BIOFIN - UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative

#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

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

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

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

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

Gaborone recently came alive with energy and purpose as media professionals gathered for the First Africa Biodiversity Summit Media Training organized by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Botswana, and supported by UNDP through the BIOFIN - Biodiversity Finance Initiative project. The workshop was a strategic precursor to the upcoming African Union Summit in November, which Botswana will host under the theme “Leveraging Africa’s Biodiversity for #Prosperity.” The training was designed to equip journalists with the tools and insights needed to report on biodiversity with accuracy, depth, and creativity. Participants explored how to connect biodiversity to pressing issues like food security, economic resilience, and climate adaptation - making these stories relevant to everyday audiences. They also examined the role of media in tracking conservation financing and policies, ensuring transparency and accountability in how resources are allocated and used. A key focus of the workshop was amplifying the voices of Indigenous, marginalized, and local communities. By engaging with these groups, journalists can uncover authentic stories that reflect the lived realities of biodiversity and conservation across Africa. The training also encouraged a shift in narrative - highlighting innovative funding mechanisms such as green bonds and biodiversity offsets and showcasing the potential of nature-based solutions to drive prosperity. By the end of the workshop, media professionals left with a stronger scientific understanding and better prepared to cover the AU Summit and beyond - not just as observers, but as active contributors to Africa’s biodiversity journey. Africa’s biodiversity is more than a natural asset - it’s a foundation for inclusive growth, resilience, and opportunity. And with empowered media at the forefront, the continent is ready to tell its story like never before. #actlocalthinkglobal #Agenda2030 #Agenda2036