Nature-Finance Innovations Take Centre Stage at Africa and Arab States Conference in Kigali

KIGALI, Rwanda – 25 June 2025 - More than 150 biodiversity-finance experts and senior government officials from over 55 countries across Africa and the Arab States are meeting in Kigali this week to showcase innovative nature finance solutions and turn conservation plans into investments that deliver results for people and planet.

Hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP-BIOFIN), the three-day 11^th Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance marks a decisive shift from mapping funding gaps to rolling out finance solutions - such as green bonds, nature-based insurance and biodiversity credits - tailored to national priorities.

"Rwanda is proud to host this dialogue on biodiversity finance,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General, Rwanda Environment Management Authority. “As custodians of one of the world’s richest ecosystems, we believe in the power of innovative solutions to transform our biodiversity commitments into tangible action. This dialogue is a vital step in creating a future where biodiversity is not just preserved but becomes a cornerstone of sustainable development. Together, we can build economies that thrive in harmony with nature," she said.  

Photo: Juliet Kabera, Director General, Rwanda Environment Management Authority.

With support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), more than 40 countries in the two regions are joining the dialogue for the first time, laying the foundation for long-term financing plans that align national development priorities with the global biodiversity agenda.

“Scaling biodiversity finance is not just about mobilizing funds - it’s about transforming systems,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility. “The momentum we see in Africa and the Arab States shows what’s possible when countries take ownership and partners like the GEF and UNDP provide catalytic support,” he added.

Africa and the Arab States are home to some of the world’s most important ecosystems. But despite their natural wealth, these regions face serious financing gaps.

The global shortfall in biodiversity funding is estimated at over $700 billion per year. Through UNDP-BIOFIN’s global partnership with the GEF, more than 90 new countries are advancing their national Biodiversity Finance Plans that seek to close the gap.

“This Regional Dialogue marks a pivotal moment for Africa and the Arab States. They represent the fastest-growing regions in the BIOFIN family, with 44 countries newly joining the initiative—accounting for nearly half of all recent global additions. This expansion has been made possible through the continued support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF),” said Onno van den Heuvel, Head of Nature Finance, UNDP.

“By combining innovative instruments like green bonds, nature-based insurance, and biodiversity credits with strong government and private sector partnerships, we’re demonstrating that finance can be a powerful driver for conserving ecosystems and lifting communities.”

The three-day dialogue aims to support countries to move from planning to implementation, with the new cohort benefiting from the solutions that have already succeeded in their respective regions.

“Biodiversity is critical infrastructure,” said Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda.

“Nature underpins food security, water, health, and climate resilience. Without it, our economic future rests on unstable ground. Our budgets must begin to reflect biodiversity’s true value. Rwanda is an example of what’s possible when leadership meets innovation. By digitizing enforcement and reinvesting in ecosystems, Rwanda is not only protecting nature – it is powering inclusive, sustainable development." 

Photo: Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda.

Showcasing Solutions in Action

Participating countries will sharpen new finance plans while learning from early successes across the region, which include the following:

• Botswana reformed protected area fees based on BIOFIN recommendations, raising more than US$7 million in additional revenue to invest back into conservation.
• Zambia issued its first green bond in 2023, valued at $200 million. Of this total, $150 million has already been raised and directed toward renewable energy and biodiversity-related investments.
• Rwanda launched IremboPay, a digital platform that simplifies and streamlines the collection of environmental fines and fees. The system has already facilitated the collection of over $122,000, which is being reinvested into conservation initiatives through the Rwanda Green Fund.
• South Africa developed 16 biodiversity finance solutions, including efforts to reform harmful subsidies, scale ecosystem restoration, and create jobs in the biodiversity economy.
• In Egypt, BIOFIN supported a new model for generating revenue through tourism and enterprise linked to protected areas, creating a more sustainable path for conservation funding.

As traditional development aid continues to decline, the need for more catalytic funding models has never been greater. ‘Finance for finance’, the strategic use of limited donor resources to unlock much larger pools of public and private finance, offers a critical pathway forward.

UNDP’s BIOFIN approach has catalyzed over $1.6 billion for nature in 41 countries since 2018.

Private Sector Partnerships, ‘Harmful Subsidies’ on the Agenda

Countries increasingly recognize that repurposing harmful subsidies offers a double win: it not only offers fiscal savings for governments but also delivers major biodiversity gains by ending incentives that drive environmental destruction. UNDP-BIOFIN is supporting countries to identify and reverse public spending that is harmful to nature.

The conference recognized the growing role of the private sector in driving nature-positive investment decisions, through blended finance instruments such as green bonds, and approaches such as access and benefit sharing as well as contributions for genetic resources that their businesses are anchored to.

A global shift to nature-positive economies could generate as much as $10 trillion in new business opportunities, according to UNDP’s Nature Pledge – a flagship commitment to support 140 countries to achieve the global biodiversity targets.

The conference’s momentum feeds directly into countries’ efforts to meet the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets and craft resilient, nature-positive economies.