Growing up across cities and small villages in Türkiye gave Onat Ülker, BIOFIN Project Management Associate, a deep appreciation for the richness of nature and a lifelong passion to protect it. In his latest blog, Onat shares how his journey with UNDP BIOFIN turned from managing budgets and systems into something much more profound: building connections, solving challenges together, and learning from the incredible diversity of countries and people that make up the BIOFIN community. From late-night budget planning calls with Latin America to capacity-building workshops across continents, Onat reflects on the creativity, teamwork, and adaptability that keep global initiatives like BIOFIN thriving. “BIOFIN is like a mosaic of small yet powerful initiatives,” he writes. “Every country adds its own piece to the picture.” Read his story: https://lnkd.in/dB-bwekD
BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative
Non-profit Organizations
New York, New York 26,587 followers
Transforming Finance for Nature — empowering 130+ countries to invest in their natural capital.
About us
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) is a global partnership, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working with over 130 countries to develop and implement finance solutions for nature. BIOFIN helps governments identify, mobilize, and align public and private financial flows to close the biodiversity finance gap and integrate biodiversity into national planning, budgeting, and economic policy. As traditional development aid continues to decline, the need for more catalytic funding models has never been greater. Finance for finance — the strategic use of limited donor resources to unlock much larger pools of public and private finance — offers a critical pathway forward. BIOFIN has deployed the finance-for-finance approach in 41 countries to catalyze over US$1.6bn for nature since 2018. Small catalytic investments in policies, financial structures, and incentives have unlocked far larger sustainable finance flows, making the ‘finance for finance’ model a proven accelerator for countries aiming to meet their biodiversity and development goals.
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https://www.biofin.org/
External link for BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 201-500 employees
- Headquarters
- New York, New York
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2012
- Specialties
- biodiversity finance, nature finance, conservation, green finance, green bonds, subsidies, and biodiversity
Locations
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Primary
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One United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 USA
United Nations Development Programme
New York, New York 10017, US
Employees at BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative
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Jean Pierre Morales Aymerich
Especialista en Economía Azul y Verde
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Hilton Msamali
Environmental & Biodiversity Finance│ Development Finance│ Fiduciary Assessments| Chartered Accountant
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Monica del Carmen Navas Males
Legal Specialist |Environmental Law| Financial Law| Finance for Biodiversity| Bioeconomy| Energy Efficiency| Gender
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Marilu Chahua Torres
Experta en gestión de recursos naturales, recursos hídricos y biodiversidad
Updates
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BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative reposted this
Vanuatu Leads the Way in Biodiversity Finance! Vanuatu has officially launched its First Inception Workshop for the BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative becoming the first BIOFIN country in the Pacific to achieve this significant milestone, Organised by UNDP BIOFIN in #Fiji, in partnership with the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation and supported by the Global Environment Facility, this event brought together representatives from government institutions, civil society, NGOs, and statutory bodies. The workshop was opened by Senior Officer Dean Wotlan, who emphasized that the BIOFIN project presents a transformative opportunity for Vanuatu to align its financial resources with biodiversity conservation goals. It will also guide our efforts in mobilizing the necessary funds for protecting our unique biodiversity. Key Outcomes from the Workshop: ✅ Shared Understanding: Participants gained insights into the BIOFIN strategy, methodology, and expected results. ✅ Governance Structure: The governance framework was confirmed, utilizing the National Biodiversity Finance Working Group as the advisory platform for BIOFIN. ✅ Work Plan: Stakeholders Drafted Year 2026 Work Plan, aligning it with BIOFIN's biodiversity goals. ✅ Stakeholder Mapping: Initial mapping and policy/expenditure review priorities were identified, paving the way for collaborative action. ✅ M&E Framework: A robust Monitoring & Evaluation framework was established, featuring national reporting linkages. This inception workshop sets an example for other countries in the Pacific region. Meaningful steps are being taken to protect our precious biodiversity and secure sustainable financing for natural resources.
