FIRE Argentina launched: a UNDP tool to facilitate biodiversity financing

4 July 2025, Buenos Aires, Argentina - The launch was attended by national and subnational authorities, private and development banks, civil society representatives, international cooperation agencies, and academics.

As part of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the FIRE Argentina platform was launched on Friday, July 4. This financing source search engine is designed to connect governments, organizations, and local communities with funding opportunities that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The launch event, held at the UNDP Argentina offices, was led by Carlos Arboleda, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Argentina. It featured presentations by Mariana Bellot, BIOFIN Global Senior Technical Advisor, and Nicolás Xanthopoulos, Latin America Environmental Finance Analyst, who introduced the platform and highlighted the importance of identifying available biodiversity financing sources.

Before an audience that included national and subnational authorities, private and development banks, civil society representatives, international partners, and academics, UNDP Argentina Programme Coordinator María Eugenia Di Paola delivered the closing remarks.

What is FIRE?

FIRE — short for Finance Resources for Biodiversity — is a platform that brings together more than 300 global public and private financing opportunities in one place.

The tool allows users to filter opportunities based on various criteria such as country, type of organization, available amount, or type of funding source, making it easier to identify resources tailored to each project’s needs.

The local version, FIRE Argentina, offers direct access to funding sources available within the country, along with key resources to enhance proposal quality and project implementation. Available materials include:

• Guides for effective proposals – with tools and recommendations for developing strong project proposals.
• ESG and gender standards – offering guidance on environmental, social, governance, and equity considerations.
• Trainings and events – featuring a calendar of sustainability and finance-related activities.
• Regulatory resources – compiling key local and international legal and regulatory frameworks.

A Guide to Nature Financing

With this initiative, BIOFIN and UNDP Argentina aim to strengthen local capacities to access funding, close the biodiversity finance gap, and support the development of projects that deliver a positive environmental impact.