The CIB is an inter-institutional Centre of Excellence established within the Department of Science and Technology Centres of Excellence Programme, and is co-funded by DST-NRF and the University of Stellenbosch.

Although the CIB is housed at the University of Stellenbosch, it does research work and student training with the help of a network of researchers at several South African universities and institutions. These include the University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of Venda, the CSIR, University of Johannesburg, South African National Parks (SANParks), South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Working for Water Programme.