to reach their institutions and funders, with a target of 50 per cent of the OBIS Nodes.
• KPI 2.2: High satisfaction with the development of communication kits that fit the needs of OBIS Nodes, with reported Node satisfaction of 80 per cent as reported in the annual OBIS Nodes engagement survey.

Deliverables

• D2.1: Create a building block-based communication toolkit aimed at funders, backers, and host organizations, that can be adapted to each OBIS Node.
  
  

Outcome 3. Improve and track capacity among OBIS Nodes

Performance indicators

• KPI 3.1: Number of reported Node-to-Node mentoring activities established annually, with a target of 10.
• KPI 3.2: Number of FAQ entries, with a target of 20.
• KPI 3.3: Number of OBIS Nodes who report having filled capacity gaps in the last year through NCG-led actions, with a target of 6.

Deliverables

• D3.1: Create an onboarding roadmap and process for new OBIS Nodes, in association with the OBIS Secretariat and the OBIS Nodes.
• D3.2: Set up the Node-to-Node programme, in association with the OBIS Secretariat and the OBIS Nodes.
• D3.3: Create a process to capture essential capacity-related discussions across communication channels and save them to a FAQ.
• D3.4: Create a central Node Knowledge Repository on the OBIS website to document processes, tools, and skills available for each Node. The Repository will be co-designed with the OBIS Nodes.

Outcome 4. Ensure an operational Data Coordination Group (DCG)

Performance indicators

• KPI 4.1: At least five dual online sessions scheduled through October 2026.
• KPI 4.2: Every two months, within the DCG, undertake a dynamic task reprioritisation exercise to ensure ongoing strategic alignment and effective resource allocation.

Deliverables

• D4.1: Meeting minutes shared through a public portal via the OBIS website.
• D4.2: Share within the DCG the list of prioritised activities for bi-monthly review and endorsement.
  
  

Outcome 5. Review and support the alignment and adoption of data standards, specifications, and publication mechanisms

Performance indicators

• KPI 5.1: Two online workshops delivered by the end of 2026, each with at least 10 participants.
• KPI 5.2: Support plan for WoRMS annotation completed and approved by both the OBIS DCG and the WoRMS Data Management Team by June 2026, with defined targets and responsibilities.
• KPI 5.3: Planned approach to indexing DwC-DP, with documentation completed and validated by the OBIS Data Coordination Group by June 2026, including defined indexing approach, implementation roadmap, and resource needs.
• KPI 5.4: Planned approach, implementation plan, and timeline on incorporating standardized methods to quantify, track, and report EOV data coverage and trends within OBIS, developed and approved by the SG-OBIS by October 2026.
• KPI 5.5: Implementation plan for the creation of an eDNA data management course, including a course outline and delivery timeline, by October 2026.

Deliverables

• D5.1: Deliver two workshops to advance adoption of data standards within OBIS.
• D5.2: Document a plan to support the WoRMS Data Management Team in OBIS taxon annotation improvements.
• D5.3: Document a DwC-DP indexing strategy in collaboration with GBIF.
• D5.4: Design and document an approach, implementation plan, and timeline to quantify and monitor EOV data within OBIS.
• D5.5: Review OBIS guidelines on eDNA data, and plan and document training that will improve knowledge and eDNA data delivery within the OBIS network.
  
  

Outcome 6. Ensure an operational Products Coordination Group (PCG)

Performance indicators

• KPI 6.1: At least five dual online sessions scheduled through October 2026.

Deliverables

• D6.1: Meeting minutes shared through a public portal in collaboration with the other Coordination Groups.

Outcome 7. Robust operational deployment of the OBIS Products Catalogue

Performance indicators

• KPI 7.1: Indicators for international efforts aligned with OBIS priorities are available for application to registered Products in the OBIS Products Catalogue.
• KPI 7.2: Data products created by the OBIS Secretariat as well as OBIS Nodes are registered in the OBIS Products Catalogue.
• KPI 7.3: Products from the OBIS Products Catalogue are available for harvest by ODIS.

Deliverables

• D7.1: OBIS Products Catalogue is officially deployed with OBIS styling and is integrated into the OBIS domain as part of the operational OBIS ecosystem.
• D7.2: OBIS Products Catalogue schema extension for data product indicators meeting international policy outcomes (e.g., KM-GBF, CBD, WOA), in collaboration with partners and partner networks.
• D7.3: Active GitHub repository for monitoring and incorporating feedback from OBIS Nodes on appropriate language and nomenclature for metadata.
• D7.4: Training material describing how OBIS uses the OBIS Products Catalogue, and indicating which data products should carry international policy indicators.

Outcome 8. Data product pilot showcasing OBIS’s ability to serve national policy outcomes and highlight the richness of available data in OBIS’s national and regional Nodes

Performance indicators

• KPI 8.1: Data products expressing species richness or species-specific distribution models are available for OBIS Nodes and regions to implement.

Deliverables

• D8.1: Develop a set of data products focused on serving national policy outcomes as an example of OBIS’s suitability in informing national-scale biodiversity strategies.