Tanizania officialy launches BIOFIN to advance biodiversity conservation in its mainland

Dar es Salaam, 7 March 2025 - The Vice President’s Office, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has officially launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in mainland Tanzania to close the financial gap in biodiversity conservation and support the country’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event, officiated by Hon. Abdallah Hassan Mitawi, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Environment) of the Vice President’s Office, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Tanzania’s efforts to conserve its rich biodiversity and align its financial mechanisms with environmental goals. The launch of BIOFIN marks a key step toward addressing critical funding challenges while enhancing the sustainability of Tanzania's ecosystems.

BIOFIN will:

• Integrate biodiversity considerations into all areas of policy and decision-making, ensuring their inclusion in national planning and strategies.
• Encourage businesses to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity and enhance positive outcomes by developing financial tools and incentives for biodiversity-positive activities.
• Promote sustainable consumption patterns that contribute to biodiversity conservation by implementing policies that encourage responsible production and consumption.
• Identify and eliminate harmful financial incentives and subsidies that degrade biodiversity while proposing necessary reforms.
• Mobilize significantly increased financial resources from all sources to support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

Hon. Abdallah Hassan Mitawi urged the banking and finance sector to explore opportunities in green financing and impact investment, such as funding ecotourism ventures, sustainable forestry, and renewable energy projects that reduce pressure on natural resources. “I urge our development partners to align your programs with the priorities identified through BIOFIN. This could mean co-financing a solution, providing expertise, or facilitating South-South exchanges so we can learn from other countries’ experiences,” he added.

Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized BIOFIN’s transformative impact: “This initiative empowers Tanzania to integrate biodiversity into its development framework. By mobilizing financial resources and fostering sustainable practices, we are not only protecting the environment but also securing the well-being of future generations.”

Official launch of BIOFIN in mainland Tanzania with the participation of the UNDP Resident Representative, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Vice President’s Office and representatives from Switzerland and Germany

Director of Environment, Ms. Kemilembe Mutasa, reaffirmed the initiative’s significance: “This launch represents a crucial step toward ensuring that sufficient financial resources are mobilized for biodiversity conservation, a key foundation for our livelihoods and sustainable development.”

Pierre Lanfranco, BIOFIN Technical Advisor, highlighted the global significance of the initiative: “BIOFIN, a global initiative operating in 133 countries, is dedicated to securing sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation. The launch of BIOFIN in Tanzania marks a significant milestone in safeguarding our natural resources while driving sustainable economic growth. It also echoes last week's call at the resumed Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16), where countries adopted the Resource Mobilization Strategy, emphasizing the need to develop and implement a Biodiversity Finance Plan to help close the biodiversity finance gap. Tanzania is answering this call. By investing in nature, we are paving the way for a future where both people and the environment can thrive together.

The Biodiversity Finance Plan is designed to enhance Tanzania’s efforts to protect and sustainably manage its rich biodiversity. The initiative aims to mobilize the necessary financial resources, improve the delivery of biodiversity-related projects, and align national expenditures with biodiversity conservation priorities.

Tanzania is among the 92 new countries that joined the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) in 2024 under the GEF-8 Umbrella Programme, bringing the total number of participating countries to 133. Launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2012, BIOFIN is a global initiative dedicated to addressing the critical challenge of financing biodiversity conservation. It provides technical support to countries, helping them assess their biodiversity finance needs, identify inefficiencies in current spending, and mobilize additional resources. By equipping nations with tailored financial strategies and tools, BIOFIN ensures that biodiversity considerations are effectively integrated into national budgets and policies. As part of this global expansion, all 92 newly joined countries are set to officially launch their BIOFIN initiatives this year, reinforcing a collective commitment to closing the biodiversity finance gap and securing a sustainable future. 

For more information contact: Sawiche Wamunza, Communications, and Partnership UNDP Tanzania: sawiche.wamunza@undp.org, Felister Ignatus, Project Analyst BIOFIN: felister.lukuka@undp.org