13 March 2026 – Government staff, private sector project partners and representatives of non-governmental organizations recently took part in training on the UNDP BIOFIN methodology. The training focused on reviewing biodiversity-related expenditure.

According to Geisel Menezes, UNDP BIOFIN Project Coordinator in São Tomé and Príncipe, the training will support the development of the country’s biodiversity finance plan. This work follows the recent recognition of the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

“We are working on the first phase of the project, which includes a review of the policy and institutional context, followed by an analysis of biodiversity expenditure and an assessment of financing needs,” Menezes said. He added that further training sessions will cover subsequent stages of the plan.

Participant Célcio Quaresma said the training had helped him better understand how to identify, classify and calculate biodiversity-related expenditure using the national budget and public accounts.

“It is a good training course, led by highly qualified consultants. We hope more initiatives like this will take place in the country,” he said.

The training is part of UNDP BIOFIN’s ongoing work to strengthen the capacity of government institutions and partners to manage and finance biodiversity sustainably in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Source: Zunta TV.