Model letter of intent for a prospective GBIF Country Participant

Liam Lysaght
Chair of the GBIF Governing Board
GBIF Secretariat
Universitetsparken 15
2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
gbif@gbif.org

Dear Dr Lysaght, 
[Name of country] wishes to become [an Associate] [a Voting] Participant in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). We designate the following entity under our jurisdiction to sign the GBIF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and to represent the country on the GBIF Governing Board: 
[name of relevant Ministry, organization, etc]
Please send a copy of the MoU for signature to the following address: 
[name and postal address of the contact person] 
We confirm [the country] is in principle in agreement with the non-binding intentions listed in the MoU, in particular to establish a Participant Node, to encourage free and open access and use of biodiversity data, and to participate actively in the implementation of the GBIF Work Programme. 
[For those signing as Associate Country Participants] [We understand that according to the MoU, Associate Country Participant is a temporary category of up to five years’ duration from the date of signature. Within this period, the country may decide to become either a Voting Participant or an Observer; or may withdraw from GBIF. An Associate Country Participant may apply to the GBIF Executive Committee for an extension of the status if plans for moving to Voting Participant status cannot be accomplished within five years.] 
[For those signing as Voting Participants] [As a prospective Voting Participant, we express our willingness to make a financial contribution to GBIF as outlined in Paragraph 9 of the MoU, and to establish the details in a financial arrangement with the Secretariat. We understand that the suggested basic financial annual contribution for][the country][, stated in Euros, is as follows] 
[For year xxxx: €x; for year xxxx: €x; for year xxxx: €x]1
Yours sincerely,

Please refer all correspondence to: [contact person], email, phone and fax number.