Zimbabwe Launches BIOFIN to Boost Biodiversity Finance and Protection

Zimbabwe launches BIOFIN with UNDP and GEF to mobilise sustainable biodiversity finance, integrate nature-positive investments, and empower communities (image source)

HARARE — Zimbabwe has officially launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) — a national programme developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) — to mobilise sustainable finance for biodiversity conservation and expand nature-based economic opportunities across the country.

The initiative aims to align Zimbabwe’s biodiversity financing with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, support implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), and integrate nature-positive investments into the national development agenda under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy. A central output of BIOFIN will be a National Biodiversity Finance Plan, which identifies practical funding mechanisms such as repurposing environmentally harmful subsidies, creating positive incentives, and unlocking innovative tools like green bonds and blended finance structures.

Government officials emphasised that BIOFIN marks a shift away from reliance on donor funding toward domestic revenue generation and systemic integration of biodiversity into fiscal and policy frameworks. The programme will map both public and private financial flows, quantify funding gaps, and embed biodiversity considerations into major sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and infrastructure. It will also pilot nature-positive financing instruments, strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems, and build institutional capacity at both national and local levels.

The UNDP will provide technical support throughout implementation, while the GEF’s initial funding is expected to leverage further investment from private and multilateral partners. Conservationists have welcomed the initiative but stressed the importance of transparency, community participation, and equitable benefit sharing, noting that success will depend on recognising rural and indigenous communities as key custodians of natural resources. Civil-society groups urged that part of the mobilised funds be ring-fenced for community-led projects, sustainable livelihood programmes, and local governance training to ensure inclusivity and accountability.

Private-sector players have expressed growing interest in shaping investment instruments that reward sustainable land use and biodiversity stewardship — provided there is clear regulation and risk mitigation. Observers note that successful rollout of BIOFIN could enhance Zimbabwe’s access to climate finance and attract nature-positive investment, positioning the country as a leader in environmental sustainability across the region.

The launch of BIOFIN establishes a strategic roadmap for Zimbabwe’s next phase of conservation finance — translating global commitments into tangible national action that safeguards biodiversity while promoting resilient, nature-based growth.