The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs implements a diverse portfolio of capacity-building programmes and administers a number of trust funds. This publication provides an overview of these activities and the opportunities they represent for Member States. Capacity-building is essential to ensure that States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able to effectively implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and participate fully in global and regional ocean affairs and the law of the sea related processes. Potential project and trust fund donors will also find this publication of interest. For the latest information on the Division's capacity-building activities please visit www.un.org/oceancapacity