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“The idea for the ecotourism course came as a natural outcome of our expeditions under UNDP projects, during which we visited most of the country’s national parks and reserves. We saw the challenges firsthand, drew conclusions, studied international experience, and realized that this knowledge must be shared with students,” says Alexandr Artemyev, Professor and Head of the Sustainable Tourism Laboratory at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. With support from UNDP Kazakhstan through its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (#BIOFIN), the first university course on #ecotourism was developed and launched at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. In the future, the course will be scaled up to other universities across #Kazakhstan. Professor Artemyev played a key role in developing the course. He emphasizes that tourism cannot exist without environmental safety. As the number of visitors to natural areas grows, it becomes essential to adopt modern measures such as eco-trails, visitor quotas, and digital logistics systems to manage human impact effectively. Since 2021, the number of tourists visiting Kazakhstan’s national parks has increased by 20%, reaching 2.8 million in 2024. This growing interest in nature tourism highlights the urgent need for sustainable management and for training future leaders who can balance tourism growth with biodiversity conservation. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dR_EkeHE Photos: UNDP Kazakhstan / Roman Liberchuk
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BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative reposted this
#TBT to earlier this week… What happens when Rwanda’s financial institutions and government join forces for nature? Earlier this week, together with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority REMA, we convened banks, insurers, and private sector leaders to co-create solutions for mainstreaming biodiversity into finance and business practices, from designing green loan products to exploring insurance models that protect natural assets. The discussions built on findings from the Rwanda Readiness Assessment for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which highlighted opportunities to strengthen governance, data, and risk management for nature-related financial disclosures. The workshop marked an important step toward integrating biodiversity into Rwanda’s financial decision-making, in line with the Climate and Nature Finance Strategy (2024–2030). Because when nature thrives, so does our economy. Read more in the policy brief 👉 https://bit.ly/4owZ58T BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative
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BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative reposted this
Kenya’s commercial and microfinance banks, insurers, manufacturers, and regulators are collaborating with UNDP KENYA BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative, WWF-Kenya and Kenya Bankers Association to build capacity on the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Framework , which links nature, risk, and finance. Together, we are advancing nature-positive finance, strengthening resilience, and guiding capital to sustainable outcomes. #NatureInFinance 🙏 International Climate Initiative
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BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative reposted this
Environmental & Green Finance | Development Finance | Chartered Accountant | Agribusiness Mentor | Farmer |
𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 Its been yet another fruitful week on mission to launch the BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative in Sierra Leone. Many thanks to the Government of Sierra Leone led by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for this partnership with UNDP Sierra Leone to flag off the BIOFIN Initiative with financial support from the Global Environment Facility . Wish to also thank the stakeholders that turned up for our capacity-building sessions as a precursor to the National Launch. To the leadership at UNDP Sierra Leone , kudos for the excellent reception and preparations for a series of events during the week. Onno van den Heuvel Martin Cadena Mariana Bellot Jose Chongo
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Join the crowdfunding campaign to protect the Cuban #crocodile! 🐊 The Crocodylus rhombifer (Cuban crocodile) is an endemic species found only in the wild ecosystem of Ciénaga de Zapata, Matanzas, #Cuba. Its survival is increasingly threatened by human activity, climate change, and habitat loss. But there’s hope — through research and urgent conservation action, we can help protect this unique species. By monitoring Cuban crocodiles in their natural habitat using satellite GPS tracking devices, the team in Cuba can follow their movements and better understand their behavior to ensure their protection. Your donation will help purchase and install satellite tags to track their movements and support ongoing conservation work. 👉 Donate now: https://lnkd.in/dDNi6KwE 🔗 Spread the word and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/d7WYkJ9W PNUD Cuba Every.org
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BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative reposted this
On 21–22 October, BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative joined the FSP Design Lab, an intensive, hands-on workshop funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ Namibia) through ProBATS II, in partnership with CEFE International and the NIFA Academy. The workshop brought together Namibia’s financial service providers to co-create ESG-aligned financial products for youth-led, informal, and biodiversity-linked enterprises, reimagining inclusive finance for a sustainable future. The #BIOFIN project lead, Ms. Bernadette Shalumbu-Shivute, shared insights on UNDP’s mandate, the Biodiversity Finance work in Namibia, and opportunities for local collaboration in designing financial solutions that respond to emerging #MSME needs. #UNDPinNamibia #BiodiversityFinance #InclusiveFinance #SustainableDevelopment Bernadette Shalumbu-Shivute Frida Frans Hendrina Shikalepo BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative Bruno Mweemba Amanda K. S. Christian Shingiro UNDP Kuna-Ndjambi Meroro Mupurua Ronja Fischer Global Environment Facility
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“Community-based finance solutions like Hòn Yến demonstrate how gender equality and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. When women gain opportunities and voice, entire communities benefit -and so does nature. Supporting them is not only fair, but also the foundation of resilience.” — Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in #VietNam . In Hòn Yến, women are leading efforts to protect coral reefs while strengthening local livelihoods — proving that inclusive finance can deliver results for both people and planet. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dTEWHV4S UNDP in Viet Nam jasmin blessing
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BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative reposted this
As we look back on last month’s 3rd National Symposium for Community-Led Initiatives on Environment Sustainability, one memorable moment stands out, when participants joined a field visit to the Kalokolevu Biodiversity Park to plant trees and witness community-led conservation in action. Established through local stewardship in 2021, the Kalokolevu Biodiversity Park is one of Fiji’s community-managed conservation areas showcasing how traditional knowledge and modern solutions can work hand in hand to protect biodiversity and support sustainable livelihoods. Led by the Ministry of Forestry and supported by the BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative visit brought together youth, women, and Indigenous representatives alongside UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Deputy Resident Representative, Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov. Each tree planted was a collective commitment to safeguard Fiji’s natural heritage and strengthen the connection between communities and the environment. UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme Fiji
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