South Sudan
South Sudan is home to some of Africa’s most extensive and relatively intact ecosystems, including vast wetlands, savannahs, forests and floodplains that support globally important wildlife and millions of people. The Sudd, one of the world’s largest freshwater wetlands and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, is central to the country’s ecological and economic landscape. A major aerial wildlife survey conducted in 2024 also documented an extraordinary concentration and movement of migratory wildlife across the country.
Natural resources are fundamental to livelihoods in South Sudan, with more than 80% of the population depending directly on them. Yet biodiversity is increasingly under pressure from deforestation, unsustainable resource use, climate change and the impacts of prolonged conflict. Biodiversity finance remains limited and fragmented, with conservation heavily dependent on international support and relatively limited domestic resources.
South Sudan’s first National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan identified approximately US$118 million in financing needs. UNDP BIOFIN is supporting the Government to build a clearer picture of biodiversity expenditure, financing needs, policies and institutions and to identify opportunities for strengthening and diversifying finance for nature.
Through the Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity Expenditure Review and Financial Needs Assessment, BIOFIN will provide the evidence for South Sudan’s first Biodiversity Finance Plan. The Plan will identify and prioritize practical, conflict-sensitive finance solutions that can support national biodiversity priorities and implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
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Finance solutions
Although the BIOFIN initiative is largely exploratory, it presents an opportunity to consider a range of innovative financing mechanisms, such as carbon markets and payment for ecosystem services. The BIOFIN team is currently conducting a Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) across key sectors, including Government ministries and agencies, the private sector, development and UN agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia and research institutions, and community actors. The review will analyse the existing policies, institutional frameworks, and biodiversity-related expenditures to identify gaps and initial opportunities for innovative financing mechanisms that are suitable for South Sudan.
Key results
Launching the BIOFIN Process in South Sudan
BIOFIN South Sudan formally launched its national process through an inception workshop on 11 June 2026, bringing together 56 stakeholders from government institutions, development partners and UN agencies, civil society, financial institutions, media and academia. The workshop established a shared understanding of the BIOFIN process and strengthened coordination around national biodiversity finance priorities.
Aligning Biodiversity Finance with National Biodiversity Planning
The BIOFIN process is being closely coordinated with the revision of South Sudan’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and preparation of the Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, helping connect biodiversity targets with the financial resources and implementation mechanisms needed to achieve them.
Establishing a Roadmap for the First Biodiversity Finance Plan
Stakeholders agreed on an implementation roadmap to advance the core BIOFIN assessments and development of South Sudan’s first Biodiversity Finance Plan, creating a structured pathway from biodiversity finance diagnostics to the identification and prioritization of practical finance solutions.
Mobilizing National Expertise for Biodiversity Finance Assessments
Three technical experts have been recruited to support the Policy and Institutional Review, Biodiversity Expenditure Review, Financial Needs Assessment and Biodiversity Finance Plan, enabling the country to begin building its first comprehensive biodiversity finance evidence base.
Strengthening National Coordination for Biodiversity Finance
Coordination arrangements are being developed to bring together government institutions and other key stakeholders throughout the BIOFIN process. Terms of Reference have been prepared for a National Steering Committee and Technical Working Group, providing the basis for stronger institutional coordination and technical oversight.
Building on South Sudan’s Biodiversity Financing Needs
South Sudan’s first NBSAP identified approximately US$118 million in biodiversity financing needs. The new BIOFIN assessments will update and strengthen the evidence on expenditure, financing needs and gaps to inform future resource mobilization and investment priorities.