Why Gender Matters
Biodiversity finance is most effective when it ensures that no one is left behind. Women, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and other key groups are often leading environmental stewards and are the most affected by biodiversity loss yet face barriers to accessing finance and decision-making. By embedding gender equality into finance solutions, BIOFIN helps countries design strategies that deliver stronger results for both people and planet.
Better for People and Planet
Advancing gender equality also strengthens biodiversity outcomes. When women and marginalized groups have voice, access, and agency, finance solutions become more effective, equitable, and sustainable - delivering lasting benefits for communities and ecosystems alike.
How We Work
BIOFIN supports countries in developing gender-responsive biodiversity finance plans and solutions that deliver measurable benefits for both people and planet. These solutions recognize the diverse roles and needs of women, men, and underrepresented groups, ensuring fair access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making, while aligning national women’s empowerment objectives and nature finance priorities.
Our approach builds on three interlinked principles:
- Access – expanding equitable access for women, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and underrepresented groups to biodiversity finance mechanisms, resources, and decision-making spaces.
- Opportunities – creating and strengthening pathways for women, Indigenous Peoples, and local actors to benefit from biodiversity finance through income generation, employment, entrepreneurship, and broader economic empowerment.
- Participation – ensuring women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities are meaningfully engaged and lead in planning, governance, and implementation processes.
Through these principles, BIOFIN works with partners to design inclusive mechanisms -from accelerators that finance SMEs connected to community livelihoods and women’s groups, to dedicated funding windows within conservation funds - ensuring that biodiversity finance drives both conservation impact and gender equality.
Countries are supported to integrate gender equality into biodiversity finance plans and solutions, aligning national priorities with global biodiversity goals. This is consistent with Target 23 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for gender equality and a gender-responsive approach in biodiversity action. BIOFIN also develops knowledge and tools - such as updated guidance and practical resources — to help countries put gender-responsive biodiversity finance into practice.
Resources
This hub brings together BIOFIN’s gender-related materials and highlights from the global conversation.
BIOFIN Gender Guidance (coming soon) – practical steps for integrating gender equality into biodiversity finance solutions.
- Stories of Impact – real-life stories of women and communities leading change in biodiversity finance.
- Insights & Analysis – blogs and articles connecting gender equality with biodiversity finance.
- Country Spotlights – case studies showcasing gender-responsive finance solutions in practice.
- Beyond BIOFIN – curated external events, reports, and articles on gender and biodiversity