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By Christophe Uwizeyimana
The city of Kigali is this week hosting a major international conference that is bringing together more than 150 biodiversity finance experts and senior government officials from over 55 countries across Africa and the Arab States. The goal: to transform conservation commitments into concrete financial investments that deliver tangible results for people and the planet.
Organized by the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), the three-day 11th Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance is placing nature at the center of economic planning. The event marks a shift from identifying financial gaps to implementing practical solutions like green bonds, nature-based insurance, and biodiversity credits, customized to national needs.
“Rwanda is proud to host this dialogue on biodiversity finance,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority. “This is a vital step toward transforming biodiversity from a conservation ideal into a pillar of sustainable development.”
A Growing Global Movement
With support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), over 40 countries, many attending the dialogue for the first time are now joining UNDP-BIOFIN’s global partnership, which has grown to include 133 countries. This expansion signals growing recognition that biodiversity finance is not just about funding nature, but also about building resilient economies.
“Africa and the Arab States now represent the fastest-growing regions in the BIOFIN family,” said Onno van den Heuvel, Head of Nature Finance at UNDP. “Through innovative financing tools and strong cross-sector partnerships, we are showing that protecting ecosystems can go hand-in-hand with inclusive economic development.”
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility, added that scaling biodiversity finance is about “transforming systems, not just mobilizing funds.” He praised the momentum from countries that are taking ownership and investing in solutions with catalytic support from partners like the GEF and UNDP.
Rwanda Leads by Example
Throughout the conference, participants are learning from successful finance innovations already underway:
- Rwanda introduced IremboPay, a digital system that streamlines environmental fine collections. The initiative has raised over US$122,000 to be reinvested via the Rwanda Green Fund.
- Botswana restructured its protected area fees, increasing conservation revenue by over US$7 million.
- Zambia issued a US$200 million green bond in 2023, with US$150 million already directed toward renewable energy and biodiversity.
- South Africa launched 16 finance solutions including harmful subsidy reform, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity job creation.
- Egypt developed a sustainable tourism-based model to generate revenue from protected areas.
“Biodiversity is not just a moral obligation, it’s critical infrastructure,” emphasized Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda. “Rwanda’s example proves that when bold leadership meets smart innovation, conservation can fuel inclusive, sustainable development.”
Financing a Sustainable Future
Despite Africa and the Arab States being home to some of the world’s richest ecosystems, biodiversity in these regions remains underfunded. Globally, the biodiversity finance gap exceeds US$700 billion annually. As traditional aid shrinks, new models like “finance for finance”are emerging. This approach strategically uses limited public funds to unlock significantly larger pools of private and institutional capital.
Since 2018, BIOFIN’s finance-for-finance model has catalyzed over US$1.6 billion for biodiversity in 41 countries.
The dialogue is also addressing harmful subsidies that contribute to environmental degradation. Countries are now actively identifying and reforming spending practices that unintentionally incentivize nature loss an effort that can both reduce fiscal burdens and protect ecosystems. Additionally, the private sector is increasingly being recognized as a key player. Through tools like biodiversity offsets, benefit-sharing agreements, and blended finance instruments, businesses are being encouraged to align their operations with nature-positive practices.
“A global shift to nature-positive economies could unlock up to US$10 trillion in new business opportunities,” according to UNDP’s Nature Pledge, which supports 140 countries in achieving global biodiversity goals.
Toward the Kunming-Montreal Goals
The Kigali dialogue is feeding directly into the global momentum behind the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. By moving from planning to action, countries are laying the groundwork for resilient, nature-positive economies that balance ecological health with economic growth.
About the Partners:
- UNDP is the UN’s lead agency on sustainable development, working in over 170 countries to tackle poverty, inequality, and climate change.
- The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the world’s largest multilateral environmental fund, having provided over US$26 billion in grants and mobilized US$148 billion in co-financing since its inception.
- BIOFIN is UNDP’s global partnership helping countries design and implement finance strategies for biodiversity, working with over 130 nations.
Photo: Bird wading through the calm waters of a wetland in Akagera National Park/UNDP-Rwanda
Photo: Hippos resting by the water’s edge in Akagera National Park//UNDP-Rwanda
