Ukraine joins UNDP’s global Biodiversity Finance Initiative, BIOFIN

With support from the Government of Germany, the new programme will strengthen Ukraine’s green recovery and EU integration efforts.

Kyiv, 28 April 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, has officially launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative, or BIOFIN, in Ukraine. The launch marks an important step in strengthening the country’s capacity to mobilize financing for biodiversity conservation and restoration amid ongoing war-related challenges.

The UNDP BIOFIN inception workshop brought together over 100 participants, including representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, and international partners such as the European Commission, BMUKN, the Embassy of Germany in Ukraine, and the EU Delegation to Ukraine, as well as civil society and more than 40 protected area institutions. The event was held in an air raid shelter, underscoring the security realities Ukraine continues to navigate while advancing its reform agenda.

The workshop opened with the inaugural meeting of the BIOFIN National Steering Committee, which will provide strategic guidance, ensure alignment with national priorities, and support evidence-based decision-making throughout the programme.

Opening the meeting, Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, emphasized the important role of the programme in restoring the country’s natural ecosystems: 

“The war has dealt an unprecedented blow to Ukraine’s biodiversity: more than 30% of protected areas — around 900 sites and 1.2 million hectares — have already been affected by hostilities,” Krasnolutskyi said. “In these conditions, BIOFIN will help shift the focus from damage assessment to systemic recovery. The programme will enable a clear understanding of financial needs and support the development of practical solutions for restoring biodiversity. We’re grateful to our international partners, in particular the Government of Germany and UNDP, for supporting the launch of this initiative in Ukraine.”

Olena Kryvoruchkina, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, highlighted the evolution of Ukraine’s environmental cooperation with international partners:

“While the first years of the full-scale war focused on documenting and assessing environmental damage, we are now moving towards strategic planning for green recovery,” Kryvoruchkina said. “Drawing on the experience of over 130 countries, BIOFIN will help integrate environmental priorities into broader economic and budgetary policies, while supporting Ukraine’s EU integration path.”

Welcoming Ukraine as the newest participating country, Martin Cadena, BIOFIN Global Programme Manager, emphasized the strong national commitment:

“The participation of representatives from more than 40 protected areas demonstrates that even in times of war, safeguarding nature remains a national priority,” Cadena said. “The UNDP BIOFIN Global Team stands ready to provide technical expertise and global experience to support Ukraine in building a resilient, nature-positive economy.”

Photo: Martin Cadena, BIOFIN Global Programme Manager, welcomes Ukraine as the newest participating country to BIOFIN.

Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, underscored the programme’s practical focus and long-term vision:

“With the support of the global BIOFIN expert team, the programme in Ukraine will run until 2030, providing sustained support to biodiversity reforms,” Politis said. “Crucially, implementation will begin in parallel with the analytical phase and the development of the Biodiversity Finance Plan. This is what sets BIOFIN apart – its outcome is concrete financial mechanisms that deliver real, measurable results. Equally important, the initiative will help unlock greater private sector engagement in financing biodiversity projects, which is of critical importance for Ukraine’s recovery and long-term sustainable development.”

Following the Steering Committee meeting, an expert roundtable was held to discuss the key challenges in financing biodiversity conservation at both the national and local levels, as well as opportunities to introduce innovative financial instruments under BIOFIN.

With initial funding from the Government of Germany, BIOFIN will support Ukraine in developing a comprehensive biodiversity finance plan, piloting new financial mechanisms, and scaling up solutions to ensure long-term sustainability. 

Photo: Elke Steinmetz, Head of the Division for International Cooperation on Biodiversity at Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), welcomes Ukraine as a new participating country to UNDP BIOFIN.